Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
(OP)
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
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





RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
-- MechEng2005
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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
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RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
http://w
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.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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
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RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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
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RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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
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RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
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.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
MintJulep, you hit the nail on the head. I couldn't agree with you more but at the current moment, that's the only lead I have at this point.
KENAT, thank you for your advice. I'm taking this week off of work to study for finals next week. When I return to the office, I'm going to email some of those that I've worked with. Over the summer I've worked with varying teams of differing disciplines. Hopefully something comes up.
SHAGGY, I will look into Optivus. They are located in the Inland Empire yes?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
TTFN
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Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
If you end up at the suspension shop, don't fall into pitfalls or bad habits that can come as part of the down side of the garage shop / family shop situation- ad hoc design & document control and TLAR engineering. Family shop could mean swiss family robinson or orange county choppers.
Either way, you never know- one of the worst jobs I've ever had paved the way for one of the best, make the most of every situation.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
I went to school for construction management, got a job doing civil site, went back to school for water resource management and enviro fluid mechanics, got a job doing hydrology, and now run my own company doing mostly hydrology, but am looking into managed forestry.
Keep your eyes open and your mind ready to change, and you'll end up some place cool. Don't be one of those people who gets so single minded about their career plan that they miss opportunities.
Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East - http://www.campbellcivil.com
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
I'll apply to them right now! Thank you.
How terrible does it look to a hiring manager if one wants to change industries altogether? (for instance, working in HVAC and deciding to work in biomedical)
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
For a starting engineer it doesn't really matter that much; one expects a new grad to have to do a bit of exploring. That said, he should have some explanation of his ability to hop to a new industry. It's only a problem if, after 10 years, you've had 7 jobs, each in a different industry. Then, you come across as fickle and prone to job hopping.
TTFN
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RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
JohnRBaker, are you presently employed with Siemens?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
Aerospace and defense have the similar issues with the economy, and companies like Raytheon, Boeing, etc., are firing and hiring as they adapt to the ever changing landscape that is the defense budget.
On a side note, I heard on the radio that GM was looking to 1000 engineers, but I think they're supposed to be mostly EE-types as they try to diversify into electric and hybrid vehicles.
TTFN
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Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
Don't work in the auto industry. I got plenty of job opportunities when I graduated (FSAE, amateur racing experience) that were "dream jobs." I found out after the pay sucked and the corporate cultures were ridiculous.
Now, I work in the midstream industry where I can make a difference daily and get paid well for it. I have cars as a hobby which means when I leave the job, I can go have fun!
Also: I work between 50 and 80 hours a week. With great knowledge and skill comes great responsibility. If you're content to work your 45 hours a week, don't expect to have any of the sexy projects you are hoping for.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
My fraternity had a penchant for med. One went med school, another dentistry, and an ME grad went to hospital prosthesis.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
Most eng grads here do not end up getting a job in engineering. For some that's by choice, and for others it's by default. It's safe to say that if you do not get an eng job right out of eng school, your chances of ever working as an engineer diminish rapidly. Depending on which type of job you end up taking instead of engineering, that might be for the best- unless engineering is your PASSION.
As to the comment about 45 hrs per week: you can think that, and even LIVE that, but you dare not ever BREATHE that in an interview! It IS tough to be passionate about what you do and to keep your investment of time to a professionally acceptable level, but it's worth the effort in figuring out how to do that. 50-80 hrs per week is NOT necessary to permit you to have an engaging and satisfying career as an engineer, and is neither healthy nor sustainable nor compatible with having a family and a "rest of your life". That said, it's best not to go in with the mindset that you have no dues to pay!
Another point: some people make a living out of their hobbies and love it. For others, turning a hobby into a living kills the hobby for them. Don't limit yourself to your hobbies: find a job where there's some room for professional growth and learning and where you won't be bored out of your mind in a month or two, and that should be sufficient. A couple of years in you'll know better what you want and need out of your career and you can start looking for that.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
You forgot "totally" and "bomb".
Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
There is a small company in which they think will hire me. The position entails design and testing on cars.
Or...
I can try and stay in a much larger company which will require me to do QA/QE and process validation (which is quite boring)
The good thing about the latter is that I'm in a large corporation with good benefits, salary, etc. However, I will not be doing what I see myself doing or doing what I sought out to do when I began my college career in ME.
What do you guys think?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
My father in law used to be a paratrooper. He said that that when the ready light lit, everyone would stand, hook up their static line, and the doors would open. When the jump light lit the biggest guy at the end of each aisle would push the whole line towards the door and the NCO would push you out the door. Land with your feet together, don't forget to enjoy the ride.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
I'm not doing what I saw myself doing even when I graduated with my ME. However, I've found my work to be fulfilling in a way that even driving cars could never be. It's not sexy, but it can be very exciting at times. It can also be quite boring. You can't have everything you want right out of school.
To the OEMs, engineers aren't test drivers. Test drivers are test drivers. You didn't get a degree to drive cars around!
You don't get the best assignments right off the bat. There's a reason you do process models and QA validation: EXPERIENCE. It's boring and sucks. Take the opportunity to learn from it! You see what goes wrong, and you learn how things work. Your degree means one thing: you can learn how to be an even better engineer.
If you jump in with a small company, it may be sexy and exciting. It will also be fraught with uncertainty and risk. You may reinvent the wheel and become the next Bill Gates; more power to you, and a tip of my hat.
Choose your lifestyle.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
It took me five years to figure out what I wanted to do and then it took another five years to achieve it.
Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
Your first two sentences are correct. I spend at least an hour a week 'driving cars around', and my main job is analysis. We certainly have degreed engineers who spend two hours or more in cars every day, tuning suspensions, measuring dynamics and generally wearing tires out in an enjoyable fashion.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
You'll definitely be the guy to shed some reality on the sexy world of automotive engineering!
My experience in the automotive world is limited to the "get hired as a doe-eyed college grad with dreams of working on race cars and suddenly realizing that there's much more to designing cars than what they told you in the interview" effect.
Somehow, it didn't seem to measure up to the glossy brochure!
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
A chomed piece of rusted steel, looks great on the outside.
A lot of the current engineering jobs in the automotive industry seem to be the modern day equivalent to the(low payed/zero slack allowed/"Don't want it? The next guy is waiting to take it") factoryworker kind of job.
Great huh?
Since i'm highly pasionated for automotive engineering i realy hate the corporate culture for such highly trained and dedicated engineers. The 'need' for them seems to decline ever so steadily somehow.
NGLENGR, did you switch to the petrochemical industry?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
They are. Equally, those who use their brains and are keen get to do the interesting jobs.
If you apply for a job as a quality control engineer on left hand indicators, I doubt your job will be quite as much fun as a job in say vehicle dynamics. Is that not obvious?
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
I switched to the midstream part of the pet-chem/energy biz.
The manufacturer I worked for was real big into outsourcing the bulk of the engineering to India. Of course the justification was, "The engineering they do is the basic stuff! We do all the exciting parts!"
My boss was a great guy, but he seemed a little too excited about eliminating the work in the USA...which was strange because he seemed like a bleeds red-white-and-blue kind of guy.
I saw the writing on the wall; my job was going to quickly become redundant or I was going to need to learn Hindi.
I can't say that I sometimes wish I'd had a bit more luck with my first employer, but so far I don't regret the move at all.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
They probably forgot that the guys who do the exciting parts learned what they needed to from doing the basic stuff.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
Some engineers in the office were saying: If you want to go into design, do it soon because it's very difficult to switch into design since the hiring managers that are hiring for design engineers look for newbies or ones with design experience. They also suggest to work at a small company right out of college because you'd get the most experience...though you'd be a workhorse working overtime all the time.
Lastly, for those of you that work in the automotive industry, can you please explain to me what it is that you guys do on a day to day basis?
Thanks
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
I had several projects (college projects, other stuff), that I pointed to as neat design stuff I had done when I had no engineering experience. Learn Solidworks, go make stuff. Read hackaday.com and instructables.com, or the aprovecho institute, rocky mtn institute . Think about how you would make somthing to: act as a heat pipe, use the hot air in your attic to dry clothing, ____ to ___ .
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
Mostly I just throw rocks at people who ask silly open ended questions.
However, when they have all been carted off to hospital I get to do my proper job. This is a mixture of things. The most important is helping program teams decide on vehicle architecture for their next design. This relies on benchmarking, guessing, calculations and occasionally innovations. It involves a lot of negotiation, and use of systems engineering, and looking at CAD models. That's the best part of my job and I've been lucky enough to do it in various forms for 13 years.
More routinely I build and test computer simulations of cars and test rigs, and prove that they correlate with real world data, and then use them to help solve problems.
Another part of my job is developing analysis code (matlab o excel or whatever) for other people to use.
Finally I get to run my own projects developing real world solutions. So that would include problem identification, instrumentation, making the measurements, analysing them, getting the mechanics to modify the car, and then writing the reports.
Oh and training and meetings and stuff like that. That's maybe 20% of my time.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
Neither extreme is really satisfactory.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
sounds like a boatload of work responsibilities though.
Sure hope the pay is appropriate.
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
I also have an ME degree but the first time I walked into an automotive components material lab I knew automotive metallurgy was the industry for me. That was over 30 years ago. Still true after several closings and transfers.
You have got to love the auto business or have a sick mind (maybe I am a bit of both!)
RE: Which industry is best and which is best for college grads?
There again I get to play with cars, not work in a mine. And I live by the sea, a short walk from sailing club, not in the middle of the desert, or Sydney.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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