Grad School

Should you do it? If yes, in what?

My answer to the first question is yes. Grad school has a couple of important benefits - first it can open the doors to some jobs that weren't before and second it shows great initiative which many employers look positively upon. I couldn't have my job without a masters degree. There aren't many such jobs that require the advanced degree, but there are some.

Degree area - Well there are two main areas: engineering or business/management. The answer here, depends upon your ultimate career goals. If you want to ultimately work in the management side of things, then obviously you should head that direction. The degree can open the doors sooner and wider. If you really like hard engineering, then engineering makes sense.

Another option is to use your masters to expand your boundaries like I did. Even though my bachelors degree was in civil engineering, I got a masters in mechanical, thus opening my options up to two very broad career paths.

TBL: As engineers we have committed ourselves to be lifelong learners. Getting a masters degree (or two) along the way is a great option.

P.S. Get somebody else to pay for that degree. Don't take it out of your own pocket.