Everything's for Managers or Interns

[Careful34]

How does one break into the energy field? I hear a lot about how they're losing people to retirement and need replacements, but the vast majority of jobs I see on the employment sites are for senior engineers able to lead a team, and the positions listed on the company sites are for interns. I find very little in between.

I have a BS in mechanical engineer from 99. Got laid off from a manufacturing engineer position for a tier one automotive supplier in January. Before that I was an applications engineer for an industrial nozzle company, and before that project engineer for an industrial gas heater company.

Anyone got any tips?

 

[Mr168]

Are you looking at energy companies in specific? I've seen plenty of openings at the large EPC companies dealing in power work, especially for someone with 10 years experience. Even if all of that isn't relevant experience, I've seen equally as many jobs asking for 2-5 years.

Don't be afraid to apply for some of those senior-level positions. Its not uncommon for a resume to be seen, and while it may not be right for that job, trickle down through HR, only do discover that it fits the bill for another. If they're advertising internships, odds are they've got some entry-mid level spots that need filled.

 

[HamishMcTavish]

plus companies always advertise for the IDEAL candidate, these days not many of those about...

if you can meet more than half the criteria they ask for then apply and see how far you get!

Cheers, HM

No more things should be presumed to exist than are absolutely necessary - William of Occam

 

[Careful34]

Most of the jobs seem to be through agencies. I wonder if non-ideal candidates are even passed through to the actual employer.

And, of course, it prevents follow up phone calls.

 

[ctopher]

In the U.S., we are now an intern country...everyone else is gone/outsourced.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08; CATIA V5
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[MechEng2005]

I second Hamish's post about applying even if you don't fit exactly.

And even if it's through a staffing agency, it might be worth applying. Certainly the staffing agency would rather supply the hiring company a stack of slightly under-qualified canidates resumes than none at all. And I suspect that some companies use staffing agencies because they aren't sure exactly what they are looking for. Somehow passing some of the responsibility elsewhere will help them. This is exactly the case where a good resume can catch an eye, even if it doesn't meet everything the company thought they wanted. Finally, some staffing companies (or managers) don't actually know a lot about the positions and day-to-day duties they are trying to fill (especially very technical positions). Maybe you don't fit what the staffing company thought the company wanted, but you are exactly what the company was looking for.

-- MechEng2005

 

[PeterStock]

I got my current position by applying for a different one. The company took the resume submitted by an agency and decided I fit a different role. Do not just limit yourself to the energy field though, you may miss out on a good position in a different field.

Peter Stockhausen
Senior Design Analyst (Checker)
Infotech Aerospace Services

 

[KENAT]

There are certain killer requirements in job applications (such as citizenship or nationality requirements) many other things are often negotiable or nice to haves. I'd go ahead and submit your resume, the worst they can say is no, or more likely just not respond.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?