Underemployment with an uncommon degree

[nengaw]

I graduated from College three years ago with an Engineering Science BE with an EE Specialization. My degree is basically a cross section of engineering with a focus on Materials Science with in my case electrical engineering. My problem is that I've been doing production testing and module swap repairs for two years and I want to move into an actual engineering role. Any advice or tips? I'm worried that my lack of an electrical engineering degree is harming my career potential. I've explained my degree so many time on interviews.

 

[GregLocock]

Is that an ABET course?

Cheers

Greg Locock


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

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

 

[nengaw]

Yes my degree is ABET accredited.

 

[GregLocock]

Well to be honest two years out of uni you should be building expertise in your actual job, not relying on your degree to get you into new jobs. So, are there any openings in your current company/ /or a competitor/ that are more aligned with your interests?



Cheers

Greg Locock


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

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

 

[Ron]

If your degree is ABET accredited, consider licensing. It will erase lots of questions.

 

[nengaw]

I have taken the FE exam, as part of my degree we had to take a review course for the exam. Problem is without any engineering experience I can't sit for the PE.

As for my current job I was supposed to be doing actual technician work and some design work to get started but so far I'm still doing testing until the owner makes a decision.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

If it's taking the owner two years to make a decision about you doing technician work, I'd move along to greener pastures, too.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[tygerdawg]

Having an ABET-Accredited BE degree (vs. BSEE) only puts you at a very slight disadvantage. And that is very easily rectified by your salesmanship of your paper qualifications.

You should be emphasizing your work history and accomplishments based on your solid foundation of a broad Engineering training, also your learning how to deal with the challenges you have faced during your work. Express your desire to move to something more suitable to your Engineering training. Life, jobs, & companies aren't fair...they may not be willing or able to do so. And if they won't / can't....you are in charge of your own career progression. Accept it for whatever reason "as-is" or move on.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[KENAT]

PE is primarily of use in the non exempt industry, in exempt industry it is of less use (not none, but less).

So given your current situation, assuming you want to be designing things that your employer builds and sells then chasing PE wouldn't be my primary path.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

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

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

 

[nengaw]

I only changed jobs six months ago with the expectation of doing more technically involved work. So I've only been waiting a couple of months but in combination with my last job it's been two years.

 

[IRstuff]

Nevertheless, whatever happened before six months ago doesn't exist for this company. You've made the switch and now you have to be patient.

TTFN
faq731-376

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