Masters, Electronics area: better for jobs?

[x in the city]

So I am in the process of doing a Masters, 3 yrs after getting a BEng in Microelecronics, impossible to get work now without several years exp.

even more so with the economy as it is.

I am hoping to branch into a field like embedded systems and wireless technologies so mainly R&D.

Say I get my Masters, will it be easier to get work as I still wont have any experience..! I have 6 months design experience thats all, as well as all my other roles in test and board level repair, total about 4/5 yrs work.

Thanks for listening.

[ElectronEng]

On the plus side you will have an edge over (BE only) candidates when you are looking for jobs.

The main result is that you will have much more experience in thinking for yourself, project design, report writing etc.. Employers (and candidates) sometimes underestimate the value which this brings, so push that if you are applying for whatever is out there.

I work in embedded and design management and can see very few open positions at the moment, but hopefully this will begin to pick up in the near future.

In theory, if I was hiring (and I'm not) then someone with a Masters would have an edge over someone with just a BE, but there are so many other factors that it wouldn't be a simple choice.

In the mean time keep looking (and applying for!) for entry-level positions, once you are in a company it's easier to move into specific areas like embedded.

EE.

[copacetic]

Certainly a Msc will give you a head start over someone with a BE, all other things being equal. However generally experience is worth the most. Eg someone with 2 years professional experience of working with embedded systems and a BE is much more desireable than someone with a BE and a 2 year MsC. Everyone knows that most people can get through academics easily enough, putting it into action sucessfully is the hard bit.

Its becoming more and more common for most people in R&D to have an MsC at least. There would be a feeling that degrees have been dumbed down over the last number of years. Of course having said all that everyone who is interviewing you will likely have a BE/MsC and probably aren't overly impressed by either.

So all in all if you can't get work do the MsC until things pick up, but work hard, get practical experience etc if you can during it.

[swani]

hello x in the city

I have just signed up I am a little bit of an innovater rather then an inventor I have just put an idea I had through a world patent search
and it came back saying it had prior art ie something patent already So I altered it a bit the reason I write to you is that my idea consist of electronics and I would like to hear from you or anyone with such qualifications to make a proto type or to work on my ideas in your college
if possible

[Gurgle]

Originally Posted by x in the city

I am hoping to branch into a field like embedded systems and wireless technologies so mainly R&D.

Say I get my Masters, will it be easier to get work as I still wont have any experience..!

tbh, its very difficult to get into Embedded systems / R&D. More of a chance with a Masters, better again with experience.

Needing experience to get a job sounds like circular logic, but you can do it without getting paid for it. In fact, building electronic gadgets as a hobby is a much better attention grabber in an interview than a 1.1 in college.

You can develop electronics very cheaply, there are free versions of compilers for most micros, circuit diagrams available for programming boards (PIC, NEC), some chips can be programmed directly with a USB port (Atmel AT90USB series), PCBs can be designed for free (Eagle), and prototypes can be manufactured very cheap (Olimex).

So go build yourself an MP3 player, a remote control for starting your car, wireless speakers for your TV... whatever you can think of.

[swani]

I have no masters in electronics but love the field went down the carpenter road anyhow I be very greatful if any would assist me in making a proto type of one of my ideas when registered or patent will go 50)(50 I have gone through the patent stages before and all the time consuming so I learned the hard way

to gurgle 'x in the city or any wizards out there

swani

[Gurgle]

Originally Posted by swani

I be very greatful if any would assist me in making a proto type of one of my ideas when registered or patent will go 50)(50

Try guru.com.
You will need money, engineers generally don't work for free.