Graduated Yet Unemployed

[Jimmy Nichols]

Exactly, my company is interviewing for engineering positions, but I need to know some info before recommending you to apply.

[EricH]

Ooh! Ooh! Can I join in too? I'm in the same boat. B.S.M.E., location negotiable (read: can work anywhere).

[DonRotolo]

In general, finding a job is about relationships. Most jobs are found because someone you know alerted you to an opening.

Also, it will universally take time to get a job after graduating. Many companies don't hire fresh grads. Those that do sometimes hire a big bunch, and fire the less capable ones after 3, 6, 9 months.

This goes back a long time, but I had my first (!) interview in August, and didn't get the offer until October. In the Human Resources world, things always take longer than they do.

Take the time to continue your education. You've learned about (engineering maybe?) and now know how to teach yourself most anything. Teach yourself how to get a job. There are a LOT of resources out there - books, people, web pages - treat it like Machine Design or Circuit Theory and learn the science as best you can, then execute.

We're here to help!

[smurfgirl]

I'm not sure if this will be relevant to you, but UTC (a huge sponsor of FIRST since 1995) just started a new internship program for FIRST alumni.

Whether with UTC or otherwise, it could be worth considering looking for an internship that will likely culminate with an offer of full-time employment. I know a few people who have gone this route after graduating.

[dtengineering]

This probably isn't exactly what you were looking for, but... if you were looking to work in Canada, the term you should search for is "EIT" for "Engineer in Training". You'll have to go through some paperwork (and likely write an exam) to have your degree accepted here as it is unlikely your university has sought certification with the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).

But the Fort McMurray Oilsands area is booming, and all of Alberta/Saskatchewan/Northern BC is a great place to look for work.

One example: https://www.suncor.apply2jobs.com/Pr...wJob&RID=25582

Jason

[Mark Sheridan]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

This probably isn't exactly what you were looking for, but... if you were looking to work in Canada, the term you should search for is "EIT" for "Engineer in Training". You'll have to go through some paperwork (and likely write an exam) to have your degree accepted here as it is unlikely your university has sought certification with the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).

But the Fort McMurray Oilsands area is booming, and all of Alberta/Saskatchewan/Northern BC is a great place to look for work.

One example: https://www.suncor.apply2jobs.com/Pr...wJob&RID=25582

Jason

As a Canadian working in the USA, I am pretty sure the North American Trade Agreement allows engineer degrees to be recognized in both countries. I forget the name for the USA equivalent but them and the CEAB tend to keep the degrees relatively standardized. I remember one of my proffessors mentioning a meeting/conference about education standards with his American counterparts. I know the that ASME recognizes Canadian engineers. I think its only when degrees move away from science and business that there are issues with recognition. Plus with EIT, you are taking a test anyways so I guess that would prove if one is qualified.

[dtengineering]

I'm not an expert on these matters... however I believe NAFTA primarily gives people in various fields the opportunity to work in the other country without needing a work visa. It may also confer interchangable credentials upon those already certified as a P.Eng.

Entry to the profession, however, is regulated slightly differently. Prior to my institution (BCIT) gaining accreditation with CEAB, our graduates had to travel to Bellingham to write the exams for graduates of foreign engineering schools (http://www.engineerscanada.ca/e/pr_i...nal_ieg_1.cfm).

They had a 100% pass rate, if I recall correctly, so I wouldn't count this as a big barrier... but it is something to check into.

Jason

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Mark Sheridan

I forget the name for the USA equivalent but them and the CEAB tend to keep the degrees relatively standardized.

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam. I passed the mechanical engineering version, so the state of South Dakota (where I took it) recognizes me as an Engineering Intern.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Jason and Eric,
Underwriter's has jobs postings. My son works in the Northbrook Office.

http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/c...careers/paths/

[Chris Hibner]

For those listing a BSME, you'll need to be more specific. ME is a very broad field. What did you specialize in and where are your interests? Thermal/fluids, dynamic systems, control, structural, mech design, vehicle dynamics, etc.?

[xitaqua]

Monsanto has 78 job openings in St. Louis.

I am currently working with 5th graders to build a gardening robot using the same materials used in FIRST robotics competitions. My hope is that they will be ready to apply for those jobs in 2020.

[Shu]

I don't know if your interested but there are many entry level automotive engineering jobs available in the Detroit area. My next door neighbor is a manager at Chrysler and said he is looking for recent college grads to work in the body area. He was asking me because he knows my son is graduating this quarter from Kettering University but he and his friends all have jobs lined up.

[Chris Hibner]

Like someone mentioned above, there are a bazillion jobs in the auto industry right now. And I'm not just referring to GM/Ford/Chrysler. There are probably more engineers employed at suppliers than there are at the OEMs. In addition to that, Nissan, Toyota, and Hyundai/Kia have R&D facilities in the area. I usually get about 10 postings from the Hyundai R&D facility every week in my daily e-mail from Monster - and that's just in my area of control systems and signal processing. Then there are the niche companies, like Roush (yes, that's the same Roush as the NASCAR team), Riccardo, etc.

The only drawback to the auto industry is that it is a bit of a roller coaster. When the economy goes bad, the first thing people do is stop buying cars so they can save money just in case they lose their job. In parts of 2008/2009 car sales dropped by nearly 50% - those type of drops are unheard of in most industries. The good news is that when recessions end, there is a lot of pent-up demand and things are great (and I mean GREAT) for a long time afterward.

Last thing, people that trash the Detroit area are those that haven't spent any significant time here. I came here thinking it would be a temporary thing: put up with it for 3-5 years to get my necessary experience to get my next job. I've been here for about 15 years now and have no desire to move anywhere else. Yeah, the downtown area isn't the greatest, but there's a positive side to that: all of the cool stuff you need to go downtown for in most cities exist here in the suburbs, so it's even closer to home. I have a handful of pilot buddies that moved here for pilot jobs, expecting the worst. Like me, most of them end up staying in the area for good, even though they don't have to.

And just think of how prevelant FIRST is around here

[MechEng83]

Like Don said, big companies tend to hire by the boat load -- I know mine does. If you're looking to stay in Indiana as an ME, check into places like Rolls Royce and Cummins.

I'm not sure where you went to school, but your university should have a job placement office. You don't always need to know a specific person who gives you a heads up for job openings, as those placement offices build those relationships for you. Don't underestimate the power of an alumni network either. I've definitely seen the preference managers have for hiring from their alma maters.

Lastly, when you get interviews, talk up your FIRST experience. Those teamwork, systems engineering, and project management skills are what employers want. You'll still need some of the technical knowlegde you learned in school, but it's rare to get a job where you can just be book-smart.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Chris Hibner

For those listing a BSME, you'll need to be more specific. ME is a very broad field. What did you specialize in and where are your interests? Thermal/fluids, dynamic systems, control, structural, mech design, vehicle dynamics, etc.?

Specialty: None. (SDSM&T doesn't have you declare one.)
Interests: Mechanical design, fluids/heat transfer. Most of my electives reflect the mechanical design aspect--I took vibrations, a second machine design course (one is already required at SDSM&T), sustainable energy, and CAD-CAM, which was more of a GD&T/design thinking course.

Preferred industry would be aerospace or robotics/mechatronics, but when you're looking for work, you can't be all that picky.