Career advice
Career advice
(OP)
I graduated in 06 with a BS in Mech. Eng. I was unable to land an engineering job out or school and have been working a production line job to get by. While at school I was intensely involved in our FSAE program to the detriment of my GPA(2.5). The problem I have now is finding a job in or related to engineering. While working on the team I was responsible for suspension design (dynamic, structural, manufacturing) system integration and packaging, and improving overall design documentation including component modeling. I realize a career in automotive design is not obtainable with my credentials but I desperately need to move forward. I am looking for drafting positions to get in the door with no luck. Are there any specific fields that non genius engineers can find work in?





RE: Career advice
Statement of the obvious: find out what CAD system your chosen employer uses.
However if you were as good as you say you were at FSAE I would apply to OEMs direct.
If you can run ADAMS, and understand the output, then you should consider doing that in the short term, it is far more lucrative than CAD.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Career advice
Don't turn your nose up to tier 2 or tier 3 work. You will likely get to do more actual design than your tier 1 friends. Just make sure you're working in an ISO or QS certified company.
RE: Career advice
RE: Career advice
RE: Career advice
Also which field do you wish to go into, sometimes you might need to change locations to move up?
RE: Career advice
I am sure you're competent, but I would be nervous to hire you as a "cold" resume coming across my desk. However, if I knew you personally or someone recommended you, I might give you a chance. Try to make contact with some managers at companies you might be interested in and build a relationship with them. Power is a pretty hot field now. Oil & gas, too. But, I think meeting people and getting a foot in the door is more important than finding a hot industry. I work with a guy who called my boss on and off for FOUR years until he got a job with our company. Job hunting really is about who you know. I have another guy starting Monday who is not even a degreed engineer, but did automotive design for 15 years before getting downsized. Another engineer here recommended him, and we're giving him a chance. I even once interviewed a woman whose daughter was the dental hygenist of a project manager with my company, so just getting out there and telling people you're looking for a job can be very important.
Of course, taking some CAD classes or even grad level engineering classes to update your skills is a great idea, too. When you go to an interview and tell people you want to be an engineer, but can't point to anything tangible you have done in the past two years to work towards that goal, it's a strike against you. It's just like if I go to my boss and say I should be promoted and all I've done was maintain the status quo for two years. I have to give him a reason to promote me.
Good luck - Don't underestimate yourself & don't give up!
RE: Career advice
In some areas of industry Engineers don't do most detail drafting, this is done by designers/drafters with lower pay etc. Some people even with BS may get pigeon holed in the designer role, and some engineers look down on this. However, if the idea is just to get you in the door it may work.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Career advice