Going to Grad School In Lieu of an Unsuccessful Job Search

[Aero51]

Hello everyone, I am wondering what your opinions are on going to graduate school if a job search isn't working out. While I would like to get a PhD, and always have, the fact of the matter is that I need money and cannot fund that type of commitment. The main problem with my resume is that it is too specialized. Even though I have gotten a lot of call backs, I get the feeling that the work I did in undergrad was too aerodynamics oriented to actually land me a job. I was thinking about going into grad school and get my Masters in combustion -this should open up my employibility immensely at the expense of pursuing my passion sadly. I would keep looking for jobs, but if I remain unemployed any longer my skills are going to degrade, I will lose contacts, and my motivation to continue to apply to companies is greatly diminishing every day. I think I've applied to over 100, I've lost count truthfully.

Anyway, like I said earlier I would like to know if it is a good idea to go to grad school to open up employment doors at the expense of pursuing ones passion.

 

[pi-r8]

well it's certainly not the best motivation for going to grad school, but it beats unemployment. Of course, you'll have to convince the grad school that you really are interested in studying combustion if that's what you go for (and are you sure the job market for combustion is better than for aero?).

 

[Physics_UG]

Didn't you try grad school already and leave? If you go back make sure you don't repeat the past.

I, like you, have tried grad school (PhD in EE) but had to drop out because of health issues. Since leaving I have been able to get jobs but I have disliked all of them. I was recently fired from a job in industry because I believe my attitude about industry shined through. Since then, I have been applying to jobs with no luck. I am considering going back for a physics PhD. (I have a degree in physics)

 

[Physics_UG]

Also, I don't know what the job market is for combustion where you are but it seems overly specialized. This might be the problem with aero too. Maybe you could look into ME instead. You could study combustion but you will end up with are more applicable degree in a broader range of industries.

 

[Aero51]

I did try grad school and left due to an illness. I have been job searching with many phone interviews but very few on sight interviews. I am concerned that my skills will degrade given that its been almost a 5 months search. I am going to enroll in summer class and still job search, but I really don't want to re-enroll in my old program because, quite frankly, I do not like the school.

 

[Physics_UG]

Try and make use of and network with head hunters. There are tons of them in the US. I don't know if that's the case for the country you are in. These usually lead to contract-to-hire positions but it's better than nothing.

 

[hunt_mat]

Combustion is a very fun topic to get into, and if you're interested in getting into defence then detonation is a very good topic to study. I would advise fluid dynamics in general and that has a large area of validity.