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I'm about ready to give up on an engineering career

  • Thread starter Thread starter OS
  • Start date Start date
OS

OS

Lifer
I am a recent graduate from electrical engineering. No one is hiring and I have leads in other fields.

I have a friend who said she can probably get me into insurance. I also had an interview yesterday for an office job that went well.

If I get really involved in anything else, it becomes harder to go back to engineering when it picks up because once you invest time and effort into one path, it's hard to just abandon the work experience you already have to start new in another field.

Suggestions?
 
Have you considered looking into the parts of the country that have a severe need for engineers of your caliber/field? I know it might be rough, but moving to another city for a job might have significant benefits.
 
this is my current resume, since it might be a possible source of blame 😛


James

(personal info)

-Objective
An engineering career, with a focus on electronics and computer hardware/software, and utilizing verbal and written communication skills.

-Education
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
March 2003
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
CSU GPA 3.25/4.00

Additional undergraduate courses completed at:
University of California, Berkeley, 1997-1999
Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 1997-1999

-Courses
·Elective coursework primarily in computer architecture and programming.
·Other major coursework includes network analysis, semiconductor devices, control systems, communication systems, electromagnetic fields and power engineering.

-Projects
·Group project on building a reduced instruction set (RISC) processor ground up using a Verilog implementation.
·Individual senior project on building a distributed/cluster-computing system, that divides a large computational task among several discrete processors.
·Individual project on building an analog autonomous robot for navigating an obstacle field.

-Equipment
Device Programmer, Microprocessor Development Board, Oscilloscope, Spectrum Analyzer, Function Generator, Multimeter, Power Supply

-Computer Skills
C, C++, Java, Verilog, MatLab, Pspice, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Assembly (MIPS, x86, 68HC11)

-Work Experience
Slide Archivist
California State Polytechnic University Pomona
June-August 2001
Scanned, edited, reviewed and categorized slides for the Architecture department?s digital slide project. Used Photoshop to edit and correct scanned slides.

Computer Technician
ALT Computers Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, CA
July-October 1999
Assembled, repaired, configured and troubleshot a wide range of computers, from basic personal computers to multiprocessor servers with RAID.

-Memberships and Awards
·United States Citizenship
·Dean?s Honors List
 
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Have you considered looking into the parts of the country that have a severe need for engineers of your caliber/field? I know it might be rough, but moving to another city for a job might have significant benefits.
Click to expand...

I've decided I don't want to move out of kaliphornia. 😛 My friends, family and social life is here. No realistically obtainable amount of money will make me abandon that, I'd rather just pick up an office job like I mentioned.



 
Well, that's cool. I can understand that. I have a severe emotional attachment to what little family hasn't split and broken apart yet and what friends who haven't gone psycho on me. Good luck on the job hunt. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Phuz
You should really elaborate on your work experience.
Click to expand...

Well the reason I don't is because what I've done isn't really relevant to a engineering career.
 
Sometimes you have to take another gig to get to your final destination. I would take the office job over insurance and continue to actively seeking out an engineering job.
 
Is the University ABET accredited? Reason I ask is every graduate from my school (McNeese State, Lake Charles, LA) in the past 3-4 years has easily found a job....me included (CE) 🙂

If you are willing to move, check for jobs in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi...
 
I've come to accept that I have a worthless college degree, it's kind of a bitter realization because my college education has caused me a lot of hardship, so many times along the way I wanted to drop out because I hated school. I really hated school, but because of pressure from family and friends, I didn't drop out.

I still can't find a job. I guess it just doesn't feel good to realize that I've squandered the last 5 years along with 25K in debt to get a degree that I won't be able to pay for.

I had a fellow classmate who also graduated same department as me, about six months before me. I talked to him about a week ago and he's given up on finding an engineering position. He's training to be a police officer now. I asked him if he would ever considering looking for an engineering job again and he said no. At first I was kind of shocked but I understand why now. Why keep banging your head against the wall if it hurts?

Yeah I know I'm being a bitch but I think I've had this obssession to find specifically an engineering position. It's probably best that I realize this at some point, forget about the past and consider a total change in mindset and career path.

And yes, the program I graduated from is ABET accredited.
 
Originally posted by: OS
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Have you considered looking into the parts of the country that have a severe need for engineers of your caliber/field? I know it might be rough, but moving to another city for a job might have significant benefits.
Click to expand...

I've decided I don't want to move out of kaliphornia. 😛 My friends, family and social life is here. No realistically obtainable amount of money will make me abandon that, I'd rather just pick up an office job like I mentioned.
Click to expand...

thats your problem then, if your not flexible about where you live then im not sure what i can tell you.
 
Well, whatever you do, you should definitely be proud that you completed one of the toughest curriculums out there, and that you didn't quit..
 
Originally posted by: Ameesh

thats your problem then, if your not flexible about where you live then im not sure what i can tell you.
Click to expand...

sigh, where should I look then?



 
Originally posted by: wixt0r

Northern California?
Click to expand...

Norcal is one of the worst places in the country to be looking for a job right now. My friend who is a CS grad from berkeley has been out of work for a year.
 
Originally posted by: OS
this is my current resume, since it might be a possible source of blame 😛


James

(personal info)

-Objective
An engineering career, with a focus on electronics and computer hardware/software, and utilizing verbal and written communication skills.

-Education
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
March 2003
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
CSU GPA 3.25/4.00

Additional undergraduate courses completed at:
University of California, Berkeley, 1997-1999
Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 1997-1999

-Courses
·Elective coursework primarily in computer architecture and programming.
·Other major coursework includes network analysis, semiconductor devices, control systems, communication systems, electromagnetic fields and power engineering.

-Projects
·Group project on building a reduced instruction set (RISC) processor ground up using a Verilog implementation.
·Individual senior project on building a distributed/cluster-computing system, that divides a large computational task among several discrete processors.
·Individual project on building an analog autonomous robot for navigating an obstacle field.

-Equipment
Device Programmer, Microprocessor Development Board, Oscilloscope, Spectrum Analyzer, Function Generator, Multimeter, Power Supply

-Computer Skills
C, C++, Java, Verilog, MatLab, Pspice, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Assembly (MIPS, x86, 68HC11)

-Work Experience
Slide Archivist
California State Polytechnic University Pomona
June-August 2001
Scanned, edited, reviewed and categorized slides for the Architecture department?s digital slide project. Used Photoshop to edit and correct scanned slides.

Computer Technician
ALT Computers Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, CA
July-October 1999
Assembled, repaired, configured and troubleshot a wide range of computers, from basic personal computers to multiprocessor servers with RAID.

-Memberships and Awards
·United States Citizenship
·Dean?s Honors List
Click to expand...


you have no relavent experience from the looks of it, no internship experience and coming from a 3rd tier school the resume isnt that impressive. Try going for a very junior position or maybe even contracting as an EE
 
Originally posted by: OS
I've come to accept that I have a worthless college degree, it's kind of a bitter realization because my college education has caused me a lot of hardship, so many times along the way I wanted to drop out because I hated school. I really hated school, but because of pressure from family and friends, I didn't drop out.

I still can't find a job. I guess it just doesn't feel good to realize that I've squandered the last 5 years along with 25K in debt to get a degree that I won't be able to pay for.

I had a fellow classmate who also graduated same department as me, about six months before me. I talked to him about a week ago and he's given up on finding an engineering position. He's training to be a police officer now. I asked him if he would ever considering looking for an engineering job again and he said no. At first I was kind of shocked but I understand why now. Why keep banging your head against the wall if it hurts?

Yeah I know I'm being a bitch but I think I've had this obssession to find specifically an engineering position. It's probably best that I realize this at some point, forget about the past and consider a total change in mindset and career path.

And yes, the program I graduated from is ABET accredited.
Click to expand...

How can you say you have a worthless degree? An EE degree is pretty much one of the most valuable degrees out there. Have you checked out the NASA facilities in California? Edwards, Sunnyvale, JPL, Dryden.....

Engineers are always in high demand. You just have to be going about your job search the right way.
 
Originally posted by: Ameesh

you have no relavent experience from the looks of it, no internship experience and coming from a 3rd tier school the resume isnt that impressive. Try going for a very junior position or maybe even contracting as an EE
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'd rather be told the brutal truth up front than being told f*cking fluffy lies anymore.
 
man...I'm gonna go into my second year in CE..and you guys are scaring the crap out of me.
Add to that the fact that I can't find a decent job right now...the future looks bleak.
 
Originally posted by: Aceshigh

How can you say you have a worthless degree? An EE degree is pretty much one of the most valuable degrees out there. Have you checked out the NASA facilities in California? Edwards, Sunnyvale, JPL, Dryden.....

Engineers are always in high demand. You just have to be going about your job search the right way.
Click to expand...

I've tried JPL a couple times, the whole place seems messed up. Their web job listings don't work sometimes and same story for their email submission system. I tried visiting in person but got turned away by security.
 
Originally posted by: OS
I've come to accept that I have a worthless college degree, it's kind of a bitter realization because my college education has caused me a lot of hardship, so many times along the way I wanted to drop out because I hated school. I really hated school, but because of pressure from family and friends, I didn't drop out.

I still can't find a job. I guess it just doesn't feel good to realize that I've squandered the last 5 years along with 25K in debt to get a degree that I won't be able to pay for.

I had a fellow classmate who also graduated same department as me, about six months before me. I talked to him about a week ago and he's given up on finding an engineering position. He's training to be a police officer now. I asked him if he would ever considering looking for an engineering job again and he said no. At first I was kind of shocked but I understand why now. Why keep banging your head against the wall if it hurts?

Yeah I know I'm being a bitch but I think I've had this obssession to find specifically an engineering position. It's probably best that I realize this at some point, forget about the past and consider a total change in mindset and career path.

And yes, the program I graduated from is ABET accredited.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but the only way that youre going to get a job in EE anytime soon is if you move. California is probably the single worst place to be a starting electrical engineer or computer scientist -- think of all those people who have been dropped from technology companies over the past few years and who have more practical experience and better connections than you. When you send an EE/CS resume in CA (especially northern CA), it has to compete with hundreds (thousands?) of resumes from people who have solid work experience, good performance reviews and industry-relevant references. Unless you have a 4.0 from one of the top schools, they have no reason to take you over more experienced people.

There are other options, though. Grad schools have always been a good place to hang out during a bad economy. You are in one of the most university-dense areas in the world. Or you can move - to someplace urban, if youre lucky - and get a job wherever you end up.
 
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