Wondering what to do when I get out of college (need some career advice...)

[slappy sam]

Whos got a BS in engineering and does something other than engineering? I've heard its pretty versatile, and I am going for a dual major in aeronautical + mechanical engineering, but I honestly am not that interested in it. I'm currently a sophmore.

Some things I'd like to do:
Something environmental (having to do with engineering or not) - maybe working on designing new things to make renewable resources like wind/geothermal/solar...

Yacht design - from what I hear is almost impossible to get into unless you get really lucky or make a name for yourself it will also pay horribly

And lastly the one I'd like to do the most - photography. I really want to travel a lot and I REALLY like it when I'm always going somewhere, always doing something... I want a job that is really dynamic. I like photographing a lot of things, landscapes the most but thats pretty impossible to get paid to go around the world and shoot... but I'd be willing to do pretty much anything and honestly don't really care that much about pay so long as I have enough to make a decent living (I don't need to have a nice car or a really nice house, but I don't want to be worrying every day about financial security.

I guess the most important things to me in a job are:
1. Doing something that I enjoy, something that challenges me, and something that I feel will make a difference
2. Location/travelling - I love to travel, and I really want to be in a nice location
3. Pay - not a huge deal...

I am very interested in photography and willing to really work hard to make this possible, but heres the thing. Everyone has always told me (I've always been good at math/science, it just came naturally and it was my fav subject in school) to do something with math and science. Naturally I chose engineering, and everyone else kinda told me this to. I was contemplating majoring in photography, but I actually didn't like photo class that much in HS (I don't like the "go shoot a roll of film on one word" deal) and more importantly everyone kinda pushed me into majoring in engineering... However I'm realizing that it doesn't interest me very much, the locations I'd be in would be probably not that exciting for the most part, and I honestly wouldn't feel like I was really making a difference or doing something special if I'm just engineering cars or even planes. I would if I was doing something environmental though.

Sorry for the really long post, I guess what I'm asking is this:

- How hard is it to get a masters in even something like business and change my career? I've heard engineering is a really good major because you can do a lot of things with it, its not limited to engineering.

- How would I break into doing photography like this? I assume this is mostly all networking and business skills (business I'm not that bad with, networking I'm not that great at...) and less photography than you'd think. I also feel like professional photography is kind of dying with more and more amateurs giving away/selling their images for low prices.

I'm currently on my school's newspaper shooting for them, but I really haven't done much yet except for shots of buildings and stuff (I want to start shooting events/concerts/some sports) because I've only got a 50 1.4 and a 10-22 at the moment. I know that's a pretty poor excuse, but I'm in the middle of upgrading... and just signed on with the staff last month. What else can I do to try to make this a profession? I've contacted a few people about 2nd shooting/assisting and hopefully something will work out. I guess I'll just keep taking all the opportunities I get, remembering names, taking cards, meeting people and hope something opens up?

Umm yea... I know there are a lot of similar posts but I've had this on my mind for the past year or two and never really posted it. Also, I'm interested in other jobs that might involve some travel and are related to engineering... if anyone who is an engineer has any tips or info I'd really love to hear it. Thanks a ton guys.

P.S. I know there are a few people here who have majored in engineering and are doing something different (I've seen people say this in a few threads) and I'm really interested in hearing what you guys did.

Edit: Bolded the important parts if you don't wanna read it all, but I'd appreciate it if you do read the whole thing...

[eddarr]

Don't fool yourself. The money is that important. You have to value the service your provide whether that is as an engineer or as a photographer. If you feel that you are not receiving an appropriate salary for you skills your work will suffer and you will hate it.

Mechanical engineer is one of the most diverse fields you can go into. I would definitely suggest working in the renewable energy sector. This field will be growing an an exponential rate for the next 20 years. And it will easily offer travel and photography opportunities. Developing countries like Dubai, India etc are investing heavily into these technologies. And we need more people in the US to push for this as a power source.

Don't forget that camera and lens manufactures need engineers as well.

Don't go for the masters in business unless you really want to. There are more out of work business masters than there are photographers. Only a very small percentage of these people end up running Fortune 500 companies. You will have far more opportunities with engineering.

[slappy sam]

Yeah I was just using that masters as an example of how I could possibly explore alternate fields - get a masters in an alternate field. Thanks for the advice.

[gymell]

There's an article on CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/03/24/cb.recession.proof/index.html) about jobs and the top recession-proof industries. At #2 and #3 are energy and environmental industries. So the first thing you listed that you might like to do could possibly be a good career move. Also, getting an undergrad in one field, and then going into graduate school for business isn't that difficult. I got an undergrad in music, then a masters in music, and did a year of a PhD in music and then switched to business. I was also accepted into a masters program in computer science but I did the second masters in business (information systems) instead. Even so, the previous work in music has really gotten my resume noticed, and all the teaching experience I have, and being in front of people for that as well as many recitals and performances has really helped me in the business world. People get really hung up on what their undergraduate degree is, but often in the end it really doesn't matter because you never know where things will lead.

For what you're describing, I'd say go ahead and get the engineering degree, it really can't hurt you to do that. In the meantime, take some business courses as electives (basic accounting, finance, marketing.) Then get your MBA, where that knowledge will come in handy since you don't have an undergrad business degree. Since I was coming from music and computer science, I had to take all of those prereqs as part of my business masters. Then, you could work as a consultant - many companies heavily recruit from business schools. When I finally finished college (after 5 years in graduate school) I had my pick of jobs. You'd be able to use your engineering/business background in the energy/environmental industry. Doing consulting work gives you the opportunity to travel and do many different projects. If you want to move up in the corporate world, an MBA will help immensely with that. Or if you wanted to go into academia, you could go back and get your PhD and do research and teach at a university. There are a lot of possibilities!

[gymell]

Don't go for the masters in business unless you really want to. There are more out of work business masters than there are photographers. Only a very small percentage of these people end up running Fortune 500 companies. You will have far more opportunities with engineering.

I agree with the first sentence, but strongly disagree with the rest. It's true that graduate school isn't something to take lightly, and you should only do it if you really want to. However, you are assuming that everyone who gets a masters in business is wanting to be the CEO of a Fortune 500. That's simply not true. There are many consultants, small business owners, managers, etc who have their MBA or MA in business and there are plenty of jobs and career paths out there. You can get a business masters and that won't take away any engineering opportunities! It will actually make your resume stand out from those who only have a bachelors, give you a lot more knowledge and may lead to more opportunities. My first job straight out of getting my masters in business was as a software engineer.

[nicksan]

Knowing what I know now, I would have gone for a math/statistic degree instead of the Business/Economic degree.

You can morph a Math degree for a lot of different fields, including finance, accounting and technology and since you are studying engineering I have a feeling converting won't be too bad.

I wish I had one. Actually I wish I was good at math.:lol: That would make me a more "dangerous" financial programmer!

I know quite a few people with Masters in stat or math making a killing...as in 1/4 million...(Oh I wish...I wish!) in technology...financial engineers, derivatives, Capital Markets, etc...

[slappy sam]

There's an article on CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/03/24/cb.recession.proof/index.html) about jobs and the top recession-proof industries. At #2 and #3 are energy and environmental industries. So the first thing you listed that you might like to do could possibly be a good career move. Also, getting an undergrad in one field, and then going into graduate school for business isn't that difficult. I got an undergrad in music, then a masters in music, and did a year of a PhD in music and then switched to business. I was also accepted into a masters program in computer science but I did the second masters in business (information systems) instead. Even so, the previous work in music has really gotten my resume noticed, and all the teaching experience I have, and being in front of people for that as well as many recitals and performances has really helped me in the business world. People get really hung up on what their undergraduate degree is, but often in the end it really doesn't matter because you never know where things will lead.

For what you're describing, I'd say go ahead and get the engineering degree, it really can't hurt you to do that. In the meantime, take some business courses as electives (basic accounting, finance, marketing.) Then get your MBA, where that knowledge will come in handy since you don't have an undergrad business degree. Since I was coming from music and computer science, I had to take all of those prereqs as part of my business masters. Then, you could work as a consultant - many companies heavily recruit from business schools. When I finally finished college (after 5 years in graduate school) I had my pick of jobs. You'd be able to use your engineering/business background in the energy/environmental industry. Doing consulting work gives you the opportunity to travel and do many different projects. If you want to move up in the corporate world, an MBA will help immensely with that. Or if you wanted to go into academia, you could go back and get your PhD and do research and teach at a university. There are a lot of possibilities!
That's actually pretty much exactly what I'd like to do. I actually just got an email from one of my teachers (to everyone in the class) that was a forward of an email he recieved from a past student. The old student is working at GE and needs people to fill positions designing turbines/consulting and says the job would be 30%-70% travel.