Just Graduated college and lost 4

[DenRud]

Hello everyone,
I'm new here and thought this would be an excellent place to get advice on my current situation. I have just graduated in December with a BS in Electrical Engineering at the University at Buffalo and am honestly very lost on what path I want to take with my degree. My problem is I have never had any work experience which hurts my current chances of finding a job now. I have been on a few interviews since I graduated, but with no luck and sometimes even question if I would be able to perform my job duties.
I am currently looking into volunteer programs for engineers that will help me gain some experience while traveling to other countries. If anyone here has been in a similar situation or knows of a program that would help me I would really appreciate your input.

 

[plasgears]

Most student engineers become committed to their chosen profession in their later years at university. My fraternity of mech engrs had several exceptions: one left for med school, another to dental school, another went into prosthetics. They had the courage to cut their losses and take another path.

The main reason for my enrollment in eng'g was to act as an entre' into airline aviation, but I later found out that the airlines like to hire from trade schools at shockingly low salaries. I found this out after a laborious flight training program under the GI Bill. I stayed in engineering. No regrets.

 

[JayMaechtlen]

I met a guy who was an lawyer- his first degree was Mechanical Engineering, then went to law school.
Others have gone into sales, biomed, etc.
My degree was ME also, did a number of things while called an engineer. Now am working as technical writer.
Engineering is a great background/launchpad for lots of other things. And, you can even make a living at it, if needs be...


Jay Maechtlen

http://home.covad.net/~jmaechtlen/

 

[DenRud]

I keep reading how Engineering is such a great field and I definitely do not doubt it. Like EddyC wrote "You are now part of a profession that does more for the world than any other." But I can't help but be discouraged on the fact that as much that can be done with this degree, I cannot find a single position. Many of my friends have told me to just be patient. When they were looking for jobs after college they said it felt like it took them forever. Some of them even waited 6-8 months before they found anything. It really is a scary thought to wait that long considering it has been 3 months since I graduated and I'm already going nuts. I have been looking at Engineers without Borders and feel that is would be a great way for me to jump into engineering work, but there does not seem to be many chapters in my area that are involved in projects. I feel that there are better ways to look for a job other than Monster, CareerBuilder...blah blah blah. Perhaps I need to be more proactive because this resume sending and waiting for a reply just doesn't seem to cut it.

 

[EngJW]

I think engineering is a dying field in the U.S. First we had downsizing and now the jobs are going offshore. These are not normal economic cycles anymore. Colleges continue to crank out engineers, and organizations like SAE keep right on telling us there is an engineering shortage.

Consider going to a machine shop or something like it where the work might be interesting and you could learn something. Sweep floors for a while and you could get promoted into something where you could use your abilities. You would have an income and you would be able to take your time searching for a job. It is usually easier to get a job while you are working.

 

[Slugger926]

I took a job out of school for 6 months with a small engineering firm that specializes in giving kids an opurtunity out of school while they make a killing on your work. It was a two way benifit, they couldn't afford an engineer at a normal sallary, but they could at McDonald's wages. That 6 months of experience allowed me to move on to a better job, plus some of the big corporations may take 6 to 8 months to hire someone after initial contact.

Good Luck.

 

[IRstuff]

Perhaps you should try to find someone to review your cover letters and resume for any potential improvements.

TTFN

 

[MikeHalloran]

The Engineers Without Borders thing sounds noble and all, but it doesn't help you develop a network within your community; you'll be away when the existing jobs become available. Don't they expect you to pay your own way? Don't they expect you to bring, well, experience, too?

The traditional job-finding mechanism was badly broken _before_ we started exporting jobs. Now it's useless.

Find five outfits that need an engineer one day a week.

Take an hourly job at an electronics distributor. You'll meet the outside sales reps, who know where the work is.









Mike Halloran
NOT speaking for
DeAngelo Marine Exhaust Inc.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA

 

[DenRud]

After what seems like endless hours of applying for jobs online I've finally figured out that this method won't get me anywhere. I know that companies prefer the online method because it less intrusive, but since this is obviously not working I think its a good idea to just seek out engineering companies in my area and just show up with my resume and ask to speak to an HR rep. Worse comes to worse they tell me that they are not looking for anyone and I just head to the location, but at least they now know my face and have a hardcopy of my resume instead of an email which is most likely deleted before it is even viewed.

 

[IRstuff]

Have you looked at newspaper want ads? Also, pubs like EE Times and Electronic Design usually have job ads as well. Likewise, I think, IEEE Spectrum.

TTFN

 

[livingston]

When I first graduated, I sent cover letters and resumes to engineering managers in every company within a 50 mile radius of the city where I wanted to work. It was time consuming but a good investment. I got a few interviews and one job offer.

 

[DonPE]

DenRud-
A good book about problems with the interview process is "Ask the Headhunter: Reinventing the Interview to Win the Job", by Nick A. Corcodilos. The author writes about problems with the current employment system. For me, one of the biggest points I got from the book is that you must explicitly tell the hiring manager that you are interested in the position. Sounds trite, but without that feedback, they may move onto another candidate. But there are many good points in the book that may help you. Good luck.

 

[HgTX]

"One of the biggest points I got from the book is that you must explicitly tell the hiring manager that you are interested in the position"

Wow...

and then you run into the manager who docks you for restating the obvious.

Hg

Eng-Tips guidelines: faq731-376

 

[DenRud]

"One of the biggest points I got from the book is that you must explicitly tell the hiring manager that you are interested in the position"


Ummm isn't that the reason I would come in for an interview anyway. Oh well never underestimate the stupidity of the interviewing process. Anyway thanks Don I'll look into the book tomorrow.

 

[SolderingGunslinger]

It might be a little backward, but check with some broadcasters (assuming, of course you know which end of the soldering iron you hold on to.)

A little hands-on technical experience has held many a neophyte Engineer in good stead and radio or TV is a good place to learn, if your interests fall along that line.

I remain,

The Ol' SGS