Job searching after graduation? (BSME) 1

[kawh1]

I am currently job searching after graduating with a BSME degree. The amount of entry level jobs posted on job boards and company websites are very scarce, compared to the number of engineers wanted with at least 5 years of experience. Is there a surplus of mechanical engineers in the U.S.? I don’t think it’s just the economic health of the country. ME jobs are out there, but not for recent grads.

If it matters - I am searching in the Los Angeles area and have passed the EIT exam, along with having ME internship experience. I don’t think my background would put me out of contention, but I realize it’s still not at the very top.

I don’t mind starting at a drafting position, or something that would not require a full engineering degree to pay my dues and work my way up. At the same time, I don’t want to risk being in a dead end job not utilizing my engineering degree. I would like to take the PE exam within the next 5 years.

So the question is, has the job market for recent grads always been that way? Maybe entry level jobs are rarely advertised? My next step is going in person to a company and see if they have any job openings. I’m not sure how that will work out, since the canned response from company representatives at job fairs are, “all open jobs are posted on the company website, just apply.” Sure, I only have to stand out among 150 other applicants. No success for an interview from applying through company websites so far.

Staffing agencies would be my last option. I have searched similar threads and have found insightful posts. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[GregLocock]

Entry level jobs, and your first job after graduating, are the most difficult ones to get, probably even more difficult than internships.

Taking a CAD job is a bit of a long term high risk strategy, I can see from my cubicle the balding heads of several engineering graduates who are now CAD guys and likely to remain that way, but at the same time I can think of at least two CAD guys who moved across into engineer's jobs. Having written all that it actually sounds like a smart move!





Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[cedarbluffranch]

Are you interested in working at Boeing? We're hiring like crazy right now. Most the jobs are in Seattle, though, so you'd have to be willing to live in the land with no sun.

Don't dispair. I graduated in 2003 and it was a full year before I found my first engineering job and it was a crummy one at that (37k/year). The market will come back. The trouble with engineering is when the economy tanks engineers get hit really hard.

Do you have a linkedIn account? That's a great start if you do. You can meet a lot of people that way and possibly get into some engineering positions.

Where would you like to work?

You write very well and I think that is a great asset. You portray yourself in writing and that will take you a long ways.

One parting thought is you can go to grad school if the market is tough. It may not be your plan right now (it wasn't mine) but right now is a great time of your life to pursue it. I was focused on my career, and now five years later, I'm just starting on my graduate degree.

Don't worry about your PE right now. Five years is a long time and you have a lot of other things in life to worry about rather than gettting the right experience for that. I just took my PE exam last weekend, and let me tell you, my "qualifying experience" was very elementary engineering.

Good luck!
Hope that helps!

 

[cedarbluffranch]

I just read over Greg's post and I'll say that my experience with CAD is different than his. That's not saying he's wrong but different people have difference experience in life.

I've found that having a CAD background has made me highly employable. I work tody as a Flight Test Engineer as Boeing and I was hired in large part because of my extensive CAD experience. You and I would call it drafting, but the interviewer felt they have a tremendous need for CAD modelers and hired me because of it.

 

[KENAT]

The CAD thing can be a double edged sword. For some it leads into more hardcore engineering for others it doesn't. If you're happy and make decent money who cares if you're a 'real engineer' or a CAD guy?

If you've really searched then you'll have seen how I got my first position. I basically got a directory of companies in the industry I was interested in, and went through it. First I applied to all the big names I'd heard of. Then to any others in there that sounded remotely interesting.

This was just before the web recruiting really took off, I've got to say I'm not a fan of the web recruiting thing, maybe it works for employers but I'm not so sure.

My second job I got through a job shop and then it went permanent - not that that really means much these days.

KENAT,

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

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

 

[kawh1]

Thanks for all your responses.

Cedarbluffranch:

I'll look into Boeing in the Seattle area. I already have a job search account set up at the Boeing website, but haven't looked outside California. I'm not too overly concerned with the PE, but it gives me a goal to achieve.

 

[GregLocock]

Kenat - reread my last sentence, I did a 180.

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[ash9144]

Trying engineering contract firms such as Halliburton or KBR. Wouldn't be permanent or necessarily stable but should help get some experience. Once you get 1-2 years experience folks are a lot more willing to hire you. Also don't be scared to put in for a job that asks for 2-5 years experience. Some people really think they want that but don't really need it and when they get into the hiring process realize they don't pay enough for it.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

And if you land a job w/ Halliburton or KBR - you might just get to visit IRAQ or get caught in some scandalous government ripoff.

 

[cedarbluffranch]

Applying for a job at Boeing is sort of like voting (do it early and often).

I applied for 140 different job postings before I finally got hired. I was hired a contractor first (through Comforce) then on full time.

With no experience, it'd be hard to get on as contract but keep sending your resume in. They'll call back eventually.

 

[TheTick]

Don't be too quick to knock contract work. It's an excellent way to get in the door. In a tough economy, contract work is easier to get. At your age, major medical insurance can be had for cheap.

As far as young CAD guys becoming old CAD guys, it's their own fault. They have almost certainly slept through opportunities to do more. I'm a less-than-junior CAD guy AND engineer. I do "real" engineering and my own CAD and support and teach my peers (and boss).

The only person who gives a rat's @$$ about your career is you. It's up to you to keep it on track.

 

[KENAT]

Greg, I wasn't disagreeing with you, I saw your 180° and agreed.

Some might argue I'm more of a CAD guy, but I've done OK for myself and got to do some, what I would call, real engineering.

KENAT,

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

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