Once you hit an internship, then you're in the door forever.

I worked as a trades "summer intern" where I basically did labor for half a summer then from there I locked down engineering internships and finally a permanent job. Plus the labor job sort of teaches you to stay in school aha.

 

halfway done with my MS @ ODU. Not sure its what I had in mind so will be getting a third (MBA) after this.

My advice: Make sure you get what degree you need - not necessarily what you want.

 

Havent heard of a higher initial salary offers elsewhere. However, you quickly plateau.

 

Yeah, I shouldve elaborated but this is what I meant.

I'll be applying for either my MBA or ENMA soon enough.

 

Halfway done with the ENMA....very simple degree. Quick piece of paper

 

Thats the only bad thing about being a recent college graduate. We have one guy that is working at a engineering job as an intern since he was like 17. Basically with a associates degree he can become a manager to earn about $50k. All they said he had to do was earn a degree and he will earn around $65k- $70k as a college graduate. But since most people don't start in this field that early there have been estimates of around $40k to $55k starting depending on the company. So the pay kind of sucks now but I heard once you take the FE exam and get the PE license then you make bank, just takes some time. One of my friends uncles is earning around $200k as a manager.

I heard most people go for the MBA to eventually develop there own engineering business or do consulting. One guy from Spark Engineering in Richmond says that people who get the MBA is going to the darkside of engineering haha. Im not sure what i'll end up doing. I know Cobra said he had some degree in business so who could easily get an MBA. Seems like alot of engineers are doing that now.

 

I feel more reassured now, aha.
Honestly, after getting my mech e degree; I'm trying to stay as far away from possible from the technical side. Like you said, a buddy of mine and I want to upstart our own environmental engineering consulting firm or something along those lines eventually.

But......northrop grumman it is for now, which I am enjoying honestly.

 

If I could get a job at Northrop after I graduate then I'm set. My parents said it would be no problem for me to work at Northrop and live at home. All I have to do is pay rent and help around the house. If you can get that firm setup then you should be doing very well. Everyone cares about the environment so now people want better products.

 

Its not the darkside - the further you move up in your career the more you loose touch of the technical side and begin running parts of the business. MBA is essential at that point

 

What dept are you in