Recent aerospace graduate career advice

[Xaoc88]

I recently registered with the site so this seems the proper forum for this thread.

I am looking for some general advice from folks who may have experience or general knowledge on aerospace employment.

I graduated last December with a masters in aerospace engineering and have been looking specifically for a job related to propulsion in primarily the defense and space industry but not exclusively to defense and space. Unfortunately, propulsion jobs are far less common than something like structural or systems eng., and I have been pretty restrictive in my applications up to now. A few instances I have applied to systems eng. or other positions at places such as ATK. I have not received one phone call except for an internship position at SpaceX that I applied to during the end of my masters term. I estimate around 20 applications I have sent out since graduating. I have even applied for internships, but it seems you need to be enrolled in school to be viable for most.

Some background that may be useful:
Job experience: I was interned and later employed at a small local aerospace company for a little under a year.
MS GPA: 3.66
BS GPA (also in aerospace):3.2


My job experience and extra curricular activities related to engineering may be a little lacking so maybe there is some advice on how to eventually put myself into a position leading to propulsion. Or may it be wise to abandon propulsion altogether? I regret being a little late in applying as I would have applied to more internship positions while still enrolled.

Any advice is appreciated.
Dan

 

[GregLocock]

If I were you I'd apply for /any/ interesting engineering job at a company that also has propulsion expertise, then after a year or two apply for a sideways move into the propulsion group.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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

 

[KENAT]

I cannot recall exactly which forum, but similar question(s) may have been asked over in one of the aero forums:

http://www.eng-tips.com/threadcategory.cfm?lev2=4

http://www.eng-tips.com/threadcategory.cfm?lev2=3

Posting guidelines faq731-376

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

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[Xaoc88]

I have started to do that a bit Greg. I think that may be a good idea I should start to ramp up a bit more though.

Thanks Kenat. I found there are plenty of related posts in the "aerospace other" I will have a look at.

 

[graybeach]

Why not try a power utility. I work for one and love it. Being Civil, I don't know all the nomenclature, but certain types of power plants are often referred to as "really just jet engine".

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Civilian employment at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate.

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/afrl/rq/

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net