Masters degree with no experience

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concerns of a senior Electrical Engineering (EE) student contemplating pursuing a master's degree without prior work experience. Participants assert that obtaining a master's degree does not disadvantage candidates; rather, it can enhance job eligibility, particularly for technical positions. They emphasize the importance of gaining experience, suggesting part-time work during graduate studies and cautioning against omitting educational qualifications from resumes. Ultimately, the consensus is that a master's degree in EE is beneficial and can open doors to more job opportunities.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Electrical Engineering (EE) principles
  • Familiarity with the job market for engineering graduates
  • Knowledge of resume writing and job application processes
  • Awareness of graduate school options and their placement records
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of a master's degree on career advancement in Electrical Engineering
  • Explore part-time job opportunities during graduate studies to gain experience
  • Investigate graduate schools with strong placement records for EE programs
  • Learn about distance education options for obtaining a master's degree while working
USEFUL FOR

Electrical Engineering students, recent graduates seeking employment, and individuals considering further education in engineering. This discussion is particularly relevant for those weighing the benefits of a master's degree against the need for practical experience.

bassplayer142
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I'm currently in my senior year of EE and still can't find an internship. I am set to graduate next fall with no issues. I really (really really) want to get a masters in furthur EE courses but have heard of people having problems finding a job with too much academia and not enought experience. I also am not to keen on finding a job and then going back to school if I don't have to. I was also thinking that if this is a problem I wouldn't mind taking a pay cut or even void my masters from my resume for the sake of getting a job. Then when I go to find a new job I could say I have experience and masters.

Does anyone have any input or ideas? Thanks
 
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Lying, or misrepresenting yourself on a resume or CV is a bad idea. If you were to omit the ~2 years you took while getting your master's degree, the question of what you did during those years would inevitably come up.

I don't think this is as big a problem as people make it out to be. Once finished your master's degree, you would still be targeting entry-level positions - only perhaps those of a more technical nature than those you might consider with a bachelor's degree alone. You also have the option of getting a part-time job during graduate school, if that's really a concern.

The down side, specific to engineering, might be that in giving up two years of work experience in favour of further education, you won't be able to use that time towards the PEng designation - if that applies where you want to work.
 
Where I work engineers with undergrad and master's degrees are hired to the same positions initially, with the graduate degree holders making a few thousand dollars extra. I certainly can't see how having a master's would be a disadvantage. Staying in school could also give you more time to find an internship, which will be important when finding a full time job.

The question of getting a master's immediately as an engineer is just one of "is it worth my time?" The only potential downside is that the time may (or may not) have been better spent on something else. If you know that you want to continue to study and aren't in any sort of rush then I can't see any downside to doing so.

If you are still worried, it might also be helpful to ask about the placement record at the graduate school(s) you are interested in.
 
bassplayer142 said:
I am set to graduate next fall with no issues. I really (really really) want to get a masters in furthur EE courses but have heard of people having problems finding a job with too much academia and not enought experience.

I haven't really *seen* this happen. I don't think this is much of a concern for masters degrees since I can't really think of a situation in which a EE Masters will leave you worse off.

I was also thinking that if this is a problem I wouldn't mind taking a pay cut or even void my masters from my resume for the sake of getting a job. Then when I go to find a new job I could say I have experience and masters.

This won't work since you'll have a huge unexplained gap in your resume. It's also pretty unnecessary, since a EE masters will qualify you for a whole bunch of jobs that you wouldn't otherwise be eligible for. One of the first things that a hiring manager will do when they get a stack of resumes is to cut out the people that don't have the minimum educational requirements for a job, and there are tons of jobs out there in which a masters is a minimum requirement.

Where I work some sort of masters degree is the bare minimum requirement for even getting your resume looked at.
 
Thanks for the replies. I think I'll still look into getting the masters. I figure with those extra 2 years I can most likely find a job or internship to get some experience.
 
You could also concentrate on finding out an entry level job to start up your career and gain some industry experience. Afterwards; you can plan for masters through distance education with the help of http://www.thedegreeexperts.com which is a platform to online degree seekers to earn their degree from renowned institutions.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
bassplayer142 said:
I'm currently in my senior year of EE and still can't find an internship. I am set to graduate next fall with no issues. I really (really really) want to get a masters in furthur EE courses but have heard of people having problems finding a job with too much academia and not enought experience. I also am not to keen on finding a job and then going back to school if I don't have to. I was also thinking that if this is a problem I wouldn't mind taking a pay cut or even void my masters from my resume for the sake of getting a job. Then when I go to find a new job I could say I have experience and masters.

Does anyone have any input or ideas? Thanks

Lack of experience is always a problem for graduates (with and without a master's degree). Employers value education, regardless of what people might be telling you.

If I had to choose between two people both who had no experience and one with a masters and the other without, I would select the person with the master's degree.

Also, never falsify your resume.

CS
 

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