Need Information and advice 1

[Fidjouss]

I have been reading this forum for a while now and this is my first post. I hope I am posting this thread in the right spot.
I am in my mid thirties and before I moved to the USA, I worked for the water department as a hydraulic technician in for four years. In 2005, I got my degree in Electrical Engineering (with the highest honors, which doesnt mean much, just more ink on your diplomat). I been looking for a job since then, but it has been very difficult finding a position in this field. I have interviewd with multiple companies, CAT, Intel, GE, but for some unknown reason,it seems that I am not the right fit for them. After narrowing my objective and focusing on Automation and controls, I went back to school and got another certificate in PLCS and HMI, but still same story all over again. I dont see any light at the end of the tunnel. I have lost all hope and confidence and thinking about starting fresh and exploring something new.

I have been working for a construction company since I moved here doing mainly office work and computer support with some interaction with the estimator and the surveyor. I have watched and watched them again and feel that I could do that without any problems, just need some experience and guidance and learn the tricks.

I am planning on becoming a certified surveyor with a focus on GPS and GIS applications since that will be the future of surveying. I have been reading some surveying books and find the material very easy to handel (not the legal part: too much memorisation). I am thinking about attending either Purdue in Calumet or Southern Illinois university since there are the only two approved programs in Illinois.(for those who attended either, please give me your input and advice).
So fellas, I want get your inputs about this move. Is it the way to proceed? are surveyors in demand (I talked to Professor Frank Roy,Director of the program at SIUC, and told me that he has a very long waiting list of companies waiting to hire his students. I also called the Illinois board and they told me the same story).I just dont want to make a wrong choice and a bad decision again and waste all time and money.

And thanks for reading. I promise, next time I will keep it short

 

[JedClampett]

A couple of things:

Purdue University, Calumet is in Indiana, not Illinois.

I would be surprised if the Universtiy of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign doesn't have a program in what you're interested in.

But the biggest point is that you should study something you like. If you like surveying, fine. But to pick a field of Engineering based on the current help wanted ads is somewhat short sighted. Tomorrow, they might come up with another machine to change the business again. There are jobs in all specialties. The biggest problem in the industry is lack of engineers. If you haven't found a job in Electrical Engineering, you need to look a little harder. There are positions out there, both entry level and for experienced enginers.

 

[cvg]

it seems that part of your dilemma may be that you have the wrong experience on your resume. You have worked for the water department and for a contractor. No experience in the electrical field at all. I know when we hire, probably the most important thing we look for is relevant experience. If you want to work in EE, then you need to start at the bottom and get your foot in the door. Working for a contractor (unless it is as an electrical subcontractor) will not help you.

 

[oldestguy]

I'd not believe any professor as to "wanting lists". Many of these folks are just trying to keep their jobs, teaching.

For surveyng, you should know that with more and more electronics in that field, there is less and less need for "man power".

These days with GPS one man can do the work of a party of 5 that was required years ago.

Why not just stop in to a surveying firm and ask their for advice, not a job? Many a civil engineering firm has a surveying department. You should also know that big time universities may not even have a surveying section any more. That is true of my old alma mater. Technical colleges are doing that now.

Aside from these items, for getting a job, the person's attitude has a lot to do with it. A pusher that is persistent, not taking "no work" for an answer, gets the nod above the "wishy-washer" attitude. Don't forget to stop in and ask again to see the department head, not the girl at the front desk. Personally being there is far better than sending in resume, etc. Most "in charge" folks will give you one minute ot their time. Ask for one minute only.

For instance saying "I'll tackle any job, just to get a chance to show what I can do" is a good approach.

Us old guys don't look kindly at messy hair or lack of neck tie with coat. Ya gotta cater to these old fashoned ideas.

 

[LHA]

If the costs of having survey work done are any indication - and they should be directly correlated - surveying work which used to cost USD10k ten years ago now costs about USD4k. So, one would presume surveyors make 40% of what they used to, or work 2.5x harder for the same money.

I can't believe you can't find EE work. Move to Southcentral PA, you'll find all you can do, and you'll practically name your price, if you are at all competent.

Engineering is the practice of the art of science - Steve

 

[BelspringKen]

This is the kind of thing I ran into when I got out of school. Now it seems we hire almost anyone with a diploma!!

You may have to re-locate if you having trouble getting work. Have a friend or someone in the Placement or Career Services dept. at your college look at your resume.

Perhaps your alumni association or the Career Services dept at your alma mater would be willing to help you find leads on who is hiring.

 

[PEinc]

Fidjouss,

Please don't take this response negatively, but could there be another reason that a company would not hire you? You sound smart. Your written communication skills seem to be fine. Therefore, I assume that your verbal skills are acceptable also. How about your personal appearance or personality? Is there something there you need to improve? Maybe a close friend or relative could comment on how to make a better presentation to or first impression on a potential employer.

Also, your interests seem to be spread all over the place - hydraulics, electrical, construction, surveying. You may be scaring off possible employers by looking like you don't know what you want to do. You are already in your mid-thirties and still don't know what you want to be when you grow up. Try focusing on your primary interest.

You mentioned Cat, Intel, & GE. Maybe you need to look at smaller companies. You looked at large companies that probably are able to hire the best of the best. There's nothing wrong with working for a company that may be smaller than Cat, Intel, & GE. Keep looking. Good luck.