Things I should be doing/career path help

[MechanicalWildcat]

Hello all,
1:
I'm new to the forum; first post. I'm about to enter my senior year of undergraduate mechanical engineering at the University of Arizona. This summer I had the realization that my (supposed) first job is only a year away. I want to make myself as marketable as possible, so I've taken some steps to do so.

Already experienced with SolidWorks, I was in dismay to find hardly any companies use the product, and many use PTC. I downloaded Creo/Elements Pro 5.0 student edition and I have been practicing around 2 hours a day with it. I would like to get experience with CATIA as well, and I will probably purchase the student version soon.

Other than learning the desired CAD programs, what would you all recommend to place myself above the rest of the soon to be new mechanical graduates? (I'm aware internship experience is paramount, I am seeking an internship for the upcoming senior year now.)


2:
With mechanical engineering being the so-called "jack-of-all-trades" of engineering, I still am having difficulty finding a definite career path/specialty that truly interests me. I was hoping I could perhaps provide what I've enjoyed in school and my interests, and you all could suggest good fits in industry.

Coursework I've enjoyed:
-Intro to CAD (I really enjoy 3D modeling, and making things within a program, I'd like to use some sort of CAD in the future)
-Dynamics
-Dynamics of Machines
-Machining Lab (I liked the hands on machining work, as well ass being able to take my Solidworks models and machine them into real parts)
-Numerical Methods (I thought Matlab was a very interesting and cool program)



Interests:
-Renewable energy
-Cars (particularly electric or hydrogen powered)
-Design from scratch (I wanted to be an inventor as a kid)


I'd appreciate any insight or suggestions on either topic; this community looks like a great place for help and to meet some fellow engineers.

 

[KENAT]

Well, internship is probably one of the best things you can do as you point out.

You seem very hung up on various CAD systems, fair enough. However, given your stated interests I'd encourage you to think about what you do with the CAD, not just where the buttons etc. are.

By this I mean learn how to create a good drawing (or potentially MBD equivalent), relevant drafting standard, tolerancing principles, general drawing good practices... This would put you ahead of most new grads if you're OK with doing your own drafting/detailing.

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[ctopher]

Already experienced with SolidWorks, I was in dismay to find hardly any companies use the product

You may want to check that again...

I agree with KENAT. Look into internship.
Working with CAD is almost a given. It's a common tool within engineering.

Chris, CSWA
SolidWorks 14
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[IRstuff]

I would look also to some level of specialization, like stress analysis or thermal analysis, but you do need to keep your opportunities as wide ranging as possible.

TTFN
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[GregLocock]

Contact all the car manufacturers you like the sound of and find out how/if they are recruiting direct from university. Talk to the relevant HR droid if possible. I know that Tesla and Ford are currently expanding, and Ford at least has reinvigorated its graduate program.

https://www.fordgradrecruitment.com/graduates2014/default.aspx

However the truth is that not many automotive OEMs do a whole lot of what you or I would consider blue sky product innovation (Tesla excepted), you may want to consider Tier one suppliers.

For renewables I'd have a think about going to China, again, you wouldn't be doing blue sky research.



Cheers

Greg Locock


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[MechanicalWildcat]

I appreciate the replies guys. One question I have is, does one pigeonhole themselves into the field that their internship is in? If I say got an internship working with manufacturing, and I decide I want to go another direction, does this experience suddenly become meaningless when looking elsewhere for jobs?

 

[KENAT]

Meaningless, no; less directly relevant, perhaps.

However, unless you are applying to work at the same place you intern at then much of what you did in your internship probably won't be directly relevant anyway - even if in the same nominal field.

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[SomptingGuy]

Meaningless, nope. Dunno about your professional bodies over there, but over here (UK) we need to tick many boxes in odd places before our professional institution will let us join (as a full member). All the stuff done as an intern counts toward it. I did a couple of factory placements that were interesting and worthwhile, but not what I really wanted to do.

- Steve

 

[GregLocock]

Manufacturing (assembly plants etc) is a brilliant area to do an internship in, your lack of experience won't matter one jot when fire fighting, your energy and fresh eyes will help.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[MechanicalWildcat]

Thanks for all the great replies everyone!

Concerning acquiring internships,
I've been doing much reading on the forum on the power of a phone call or even walking into a company in person, even if they have no listing for a intern position available. When I find companies that look interesting to me to intern at during my last year, what would be the suggested method for inquiring about obtaining an internship? Being that I'm home for summer, away from Tucson, walking in isn't the most convenient option (though I could easily make the 3 and a half hour drive down).

 

[IRstuff]

You could possibly offer to video conference. I think the specifics of the internship is not particularly restricting; many internships turn out to be a haven for gophers, so people don't necessarily think you're suddenly a 3-month employee.

My son parlayed one internship into another, which led to his job offer for after graduation. Nothing immediately applicable to his last internship, but it was solid job experience at a reputable company doing more than gopher stuff.

TTFN
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[GregLocock]

Among other valuable experiences in my first year at work:

photocopying and stapling other peoples reports for them
counting the number of semi trailers on site
phoning round local haulage businesses for quotes so we could find out why our suppliers were using them rather than us for some jobs and not others
stocktake on the number of batteries for production every night, to try and find out how they were going missing (after I left, big clue: overnight security guard with keys to the locked storage compound)
working on an assembly line that wasn't running due to strike action
handing out pay packets
compiling the goddamn absentee returns every day and issuing the report to the line managers (incredibly tedious but I now know why it matters)


I did a lot of more useful and interesting things as well.





Cheers

Greg Locock


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[KENAT]

Hmm, you mention Tucson. Well I can think of at lease one industrial metrology equipment manufacturer with a site there that uses Solid Edge CAD software.

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[ctopher]

You may one day get pigeonholed in doing what you do best.

Chris, CSWA
SolidWorks 14
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[tygerdawg]

It is my assertion that one's technical skills are what helps keep you employed on a daily basis. Other than an essential competency in problem solving, technical skills are variable and dynamic, depending on employment and the current state of the art.

One's "soft skills" are what provides career growth. Do not neglect the soft skills:
[ul]
[li]Recognize the fact that you are ignorant (not confused with "stupid") in a lot of areas. Worry not, this is easily corrected, and takes some time.[/li]
[li]Learn to be attentive. Observe and listen to gain knowledge.[/li]
[li]Develop excellent writing skills.[/li]
[li]Develop excellent speaking skills, and know when to use them.[/li]
[li]Recognize where you fit in the pecking order of an organization, and what the organization's definition of "team player" actually means. You'll get your chance to lead from the front soon enough.[/li]
[li]Develop tact and diplomacy.[/li]
[li]Learn how to be a persuader and influencer, not a manipulator and bully.[/li]
[/ul]



TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[MechanicalWildcat]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'm actively pursuing manufacturing internships for senior year now, and I'm thinking automotive sounds like the most fulfilling to me post graduation. I've been thinking about Tesla long before I started this thread, as they seem to have a good co-op/internship program for new grads. I'm sure it's highly competitive. I'll try to bolster my resume during this final year and see how many boxes I can check off that Tesla requirement list. Tesla uses Solidworks, so at least I'm ahead of the game in the CAD department.