Been Out of the Work Force... 3

[bleu27]

Hi,

I've been out of engineering for about nine years now and would like to get back into it. I've been really trying to get my resume out there consistently for the past nine months with no luck. I've gone on countless interviews, phone interviews, phone screens and the like, with no success. I would appreciate any feedback.

Nine years ago, I was working in California, but, had to move back to Ohio for family reasons. I did what I could to make ends meet and basically ended up working for myself as a "consultant". I did some engineering, some website design, some AutoCAD, logo and graphic design to bring in money for the next five years. The flexible schedule really helped my situation out greatly. Then, I wanted a steady paycheck and I couldn't readily find any engineering jobs at that time, so I fell into customer service.

I've been working in customer service now for the past several years with the yearning to get back into mechanical engineering. It's been a long time now, and I now have Solidworks 2011-2012 student version on my home computer that I'm working on the tutorials. It's helping me brush up on my 3-d skills.

But, to break back into the work arena is where I'd really like to be at - designing, and back working on FEA.

I do have my BSME and my EIT. I can get the interview, or the initial phone interview, but it just doesn't pan out.

I realize that I have a ton of competition out there. But, any feedback would be appreciated.

Thank you,

B.

 

[bigTomHanks]

Did you get your EIT recently? If not I would definately suggest that you try to get into something other than design first and then you can transition to design once you get inside the company. The fact that you are getting interviews means that you are presenting yourself well on paper and if you are going into interviews saying that you want to design that may be your problem.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Apologizing during an interview could also be a problem.

You know the friend who would tell you if your breath was bad? Ask them to conduct a mock interview with you, and to then tell you what you're doing wrong.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[rowingengineer]

I agree with mike you are coming off as thou you have nothing to offer and the past nine years are wasted to engineering, this is not the case and you need to convince yourself of this and then others.

ANY FOOL CAN DESIGN A STRUCTURE. IT TAKES AN ENGINEER TO DESIGN A CONNECTION.”

 

[lacajun]

One thing that concerns me is your terminology to describe the last nine years. The first five years you were consulting, which is technical albeit not FEA. It is still technical and not wasted. The last four years, thereabouts, you've been in customer service. I wouldn't phrase four years as several years in customer service but a few years in customer service. Several years in customer service gives the impression you have been in customer service longer than you were a consultant, which isn't accurate. If your customer service gig is technical, that's not a complete waste of time either.

Since you did other technical work, as a consultant, you've demonstrated your ability to learn new material/skills, which you should highlight. Your newly acquired Solidworks package indicates a willingness and ability to continue learning.

There are companies that will understand your situation and be willing to give you a shot. Those are the ones I would be happy to interview with.

If you haven't joined

http://www.linkedin.com,

you may want to consider it. I've been on it a few years and my resumé has been reviewed a lot. I have received calls and interviews, as a result. Make sure you hit the key words for your past work experience in your profile. Ensure you complete your profile along with any significant achievements concisely highlighted. Start connecting with past colleagues and people from eng-tips you know or are willing to lend you a hand in that regard. Join the Solidworks group on it as well as others related to your interests or potential interests. It isn't a silver bullet but everything helps today.

Also, with the internet, age is readily available for a lot of people. If you are a certain age, you will experience age discrimination. Sad but true fact. My sister has virtually zero internet presence yet her age and physical address are available through searches. Don't let this discourage you but let it motivate you to beat the odds.

Your overall tone seems rather dejected to me, which may be coming across during interviews. You may not feel dejected but it came across that way to me and at least two others.

Cheer up! Anyone who will sacrifice as you have to help with a family situation has to have a lot of integrity and character in a world in desperate need of more people like you. Your actions took strength and fortitude to make, do, and live! Incorporate that into your skills and job search. There are companies that will value those qualities and those are the ones I would want to work for.

 

[tygerdawg]

"So what have you been doing for the past nine years?"

"I moved back to Ohio to take care of some personal family matters. For the first five years I was doing freelance engineering work. That paid the bills and kept my skills honed and polished while at the same time allowed me to concentrate on family matters. The last four years I chose to move into Customer Service so I could have some more social contact with customers and boost my management skills. At this point, I have been working on my own initiative to get my <whatever> skills up to date and I'm looking jump back into the engineering world with both feet."

Sounds a lot better, doesn't it? There is nothing to apologize about when you decide to take a "sabbatical" and take care of family. Engineering employment prospects have been a trainwreck the last decade, so there's nothing to apologize for that, either.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[casseopeia]

Long term unemployment or underemployment can really affect your perception of yourself and your skills. Take the advice from above and look for ways to frame the last nine years in a more positive light. If you do not have a friend to help you with the interview, go to your local unemployment office. Even if you do not qualify for their free classes on interview skills, there are usually ads for local agencies that offer low-cost seminars.

But beyond the nuts and bolts of what to say during an interview, getting a better outlook about yourself will go a long way. How you do that is up to you. During my 15 months of unemployment I worked at a few different volunteer jobs that were outside of my training, but it made me feel useful. It's hard to get a job right now. It may have nothing to do with your skills.

"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump

 

[bleu27]

Thank you all for your responses. It really helped me out a great deal and today I accepted a position with a well known company that I'm very excited about.

It'll be starting out on UG doing some CAD work and then moving slowly into some design I believe. But, from the interview, it sounded like I'll be training on UG for two weeks first, then working on drawings for awhile until I can prove myself then onto bigger and better projects!

I'm very happy and thanks again!

B.

 

[casseopeia]

Good Luck! I hope things turn out well.

"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump

 

[lacajun]

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your new job and I wish you all the best.