Which industry is best and which is best for college grads? 8

[twinky64]

I'm new here and this is my first post.

I'm currently attending California State University of Fullerton majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I've been interning at a medical device industry and really enjoy the people that work there, the hours expected to work, the environment (kind of google-esque), and pay. Unfortunately, they are on a hiring freeze and I'm unable to land a job once I graduate. I never thought that medical devices would be fascinating while in college. My passion is cars.

Here is my question:

Should I go into the aftermarket suspension company that tunes automobiles? I would be test driving cars and engineering components that would improve handling. The company is small and domestic

or.

Try and find a job in the medical devices industry where the day to day is not so interesting compared to test driving and engineering components? The company would be larger and international.

Reason why I ask is because I don't want to work and get laid off shortly after and I don't want to work more than 45 hours per week.

Thanks

 

[ctopher]

Go where you can find work, and where there might be a future. Get all the experience you can get.
Also, be willing to work more than 45 hours a week...or be willing to be laid off.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[JohnRBaker]

Machinery builders are still perhaps the most prolific, albeit not that exciting to many people, but it's a place where a skilled engineer can make a very good living and where you can usually see the results of his efforts in a timely manner. Spent 14 years working as a machine designer for a multinational company which manufactured a broad verity of devices and machines covering many end uses. My division produced food processing equipment (specifically mixers, material handling, ovens, cooler, packaging machines, etc. for large commercial bakeries).

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[moon161]

Sharp, experienced and (literally) hungry people with all day to look for work will be applying for the same job postings that you will. Your particular passion and relevant experience will help differentiate you from the legion of sharp people trying to get back into the workforce.

If you'd like to focus on a particular sector, meet and schmooze as many people as you can, meet their friends, etc. Be shameless and self promoting. Getting noticed for a developing job before they call HR, or give general notice is your best chance.

 

[MechEng2005]

Along the lines of what Chris said, apply for as many open positions as you might be interested. Use the interview process for you to get to know the company, and then once you have a job offer you can decide if you think you would be happy (or "willing", if happy becomes too much to ask) with the position.

-- MechEng2005

 

[TheTick]

Yeah, everyone likes cars. Cars are cool. Cars go fast. Pretty colors, cool sounds.

That doesn't change the fact that there are plenty of crappy places to work in the auto industry. Also true for aerospace, military, electronics, entertainment, etc. Even Disney has plenty of crappy jobs.

 

[IRstuff]

Given the job climate currently, you're going to have to take what they give you, or you're probably going to be unemployed.

As for your questions in the title, only you can decide what is the "best" industry and what is "best" for new grads. I can tell you that systems engineering has been great and "best" for me, but it might mean and do bupkis to you.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[HPRifleman]

Keep in mind that after you begin your career your resume will reflect experience in a particular field. If you want to change to a different field you will either have to leave off the non-relevant experience (gaps in your career will be questioned) or you will have to explain why you want to switch mid-career.

Ideally, you pick a field that you enjoy and you stick with it for your entire career. Of course you may start in a field and then realize it's not for you. Don't be surprised if your career takes you down some unexpected paths.

 

[JohnRBaker]

This may help:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07/13-best-careers-that-requ_n_793108.html#s199788

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[rscassar]

I'm not practicing in the US but I heard any UC campus or MIT are very revered engineering degrees.

 

[IRstuff]

There's a huge difference between UC Riverside and MIT. MIT is considered to be a absolute, top-ranked school, with typical Math SATs at the 800 level. UC Riverside would probably accept Math SATs in the mid 600s.

However, at the end of your career, your school will have made little impact overall, since it will have mostly depended on your own abilities and skills.

Likewise, your initial foray into any particular industry will have little impact to your overall career. I started out as EE in an electronics group. I haven't done any EE since my second job of 5.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[msquared48]

I would not give up on Biomedical yet - with your Mech E background you are right up the alley and the field is one forecasted to expand for the next 5 to 10 years. Keep looking. There is more than one firm.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[KENAT]

Right now, I'm tempted to say whichever one is hiring.

Each job is a stepping stone and not every job has to be your dream job to be worth taking, although avoiding ones you really can't stand is nice.

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[twinky64]

I'm worried that I will not be able to land a job right out of school. If I do land a job right out of school, chances are, it will not be with a company of my first choice....I suppose everybody has to start somewhere.

I'm currently attending CSUF finishing up my last semester. Beckman Coulter has been a great to work for and has exceeded my expectations in terms of how rewarding the medical device industry is (or at least with this company since they really do take care of their employees). I'm really working hard to make myself known in the office and it is paying off. Everybody from other departments/teams to the department director is pleased with my performance and my personality. Unfortunately, they are on a hiring freeze for entry level positions. Also, the medical industry is admittedly bias towards UC and ivy league schools. I believe I have the best shot with Beckman Coulter since I am currently working there part time.

I'm in a position where I'm working part time for Beckman Coulter but having asked around in my department, there aren't any entry level positions for me to take this coming summer after I graduate. I've interviewed with another company which is much smaller called Hotchkis Performance Suspension. They are a family owned aftermarket automotive suspension company. They said to give them a call in January for an opportunity to work there part time during my last semester and practically a guaranteed full time position. So on the one hand, I really want to stay with a company that "isn't" hiring. On the other hand, there is a company that is less stable and less financially rewarding that seems willing to employ me.

 

[Ashereng]

Deciding where to work is difficult. Wherever you go, there is always a chance of a layoff/closing/etc.

With regards to not wanting to work more than 45 hours a week, state that up front with your employer. If they insist that you do, you can decline the offer. If they agree, there you go. If you state it upfront, at least you both will know and no surprises later.

Your first job is just that. There is a good chance you will have several in your career. Make the best of your situation each time - that is the best you can do. In my career, I think luck has more effect than any planning that I've done. Sometimes, it just works out that way.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[ctopher]

In today's economy, and scarce jobs, I would not tell the hiring person that I would not work more than 45 hours. It would be a shot in the foot.
Be willing to work more hours, at least for the first year, then ask to scale back your hours...if possible.
Do what it takes to get a job, and keep it.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[IRstuff]

Gems and stinkers cohabitate when it comes to jobs. Beckman seems to have deteriorated since its acquisition by Coulter over 10 years ago. They appear to have consolidated completely into the Brea facility and are in the process of dumping the Fullerton facility. Not sure where their production line moved to; is it in the Brea facility?

And while there may be some bias, my wife worked in the Fullerton facility in the 90s, having had degrees from a school in Illinois, and San Francisco State, but she had come from a Roche subsidiary. On the other hand, there might still be someone from Caltech that had moved to the Brea office a while ago. If you run across a Chinese woman named Patty P., say hi from Sarah's husband ;-)

I wouldn't necessarily give up on Beckman, if that's your desired place. Rules are almost always broken and things might change between now and your graduation. I would suggest that you make it clear that you want to work for them, and ask them to keep you in mind for any openings that might come up. While they might not create a brand new job position, there's always attrition, and with sufficient political backing from the managers, you might snag a position that opens up because of someone leaving.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
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[MintJulep]

"Test driver" sounds like a fun job. But if you talk to any they will tell you that it is the most mind-numbingly boring things ever.

Likewise, "engineering components to make cars handle better" sounds impressive, but what does it really amount to?

Sizing anti-roll bars and figuring out where the bend needs to be so that it doesn't hit the exhaust pipe.

There's a reason they pay you to go to work.

 

[KENAT]

We have/had a lot of interns, and also have a more or less hiring freeze in our design engineering dept.

However, other departments don't have a freeze, for instance production systems test engineering.

So at least a couple of our current interns have applied for jobs in the test engineer dept.

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(probably not aimed specifically at you)
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[ShaggyPE]

Look into Optivus Proton Therapy.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks