can't find a job 1

[PFF]

Hi All,

I'm a statistician (age 59) who retired early to return to school to finish engineering degree. Went to an ABET school finished an AAS in EE. Been looking for a job for 15 months. No one will hire me. Is it the economy? My age? Lack of experience? Have I wasted my time pursuing my dream?
It's been a terrible experience. One place I interviewed the hiring engineer called told me he loved my resume but when I went for the interview he said to me "I'm looking for someone younger".
Is that all this comes down to?

 

[qmechanics]

By economic measures (think BLS) it's not a depression but by every other metric it is. Without all our safety nets and the BLS statistical adjustments to employment data we most certainly are in a depression. And it's worldwide. Even China is slowing down. Despite all that I'm bucking even an internship would be welcome. At my age does it even pay for me to finish a BSEE? I could just do an MSEE and skip over the BSEE. Does any of this matter? Who's going to hire a 62 year old, no experience engineer? I have two years experience working at an EET and that was in the mid 70's. My guess is that doesn't help. Perhaps I should have pursued QE but I am more interested in EE.
And if I did pursue QE what way do I do this. Time is of the essence. ASQC certification? Six sigma? I have no idea.
Any further thoughts would be welcomed. Thanks.

 

[YoungTurk]

I don't doubt that your resume is often discarded due to the age and/or experience.

In my opinion, over-qualified is a thing, and its not the same as too expensive or too old. If we're looking for someone at the entry level to handle rudimentary engineering tasks and receive resumes for PhDs with decades of experience at a much higher level, it is fair to doubt how well of a fit they are for the job.

On the other hand, ageism happens, and its not fair. Neither is life.

A piece of advice, which could help in either situation, and maybe you've already tried. Take your resume and re-write it like a young college grad, going back a few years at most. No mention of BS/MS from years ago or decades of experience.

When you get a call off that resume, and they ask about what you did "before", or your age, or change of careers (they will), take the opportunity to express your real desire to work in your new field, and your obvious enthusiasm for it. Don't bother being defensive about your age, spin in like a politician!

 

[IRstuff]

There were overqualified PhDs driving cabs in the recession after Vietnam.

Generally, when I see an applicant with way more qualifications, my concerns are:
> will they bolt because the salary is so disproportionate to their qualifications and previous salary?
> will they bolt the instant they find a more suitable job that fits their qualifications?
> will they be bored by such light demands that they'll bolt just to save their sanity?
> will they willingly take direction from a much younger manager?
> will they adhere to the policies and regulations of THIS company?
> will they stand to slog through the ranks like all the other newbie engineers?

Anything beyond that is really irrelevant; the notion of "growing with the company" is ludicrous in the ear where people are sloughed off like dead skin from a lizard.

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[lacajun]

Whether or not a BS will pay off depends on how long you intend to work. Everything isn't ROI, since we only have one day at a time anyway. We plan for the future but we all have one day at a time. If you have the time and money, do it, if that makes you happy.

Have you applied at a community college to teach courses? Or work on campus? What about doing technical work for a chain of grocers, hoteliers, ski resorts, etc.?

Not that you lack wisdom but I've talked to many engineers that wanted to work in a certain aspect of their field but never could quite get there. I don't know if Deming was in that group but he was an EE that went to quality.

Quality work is interesting and a much different view than technician level work. Six Sigma used to be the route to QE but that may be passé now. It isn't discussed much these days. You may be able to blow through all the tests to get your certifications. It still would probably open doors before many other things would.

The feds have changed so many definitions over the years, we probably don't know the full truth, comparatively, to years past. That always chapped my graduate advisor to no end. BLS definitions have changed over the years, too. There are a lot of people looking for work and cannot find anything. There are quite a few that have stopped looking and UI ran out years ago for them.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[spciesla]

What about working in Metrology? Seems like it might fit your background a bit.

 

[graybeach]

The tick had a good idea about going into QA/QC. There is a currently a fairly high demand for this at power utilities. Your background seems perfect. If you are willing to travel all over the world something like 75% of the time, I can't see why you could not get a job. For this you should expect to be paid more or less on par with others doing the same work. A low ball salary on your resume would make you seem questionable. Once you are in with a utility, and you really wanted to get your BSEE, take a cut in pay, and work as an entry level EE, you might be able to make the change.

 

[lacajun]

Something else to consider...Seniors default on college debt

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[msquared48]

PFF:

Although no one woild ever admit it to my face, for obvious reasons, I ran into the same situation many times in the 42 months I was looking for employment. It was a long hard haul and I feel for you.

I finally had to walk the resume into the firm, get an immediate interview, and went on from there as a contract engineer for the firm. Been there almost four months now, and they are very happy that I am around. Experience does help, particularly in dealing with older jobs - 30 to 40 years old or more. You might consider this approach at your age, and I am older than you by a few years. I strongly believe that firms are more willing to hire us as contract workers rather than employees.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[moltenmetal]

PFF: you may have ten good solid working years in you yet, but it will be tough to convince any employer to hire you and take that chance. Why would they? What's in it for them? Why would they select you rather than a fresh grad, given that you have no work experience in your chosen field?

You need to take another route: create your own job, or volunteer and get work experience that way. You can keep looking for a job and maybe you'll be able to find one, with a small company who are willing to overlook your lack of direct work experience in exchange for your maturity and commitment- but I seriously doubt it given the current job market.

Best of luck to you.

 

[RDK]

I always say that it takes 20 years to make an engineer, 4 university, 4 to get a PE or P.Eng and the next 12 to get good at your field of specialization.

Since the OP has the degree that would make him 75 before he is a fully qualified and experienced engineer. Even if we give him some credit for life experience and maturity he will still be past retirement age before he starts to really earn his keep.

Sorry but I’d be leery of hiring him as well.


Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com