which is better PE or MBA

[sd]

i am interested in knowing which is more career advancing PE or MBA if you stay in the automotive industry. I am tending towards MBA. can anyone guide me to where i can do that part time so that i can work full time.
thanks
sd

 

[swertel]

What area are you trying to develope at? If you prefer to go the technical route, get your PE. If you prefer to be demoted into management, then get your MBA.

Personally, I would get my PE even if I decide to go to school for an MBA and be transferred into management. To me, having the PE is just the final accomplishment to say all the years in school and the field gaining engineering experience have been worth it.

 

[brad]

I second swertel's comments on all counts. I'll add a few more though. Note--these comments are spoken as a PE in the automotive industry. I would state that the MBA is probably more "career-advancing" in the eyes of most. None of the OEM's put any stock in somebody having a PE, and it doesn't appear that any of the suppliers do either. A PE is a good "feather in the cap", and it does a bit to legitimize your capabilities. However, in my particular company (I have since left the OEM world) I am the only PE of the 8 degreed engineers, and I DO NOT consider myself any better technically than my peers (i.e. there are plenty of VERY capable people who have not seen the need to get one). I think the only people that put exclusive stock in a PE (as opposed to somebody's skills) are people with PE's who are a bit haughty (or those in industries such as civil/aero in which it is actually needed)

That said, I do not regret having my PE. It does validate your accomplishments as an engineer, and it gives me a good reply to any young smug snot-nosed PhD.

As far as MBA's go, I'll quote the man in black " . . .Come to the dark side, Luke."

 

[swertel]

Aerospace, depending on the area of aerospace you are working in, is the same as automotive. A PE looks great on your business cards and you are likely to get a raise. But, for the most part, sign off on drawings isn't necessary so you will not use your PE, and therefore seems of little value to "higher-ups." Not too mention, companies don't want to pay liability insurance for every engineer that has a PE in order for them to sign off on documents, and I know I won't pay for the insurance on my own.

I am also going to concur with bradh. The only time most people, other than the "haughty PE's," care about who has a PE is when an accident occurs and fingers start pointing.

Plus, it's fun to snub the PhD's.