Graduating Mechanical Engineer career advice needed!
October 8, 2013 11:38 AM Subscribe
My son graduates with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in May and is asking for advice on the most efficient method of finding a full-time engineering job. He wants to work for an employer where good product design is valued, and where new engineers are supported while they learn the ropes. He thinks grad school in Industrial Design is in his future, but he'd like to gain work experience and emerge from the cocoon of full-time college. He's not picky about location and would relocate nearly anywhere for the right opportunity. I've heard that engineering is one of those lucky-ticket grads, but the trick is finding a job you'll actually like! He's got a solidly good GPA and good recommendations - but he's in a small ME program at a highly rated school specializing in a different engineering specialty, and most of the employers are seeking graduates of this other engineering discipline.
How do graduating students connect with potential employers who might fit his priorities? His school is fairly remotely located, so on-campus job fair employers need to shlep to the college version of the middle of nowhere. Students similarly have to shlep off campus to interviews; ergo students are predictably skewed to taking jobs with the employers who do show up and interview. Traveling nearly anywhere is a hassle, but unfortunately, he's not impressed with the employers that have come to campus.
The internet void that HR now is must be a nightmare for new grads, who have a profound lack of "keywords" to scatter throughout their thin resumes. How can new grads possibly manage to connect with the kind of companies they'd actually be interested in? He's thinking of trying to set up on-site interviews over his long winter break or spring break, trying to cluster two or three in a couple of days in, say, San Francisco or Chicago, or wherever, but it's connecting that's tough. Is there a student version of Linkd In? Oh . . .that's a depressing thought!
How do graduating students connect with potential employers who might fit his priorities? His school is fairly remotely located, so on-campus job fair employers need to shlep to the college version of the middle of nowhere. Students similarly have to shlep off campus to interviews; ergo students are predictably skewed to taking jobs with the employers who do show up and interview. Traveling nearly anywhere is a hassle, but unfortunately, he's not impressed with the employers that have come to campus.
The internet void that HR now is must be a nightmare for new grads, who have a profound lack of "keywords" to scatter throughout their thin resumes. How can new grads possibly manage to connect with the kind of companies they'd actually be interested in? He's thinking of trying to set up on-site interviews over his long winter break or spring break, trying to cluster two or three in a couple of days in, say, San Francisco or Chicago, or wherever, but it's connecting that's tough. Is there a student version of Linkd In? Oh . . .that's a depressing thought!
Did he do any co-op work terms?
He should create a LinkedIn profile and update his resume. If he didn't do a work term, then include any tinkering projects he has done. And make a website of his projects, if they are especially interesting.
Honestly, engineering is one of those fields where you have a better chance of getting an interview without connections. So I would tell him to search monster.com or the equivalent job posting boards and then paper the town with his resume. The buzzwords he will need will be specific to his desired field - buzzwords like what kind of materials he's used, what sort of designs he's done and what kind of software he is familiar with. If he has the technical skill and isn't an ass to work with, he will find a job.
He should also contact his university's student career centre and research companies that he's interested in, and then build a targeted plan to meet people in that company - conferences, professional networking events etc.
Finally, if possible, drop off the resumes in person as well as online. Be personable and nice and chat with the secretary. I know a guy who got his Eng. job designing sensors and circuits because the secretary had a fish on her desk and he knows a lot about keeping specialized aquatic life. When he dropped off the resume, he noticed the fish and they got to chatting. A hiring manager called him back that afternoon. What can I say, life is random sometimes.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:52 AM on October 8, 2013
He should create a LinkedIn profile and update his resume. If he didn't do a work term, then include any tinkering projects he has done. And make a website of his projects, if they are especially interesting.
Honestly, engineering is one of those fields where you have a better chance of getting an interview without connections. So I would tell him to search monster.com or the equivalent job posting boards and then paper the town with his resume. The buzzwords he will need will be specific to his desired field - buzzwords like what kind of materials he's used, what sort of designs he's done and what kind of software he is familiar with. If he has the technical skill and isn't an ass to work with, he will find a job.
He should also contact his university's student career centre and research companies that he's interested in, and then build a targeted plan to meet people in that company - conferences, professional networking events etc.
Finally, if possible, drop off the resumes in person as well as online. Be personable and nice and chat with the secretary. I know a guy who got his Eng. job designing sensors and circuits because the secretary had a fish on her desk and he knows a lot about keeping specialized aquatic life. When he dropped off the resume, he noticed the fish and they got to chatting. A hiring manager called him back that afternoon. What can I say, life is random sometimes.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:52 AM on October 8, 2013
What about co-op experience? I know that most engineering majors do a co-op/internship at some point.
The other option is to target specific companies where he wants to work, nearly all of them will post their recruiting schedules, then all he has to do is go where they are recruiting and meet with them.
He should do a LinkedIn profile, for sure. Everyone should have a presence there, especially someone in a job search. He can also search for jobs on LinkedIn.
Finding a job IS a job. It's not easy, and the person who is willing to put the effort in will get the plum jobs.
Hoping people seek him out in his remotely located university will not yield him any decent offers.
He needs to get his resume together, he needs to get serious about finding a job.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:54 AM on October 8, 2013
The other option is to target specific companies where he wants to work, nearly all of them will post their recruiting schedules, then all he has to do is go where they are recruiting and meet with them.
He should do a LinkedIn profile, for sure. Everyone should have a presence there, especially someone in a job search. He can also search for jobs on LinkedIn.
Finding a job IS a job. It's not easy, and the person who is willing to put the effort in will get the plum jobs.
Hoping people seek him out in his remotely located university will not yield him any decent offers.
He needs to get his resume together, he needs to get serious about finding a job.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:54 AM on October 8, 2013
"a better chance of getting an interview without connections"
I'd like to know what backs up that statement because I'm not so sure that is correct. Many engineers I know, including my brother who is a mechanical engineer, have gotten jobs through people they know. I would advise your son that networking is always important and valuable. Even just picking up the phone and cold-calling some engineers at some companies he is interested in wouldn't hurt. He'd have nothing to lose by saying "I'm so-and-so and I'll be graduating in May with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and I was wondering if you know of anyone at your company I could speak to about the possibility of getting an entry level position at your company". Companies like people who are go-getters, who are proactive, who are ambitious, who are motivated. If your son has good social/peoples skills and comes across effectively on the phone and/or in person, then networking would certainly seem to hold the potential to help him get his foot in the door somewhere.
posted by Dansaman at 12:05 PM on October 8, 2013
I'd like to know what backs up that statement because I'm not so sure that is correct. Many engineers I know, including my brother who is a mechanical engineer, have gotten jobs through people they know. I would advise your son that networking is always important and valuable. Even just picking up the phone and cold-calling some engineers at some companies he is interested in wouldn't hurt. He'd have nothing to lose by saying "I'm so-and-so and I'll be graduating in May with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and I was wondering if you know of anyone at your company I could speak to about the possibility of getting an entry level position at your company". Companies like people who are go-getters, who are proactive, who are ambitious, who are motivated. If your son has good social/peoples skills and comes across effectively on the phone and/or in person, then networking would certainly seem to hold the potential to help him get his foot in the door somewhere.
posted by Dansaman at 12:05 PM on October 8, 2013
Undergraduate engineers have loads of networking opportunities, it's just difficult to realize it.
* Many of their professors have industry connections. As a senior in a small program, he's hopefully had tons of facetime with professors who can give him solid leads at companies. My company LOVES when a professor calls us up and says, "This student is perfect for your company; interview him!" We've hired several people that way.
* Alumni! The career center or the alumni office should be keeping track of where recent graduates have been working. Connecting with recent graduates on Linked-in is a modern variant of this - he should absolutely be on Linked-in finding people who graduated in the last two years. But he should also be trying to track down graduates from his program through the career center or alumni office. Recent graduates may also have a better idea of who their competitors are, which gives a better idea of where your son should be applying.
posted by muddgirl at 12:20 PM on October 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
* Many of their professors have industry connections. As a senior in a small program, he's hopefully had tons of facetime with professors who can give him solid leads at companies. My company LOVES when a professor calls us up and says, "This student is perfect for your company; interview him!" We've hired several people that way.
* Alumni! The career center or the alumni office should be keeping track of where recent graduates have been working. Connecting with recent graduates on Linked-in is a modern variant of this - he should absolutely be on Linked-in finding people who graduated in the last two years. But he should also be trying to track down graduates from his program through the career center or alumni office. Recent graduates may also have a better idea of who their competitors are, which gives a better idea of where your son should be applying.
posted by muddgirl at 12:20 PM on October 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
He should be talking to everybody he knows - not just fellow engineers. Because that guy from his fraternity who graduated last year in History may have a father who heads up engineering at a major company. People can't help you until know you are looking for help.
posted by COD at 12:25 PM on October 8, 2013
posted by COD at 12:25 PM on October 8, 2013
Response by poster: Dansaman, it's great to hear that cold-calling is OK in your world, and he mentioned it as a possibility, so I will definitely encourage him to think of a few talking points to introduce himself to HR folks at interesting companies.
mudgirl, I will mention connecting with the alumni assn, and he does have easy access to professors for their suggestions and contacts. He was also invited into a national Engineering honors society, so I'll suggest he contact them regarding networking.
Thanks for the insights, all! Keep them coming, please!
posted by citygirl at 12:36 PM on October 8, 2013
mudgirl, I will mention connecting with the alumni assn, and he does have easy access to professors for their suggestions and contacts. He was also invited into a national Engineering honors society, so I'll suggest he contact them regarding networking.
Thanks for the insights, all! Keep them coming, please!
posted by citygirl at 12:36 PM on October 8, 2013
"a better chance of getting an interview without connections"
I'd like to know what backs up that statement because I'm not so sure that is correct.
I'm an engineer, I've gotten many interviews without knowing anyone at the company but just by applying with a cover letter and resume. And I've been responsible for screening resumes and interviewing people who were previously unknown to the company, but who had just applied to the position based on their experience. And we hired them, based on their previous work and general interview "feel."
Even just picking up the phone and cold-calling some engineers at some companies he is interested in wouldn't hurt. He'd have nothing to lose by saying "I'm so-and-so and I'll be graduating in May with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and I was wondering if you know of anyone at your company I could speak to about the possibility of getting an entry level position at your company".
That is also what getting a job without a connection is - no one really knows him or his work.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:37 PM on October 8, 2013
I'd like to know what backs up that statement because I'm not so sure that is correct.
I'm an engineer, I've gotten many interviews without knowing anyone at the company but just by applying with a cover letter and resume. And I've been responsible for screening resumes and interviewing people who were previously unknown to the company, but who had just applied to the position based on their experience. And we hired them, based on their previous work and general interview "feel."
Even just picking up the phone and cold-calling some engineers at some companies he is interested in wouldn't hurt. He'd have nothing to lose by saying "I'm so-and-so and I'll be graduating in May with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and I was wondering if you know of anyone at your company I could speak to about the possibility of getting an entry level position at your company".
That is also what getting a job without a connection is - no one really knows him or his work.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:37 PM on October 8, 2013
It's definitely possible to get an engineering job without any sort of networking at all, but IME it's hard to get a sense of the company's standards and values just from a traditional interview - much easier to ask those sorts of questions in informational discussions during the pre-interview process.
And of course, it's not an either-or proposition. On paper, I got my current job because I sent in my resume on a soulless HR website. Practically, I got my job because a friend of mine worked at this company as an intern and gave a good impression of me when asked, "Hey, do you know this Muddgirl person and is she a good engineer?"
Which reminds me of another networking opportunity - prior internships/co-ops and the prior internships/co-ops of friends.
Also, there is a trend for senior experience projects/capstone projects that are done in partnerships with industry. Those kinds of projects bring a lot of diverse companies onto campus and are good ways to meet potential employers.
posted by muddgirl at 2:34 PM on October 8, 2013
And of course, it's not an either-or proposition. On paper, I got my current job because I sent in my resume on a soulless HR website. Practically, I got my job because a friend of mine worked at this company as an intern and gave a good impression of me when asked, "Hey, do you know this Muddgirl person and is she a good engineer?"
Which reminds me of another networking opportunity - prior internships/co-ops and the prior internships/co-ops of friends.
Also, there is a trend for senior experience projects/capstone projects that are done in partnerships with industry. Those kinds of projects bring a lot of diverse companies onto campus and are good ways to meet potential employers.
posted by muddgirl at 2:34 PM on October 8, 2013
It may not be the way he wants to go but big design firms will likely have a dedicated graduate program that they want you to apply to. This will have its own selection process to try and account for the fact that new grads won't have loads of networking. I'd have thought a day working through their websites would turn up quite a few, and this is the time of year when employers typically are sprucing up their grad web pages for the new intake.
Good luck to your son, if he gets started now then he will also be in the first wave of applications which can't hurt his chances.
posted by Albondiga at 3:06 PM on October 8, 2013
Good luck to your son, if he gets started now then he will also be in the first wave of applications which can't hurt his chances.
posted by Albondiga at 3:06 PM on October 8, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks again for all your observations and suggestions. No internship in his program if he wanted to graduate on time, which he did. He took a gap year studying auto and engine mechanics so he didn't want further delay.
I think I will show him this thread. It shows that no one search method is the *best* way. It seems that in this technical field there is more room for professional/ academic recommendation. This is comforting- an emotional term - but to me this seems to allow for more fluidity in the hiring process. My son presents himself well, and to get cut off at the automated algorhythmic in-box is a pretty cold prospect.
Muddgirl, are you by chance a ceramic engineer? Mudd, you see . . .
posted by citygirl at 4:26 PM on October 8, 2013
I think I will show him this thread. It shows that no one search method is the *best* way. It seems that in this technical field there is more room for professional/ academic recommendation. This is comforting- an emotional term - but to me this seems to allow for more fluidity in the hiring process. My son presents himself well, and to get cut off at the automated algorhythmic in-box is a pretty cold prospect.
Muddgirl, are you by chance a ceramic engineer? Mudd, you see . . .
posted by citygirl at 4:26 PM on October 8, 2013
I haven't read any of Don Asher's books, but I've seen him speak a couple of times and I think he does a great job of explaining how hiring typically works, and how job seekers can use that knowledge to their advantage. Two of his books might be relevant "Cracking the Hidden Job Market" and "How to Get Any Job."
posted by Good Brain at 4:52 PM on October 8, 2013
posted by Good Brain at 4:52 PM on October 8, 2013
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Sounds like your son's campus career center is not all that great -- that's unfortunate because that would be my first recommendation.
Second is to yes, use LinkedIn, to search for recent grads (within the past 5 yrs) from his program and see where they are at. If they are working for companies he is interested in, he could do an informational interview over the phone -- how did you get to work here? what is good about it? etc...
Third would be to target companies that are known for hiring and developing recent college grads (RCGs). I'm in the electronics industry, so the two I know are Hewlett-Packard and Intel although they may not be that interesting from a mechanical engineering perspective. I also might try General Electric just based on their reputation of developing from within.
posted by elmay at 11:52 AM on October 8, 2013