Career shambles? 8

[55jj55jj]

I graduated from Univ. of Texas in Computer/Electronics Engineering…in 1999. Since then I’ve done nothing in engineering (so no experience). I’m weighing my options about returning to engineering.

Is there anything I could do (besides grad school) to be hireable? I heard about the Fundamentals of Engineering exam (to show I still remember my stuff). Would this be effective on a resume? Is there anything else I could do?
Any input appreciated...thanks

 

[TheTick]

Contract work.

 

[Lion06]

Passing the FE is definitely the first step. It might be harder to pass it now than if you had taken it when you were in school, but if you want to become a PE (not too familiar with your field, so I am not sure one exists, but...) you will have to take the FE.
Is there a reason you didn't take it while in school?

 

[IRstuff]

So, what the heck have you been doing and why? I'm detecting a hint of self-pity and possibly some procrastination, to boot. 8 years is a LONG time to have done nothing toward your profession.

Also, in California, there is no Computer/Electronics PE, since most of those applications fall under the industrial exemption.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[ee2002]

If I were you, I would look into an entry level position in the electrical construction industry. It's not that technical so you don't have to remember a lot from school to do your job. Also, taking the FE test and becoming an EIT ASAP would be good for this career route. As soon as you get the experience you need, take the PE test.

I think it would be very hard to get an EE job in the tech industry, unless you get a masters. They already see you as being obsolete.

Good luck.

 

[Sideswiper]

I graduated in 99 from OU and became a technical writer in the semiconductor industry. Three years later, nobody was taking my technical chops seriously... I ended up getting a master's degree just to be taken seriously again. (So I'm punished for being a well rounded person who can write and do math...) Even then it was hard finding work without "technical" experience, but finally I landed a job in the power industry. The power industry SHOULD be desperate to hire tons of young people before the experienced people all retire/die at the same time... but managements are stupid.

 

[tygerdawg]

Due to your field of study having such a short "knowledge half life" you may be challenged to get a position without some good marketing and make-up effort. But don't sell yourself short. But consider a little encouragement:
(1) you have an engineering degree from a decent school; so you've been rigorously trained as a problem solver and can apply those skills at any time. Don't ever forget that having that degree puts you in that (figurative) 99th percentile of the job-seeking population. You should be telling companies this.
(2) you are only qualified for an entry-level position and you'll have to pay your dues
(3) you certainly should take the FE exam to prove your training
(4) doing entry level contract work may be the easiest way to get some real experience
(5) I would assume the technology in your field of study has left you behind to a certain extent. It may be wise to take a couple of refresher courses or some non-university training
(6) how are your sales skills? You could get a gig in sales or applications for a distributor. It's a tough job, and distributors are always grinding through warm bodies. But at least you could get hands-on experience with the latest toys, technologies, and real customers' problems. It would probably last for a couple of years, enough to get you on your feet and see a lot of different opportunties.
(7) Graduate school is a noble undertaking, but painful and possibly expensive. My experience is that it can be career broadening or career limiting. Be sure you want to do this.
(8) Create a plan for re-building your skill set and marketability, execute the plan, then advertise yourself and tell your potential employers what you are doing. That kind of initiative is much more attractive to progressive employers than the alternative.
(9) it may not be anybody's business, but then again it is. What were you doing for 8 years? Be ready to explain it.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Advanced Robotics & Automation Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[Comcokid]

Buried in Sideswipers post is a tibit about the current job market that is mentioned in other threads at this site. Presently, the oil and gas industry is so hot that they are hiring from other industries experience people and offering large increases. What this means is that within the power, utilities, heavy manufacturing, and other industries engineers are being pulled away. This has created opportunites in these industries.

Aside from that, there are always employers (usually small companies) looking for inexpensive technical talent. Such companies pay 30 to 50% under the norm for engineers, and are not too choosy (if they were, they wouldn't have any employees). Usually not the best work athmosphere, but if you suffer through it for a couple years, there will many more opportunities.

There is always what is termed "a hidden job market". Many companies do not activitely look for people, but have positions, or will respond to an opportunity (you). Don't only hit the major web sites (eng-tips.4jobs.com, CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com, Hotjobs.com, Dice.com, eetimes-careers) but also look in the yellow pages for companies in your area, and then do a web search for their sites and check them out. Call or visit the local technical colleges, and ask a professor about companies in the area. You may have to hire in in a lesser position, but after some experience that will change.

 

[Hoxton]

I'm from UK so not too acquainted with USA qualifications etc.

1) You have made a major step - you have asked for advice! This takes courage and shows that you are thinking about your future. This is a strength - reflect on that.

2) Research. Find someone senior / qualified / company VP / whatever. Ask his advice, flatter him "I have not progressed in my career, [option - reason] [Joe] at the [golf club] told me you are well respected in your industry. I am looking for advice on my career. Who should I be talking to? Which companies are recruiting?". DO NOT ASK DIRECTLY FOR A JOB! Asking for a job is pressurising, and will just provoke a brush off.

3) I wish I had advice like that 30 years ago!

4) I have mentored a young engineer who had probably taken the wrong path. He lived near me and knew my children. He came to me with his problem and I gave him advice (he should not have taken a graduate engineer course, he should have taken a technician course - he was better at practical things) but hey, they cannot take that pretty certificate off you! He took a course on cabling (your equivalent is NEC). I gave him a list of local companies to try and he got a job as a service engineer a month after completing the course. He used my name and they phoned me for a reference. Hey, I was so pleased thay phoned me!

Good luck. When you are president of Bechtel you can buy us all a drink

 

[55jj55jj]

Thank you so much to all for responding to my post…I didn’t expect this many posts so quickly. I thought I might have to wait a while to let the responses build, then log in to respond to them, but they built pretty quickly.

What would be some good training (besides FE exam) to show I'm up to date? Good hobby, contests? I love electronics.
What'd be some good refresher courses?....what would a hiring manager require to see before giving me anything?

I like the idea of working at a small company. Should I start off as an intern? Would anyone be willing to hire someone w. engineering training as an intern? maybe a technician.

 

[ykee]

A suggestions for you: In terms of electronics/computers, there are a lot of robotics clubs around. If you join a local group, you can meet people who are employed (great networking opportunity) in electronics and programming, plus have some fun. It might not lead to a job, but maybe you'll get your fix that way.

I'd be surprised if anyone looked at a single course as a means of showing suitability for a particular field: experience is given a lot of weight, and yours is not in your field of interest.

 

[Sideswiper]

"Would anyone be willing to hire someone w. engineering training as an intern? maybe a technician."

In my personal experience, no. When they recieve your degree, someone in human resources decides you are overqualified and the technical manager never sees your resume.

Go to IEEE meetings. Email companies and ask engineers about their jobs. Through research I found out about small power companies I didn't even know existed... and one of those companies was so impressed that I found them, that although they had never hired anyone young before they took a chance on me.