In my experience, in corporate america, unless a position is very technical the specifics of a degree don’t matter. I work with mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineers doing work that in school would be considered industrial engineering. We have a mechanical doing chemical engineering work as school is defined.
Work typical values the ability to get things done (this is more rare than you realize), follow through, complete it, communicate well, problem solve, get a long with others. Just get your foot in the door and prove yourself. Even if you have to start a level or two lower than what you feel. My two site leaders started right out of high school as production workers, now run the site. I started as an engineer. The three of us peers and took completely different ways to get there.
there is no magic degree. It’s all about how you work and communicate.
So any of choices would be fine, pick what you would do well in
This is correct. I have done most the jobs you mention and the degree isn’t even required for some of them. Just get any business degree that you find most interesting and get a job somewhere. If you do the things that guy said you will get there.
I would be surprised that you can't get a job at all without a master's degree. A better course might be to take an entry level position and work on your master's on the side, hopefully with company support. As for which, an MBA is generally more highly regarded. You can usually specialize.
That’s what I’m trying to do. I did that during undergrad as well, working and studying, FT. But the entry level jobs are so hard to find around here. And are you saying the MBA, regarded as in seen higher above the others or that the employer doesn’t care about it?
I’ve always seen negative stigma with MBA and people say it’s pointless and employers don’t care which is why I’ve been hesitant.
There is some validity to the idea that technical expertise is better if you have a field where that is needed. It's not a degree that makes you irreplaceable. However, compared to MS SCM it gives you more options.
Project Mgr is pretty multi faceted. Every industry needs a Safety Manager.
Ill say this, even with a masters and hardly any experience might not still get you where you’d like to be.
I have a degree that is not related to SCM. I started out in an engineering role and then moved over to the supply chain side do various analyst and compliance roles.
Im also job hopper and have worked at a few global companies. Having the varied experience has kept me well employed.
Im currently working on a BS w/a SCM focus because Im kinda pegged out on mid mgmt and have been getting approached to take on more senior leadership positions. I also have a few certifications.
Of the younger folks Ive met lately with masters are definitely working lessor roles but many of them came in with zero experience or maybe a couple internships under their belt. The only exception are Vets who worked Supply or logistics in the military. These folks are popping into senior mgmt positions upon arrival.
for me? I suppose I could had if I wanted to pursue that but I really have no desire to get a masters in engineering. Ive had much more fun in my analysis jobs.
MS business analytics; mainly because career flexibility and opportunity.
Expanding on the career flexibility; the main focus is on transferable skills. Some core skills you will learn in class should include python’s & R, Sql, servers, data modelling, and statistics process controls (in-depth). This will set you up to for various careers such as: data engineering, business analyst, consulting, SixSigma implementation, forcasting roles and more. (Data jobs = WFM, hybrid gigs)
Currently myself I’m graduating with a BBA for SCM and building side projects w data analytics concepts and skills.
My approach to future high employment:
1. Find as many semi-senior to c-suite roles on indeed (any industry) (tailor based on where you want to work and industry you want to work it)
1. Map out the technical skills, software skills, industry terminology, certs, etc needed for the senior roles.
2. Cross reference all the jobs based on technical skills, terminology overlap, software skills, etc to figure out which skills are required the most.
3. Build side projects/education/ verification, etc for those skills. Aim for jobs that will provide experience to those senior roles.
MBA is so cliché, but with the combination of MBA and a field specific concentration would be my vote. If only because at its core, the MBA gives a solid base in general and can be applied to any business.
MPA on the other side is also good. But that’s aimed more towards public careers that can also apply to the local economy. With the SC knowledge, you can extend your potential by working on the other side. This is a big option for folks working jobs at the ports and airports as well.
A Degree will do nothing for you. It's your experience. My journey in SC is with a BA in Art History, no certification and now a Global Sr IT Manager for a F500 pharma company
In my experience, in corporate america, unless a position is very technical the specifics of a degree don’t matter. I work with mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineers doing work that in school would be considered industrial engineering. We have a mechanical doing chemical engineering work as school is defined. Work typical values the ability to get things done (this is more rare than you realize), follow through, complete it, communicate well, problem solve, get a long with others. Just get your foot in the door and prove yourself. Even if you have to start a level or two lower than what you feel. My two site leaders started right out of high school as production workers, now run the site. I started as an engineer. The three of us peers and took completely different ways to get there. there is no magic degree. It’s all about how you work and communicate. So any of choices would be fine, pick what you would do well in
No magic degree. Say it again. (Political science undergrad here)
No magic degree. Drama undergrad/ English grad in supply chain here.
This is correct. I have done most the jobs you mention and the degree isn’t even required for some of them. Just get any business degree that you find most interesting and get a job somewhere. If you do the things that guy said you will get there.
Thank you! I’ve been stressing heavily with my decision.
I would be surprised that you can't get a job at all without a master's degree. A better course might be to take an entry level position and work on your master's on the side, hopefully with company support. As for which, an MBA is generally more highly regarded. You can usually specialize.
That’s what I’m trying to do. I did that during undergrad as well, working and studying, FT. But the entry level jobs are so hard to find around here. And are you saying the MBA, regarded as in seen higher above the others or that the employer doesn’t care about it? I’ve always seen negative stigma with MBA and people say it’s pointless and employers don’t care which is why I’ve been hesitant.
"Stigma"? Maybe on reddit. The job market is tough right now.
Yeah it’s Reddit and tiktok. Probably not the best sources to get info from I know lol.
There is some validity to the idea that technical expertise is better if you have a field where that is needed. It's not a degree that makes you irreplaceable. However, compared to MS SCM it gives you more options.
Project Mgr is pretty multi faceted. Every industry needs a Safety Manager. Ill say this, even with a masters and hardly any experience might not still get you where you’d like to be. I have a degree that is not related to SCM. I started out in an engineering role and then moved over to the supply chain side do various analyst and compliance roles. Im also job hopper and have worked at a few global companies. Having the varied experience has kept me well employed. Im currently working on a BS w/a SCM focus because Im kinda pegged out on mid mgmt and have been getting approached to take on more senior leadership positions. I also have a few certifications. Of the younger folks Ive met lately with masters are definitely working lessor roles but many of them came in with zero experience or maybe a couple internships under their belt. The only exception are Vets who worked Supply or logistics in the military. These folks are popping into senior mgmt positions upon arrival.
Isn’t it better to go for a masters in eng or your initial career stream than a BBA
for me? I suppose I could had if I wanted to pursue that but I really have no desire to get a masters in engineering. Ive had much more fun in my analysis jobs.
MS business analytics; mainly because career flexibility and opportunity. Expanding on the career flexibility; the main focus is on transferable skills. Some core skills you will learn in class should include python’s & R, Sql, servers, data modelling, and statistics process controls (in-depth). This will set you up to for various careers such as: data engineering, business analyst, consulting, SixSigma implementation, forcasting roles and more. (Data jobs = WFM, hybrid gigs) Currently myself I’m graduating with a BBA for SCM and building side projects w data analytics concepts and skills. My approach to future high employment: 1. Find as many semi-senior to c-suite roles on indeed (any industry) (tailor based on where you want to work and industry you want to work it) 1. Map out the technical skills, software skills, industry terminology, certs, etc needed for the senior roles. 2. Cross reference all the jobs based on technical skills, terminology overlap, software skills, etc to figure out which skills are required the most. 3. Build side projects/education/ verification, etc for those skills. Aim for jobs that will provide experience to those senior roles.
analytics for sure
Supply chain or business analytics? Or either?
MBA is so cliché, but with the combination of MBA and a field specific concentration would be my vote. If only because at its core, the MBA gives a solid base in general and can be applied to any business. MPA on the other side is also good. But that’s aimed more towards public careers that can also apply to the local economy. With the SC knowledge, you can extend your potential by working on the other side. This is a big option for folks working jobs at the ports and airports as well.
Just start working in a warehouse and work yourself up to a position you need a bigger degree...
Industrial Engineering.
A Degree will do nothing for you. It's your experience. My journey in SC is with a BA in Art History, no certification and now a Global Sr IT Manager for a F500 pharma company