Materials job outlooks?

I am a sophomore Materials Science and Engineering student and I have been poking around the Internet looking at the job opportunities available in materials science fields. I haven't found a whole bunch, and I was wondering if anyone who works in the materials field can give me their opinion of the materials job market. Is it worth my continuing on with my current major (which I love), or does it suck so bad that I need to consider alternatives? Thanks in advance for your help.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Painter
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Dear Jim, It's the catch 22 many face in the field. Fortunately there's hope. In my experience, about half go on to grad school and half go to industry. You can find work in the steel industry or metals industry, but primarily, you have to be willing to relocate. If you want a less gritty job, then I suggest trying for the internships at the high tech companies. The best way to land a job is to know somebody. Talk to your favorite professor for leads. Talk to family members and friends. Make contacts. That's pretty much how it works for everyone else too. Admittedly you're going to find more jobs on monster.com for mechanical engineers and electrical engineers, but those majors are about 500% bigger in population that materials folk. So don't despair, work hard, make contacts, land a few internships or coops and move on up.

-srvclapton

Reply to
srvclapton

Good advice, for traditional job placement. But between the H1B visa screw and offshore jobshopping, you might as well major in pizza delivery or taxidriving. The money you are pouring into tuition and mortgaging your life to student loans may be better invested in a small business.-Jitney

Reply to
jtnospam

If you like what you are doing I say stick with it. I did and am pleased with the choice.

I've known hundreds of Materials Science grads an know of very few who are disappointed with how things have turned out.

One can make a better than average living at it. A few become CEOs.

However, if your life goal is to become filthy rich selling drugs or something else that people can't do without will increase your probability of success (if being filthy rich is "success").

If you like having a clue about about the way things work Materials Science will give you a high probability of success in reaching that goal. Materials Science as the interface between real science and real life is inherently fascinating.

As you've discovered, there are fewer jobs in absolute numbers available than in other common fields. However, there are more available in a relative sense and they are valued; this is constantly validated by survey and salary data. (It takes only one person to decide that the steel is better with a pinch of Niobium in it, it takes thousands of people to use that steel to build things).

The bottom line is to do something worthwhile that you like; it'll pay off in the long run. After all, what good is a life spent not enjoying what you do with it?

Dave

Reply to
dmartin

eh? who's getting screwed with the H1B's? the companies that benefit from talent they can't hire here? [academic standards are abysmal these days - universities with 98% graduation rates???] or the countries that get deprived when that talent leaves to come here?

way i see it, import is a win-win for us. unlike offshoring.

Reply to
jim beam

I just graduated from an MSE program in Canada. I'm going to graduate school but 25% of my class has jobs (they started looking in june right after they graduated), 50% are going to grad school other degrees or teaching. They are all enjoying themselves. Pay is between 45-52,000 CAD. I was worried much like you were but I enjoyed the program. I tried to develop my skills and experiences as much as I could to distinguish myself but also to learn more and get practical experience, so I did a lot of extracurriculars. I suggest you get involved ppl complain how expensive Uni is...well use it. There is so much money they have and u can use. For instance if u like an aspect of MSE make a club get funding build something (like sword making or nano something or other) go to conferences etc. Most importantly do what u love not whats profitable!

Keep in mind this is Canada. I think the prospects in the states are better. Ohh and a TON of MSE jobs are often labelled as Mech , Chem, Manufacturing and others. Learn what MSE is and market yourself! If you don;t wanna get a job consider graduate studies... All the best

Reply to
Nem

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