<p>Let’s put it this way: Engineering jobs are hard to find, but most jobs are impossible to find. Engineers have a better chance of getting a job, but in this economy finding a job is pretty dang hard. The reason finding an engineering job is hard is not because of the degree, but because of the economy.</p>
<p>Feel bad for you guys. The demand for engineers in Calgary right now is insane. You’d have an easier time getting work as an engineer than you would at the mall.</p>
<p>Time to move to Canada everyone!</p>
<p>LOL for real? Whats the salary for an engineer in Canada?</p>
<p>are engineering jobs easier to find in canada LOL</p>
<p>Interesting. Salinas has a 14.9% unemployment rate, based on BLS December 2011 figures. Where do the construction and civil engineers go to work? Neighboring metro statistical areas aren’t doing much better. San Jose is doing so-so (8.9%).</p>
<p>[Unemployment</a> Rates for Metropolitan Areas](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/web/metro/laummtrk.htm]Unemployment”>http://www.bls.gov/web/metro/laummtrk.htm)</p>
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<p>In Mechanical, Chem, and Petroleum, perhaps (although the price of oil has crashed in the past month or two due to pipeline constraints). Definitely <em>not</em> in EE, CompE, etc., where the pickings are extremely slim.</p>
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<p>Actually, I don’t know about that. One feature of the oilfield exploration & production (E&P) industry that may not be obvious to outsiders is its insatiable appetite for cutting-edge electrical and computing capabilities. For example, the oil industry has historically been and remains one of the world’s top consumers of supercomputing capacity - indeed, I believe they were actually the #1 customer for a number of years before being supplanted by the government (mostly for nuclear weapons virtual testing or weather forecasting). Heck, Saudi Aramco itself outright owns [2</a> of the most powerful supercomputers in the world](<a href=“http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/11/19/peak-oil-files-why-is-saudi-aramco-building-supercomputers/]2”>http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/11/19/peak-oil-files-why-is-saudi-aramco-building-supercomputers/). Furthermore, the horizontal drilling that continues to revolutionize the world’s shale gas and oil industries - as fracking is often times conducted after horizontal drilling - is enabled by electrical bottom-hole assembly measurements and logging-while-drilling (MWD/LWD) tools. Those tools have become impressively sophisticated, particularly in ‘geosteering’ jobs in which the drillbit direction can be remotely adjusted in real-time in response to the conditions of the well, almost like a video game. And of course wireline logging tools are almost completely EE/CS-based. </p>
<p>I would therefore actually argue that a degree in CS or EE is actually more marketable within oilfield E&P than is a degree in ME or ChemE. The value of the chemical engineering degree in E&P is itself another misnomer, as the applicability of that degree mostly exists downstream within the refining and petrochemical operations. But those operations, frankly, have arguably the lowest profit margins and weakest growth potentials of the industry’s value chain. That is why ExxonMobil recently sold its Japanese refining unit, Marathon sold its entire refining operation, and both BP and Shell are shopping their US and European refineries. The real money and growth potential is in E&P. </p>
<p>That’s why I advocate that more EE’s and CS graduates should seriously consider a career in oilfield E&P. Not only will you have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology in a burgeoning industry, you will also be paid well to boot. Granted, your quality of life may not be high, especially if you work onsite. </p>
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<p>To be clear, it’s the Clearbook price that has ‘crashed’. WTI seems to be doing just fine, hovering at ~$100 a barrel. More importantly, Brent is at $120 and Brent is arguably the most important world’s benchmark. Therein lies yet another key if you want to work in the industry: Be willing to work internationally. You’ll be paid even better (usually all expenses paid as an expat, so you basically bank all your after-tax pay), although to be sure, your quality of life may be even lower. </p>
<p>And besides, I wouldn’t even say that the Clearbrook price has ‘crashed’. If anything has truly ‘crashed’, it’s the price of natural gas, yet that has yet to result in a widespread decline in gas drilling.</p>
<p>I applied to one job and 20 internships two months ago. I ended up getting the job, and have gotten 8 other job offers since then.</p>
<p>…and I don’t even have a degree.</p>
<p>Engineers are in crazy demand. Absolutely crazy. A lot of it is getting outsourced, but thankfully those are the lower-paying jobs. There are plenty of people willing to pay top dollar for a native english speaker with decent skills and a strong work ethic. The companies offering me jobs are those who have been burned by foreign dev shops before and learned their lesson!</p>
<p>Even if you graduated with a low GPA with zero engineering-related work experience, as long as you have decent writing skills and tweak your resume so it looks attractive, I believe you will land in some sort of engineering-related job, even at the lower end and you can move yourself up from there. As people have always advised, if you graduated from the lower end of your class, your first job is gonna suck, but as long as you demonstrate that you can think outside the box and can learn pretty quickly, I’m sure in a couple years time, you can do something you enjoy.</p>
<p>those jobs that people worry about getting outsourced are mostly lower-end IT-support jobs and CAD-drawing stuff. All the design is still primarily done in the US and require US citizenship, most esp aerospace and defense companies.
I agree, the recent-grad civil engineers are pretty hard-hit by this recession. but I always thought that getting a Masters for civil engineering is almost necessary to do design and consulting work.
One of the major reasons I chose MechE, even though I secrely wanted to do Civil, was because of CivE’s vulnerability to the recession.
As a MechE, I can work in pretty much anywhere in the industry I want, and hopefully to eventually do something I really enjoy.
It took me a couple months to land my first job and the employer didn’t even ask me for my GPA. I got him interested in my school projects during the interview and he pretty much hired me because of my communications and computer skills. Second job, they also hired me because of my programming skills - didn’t even bother about my GPA. My undergrad GPA is low, but seriously, I’ve known people who have sub-3.0 GPA’s, but they’ve landed pretty decent jobs because they’ve demonstrated they’re hands-on even though their test-takking skills are horrible, lol.
At this point, it’s really about sending out your resumes to every company out there and hopefully you get one convinced enough to hire you.</p>
<p>The high-tech sector is doing great despite the recession. Companies might downsize and be “lean and mean,” laying off their lower-skilled as well as high-salaried employees in favor of the mid-level ones. But with an engineering background, you pretty much have the mind and skills set (or potential) to work for start-ups in the high tech sector that have a lot of potential for growth in this uncertain economy.
Getting a degree in engineering is a smart thing to do because of the job security and opportunity to put your degree into practical use. A lot of my friends who got non-engineering degrees ended up in jobs that don’t even require a college degree. Their best bet is to go to grad school, but that takes a lot of money and time and might not even guarantee job security</p>
<p>"Feel bad for you guys. The demand for engineers in Calgary right now is insane. You’d have an easier time getting work as an engineer than you would at the mall. "</p>
<p>Sheesh!! Who’s moving to Canada with me?! :D</p>
<p>Any current/future engineers have any input/experiences on today’s circumstances? I love this thread lol…better than going to my guidance counselor for sure…</p>
<p>Is it hard to find a job for those who do not have U.S. citizenship? I’m an international student attending an engineering school this fall and I’m planning to have a job here for like 2~3 years and going back to my country with the experience so that I can get paid and be in a good position.</p>
<p>+1 that calgary here has very high employment rates for engineers. There are many companies hiring right now and the wages are good. Even my friend who got 2.0 gpa and failed 3 courses finally got a job ( though it took him many months to do so). However, most companies prefer Canadian engineer degrees.</p>
<p>Why Canadian engineering degrees? Is it alot different than US engineering degrees?</p>
<p>Hey guys,
I am from NZ and currently moved to Australia just to find a job. I have Master Degree in Engineering Studies (Hons) + a Bachelor of Mechanical (grad in 2009) and still couldn’t find a job. I do have have a few years of experience working in various companies already (I didn’t quit or anything, just contract ended & the employer decided to save some money instead). But it turns out employers want someone who has relevant experience, by relevant they mean entirely the same experience as the job description. Which means no matter how many years you have worked in a company, you will still find it difficult to get a job.</p>
<p>I deeply regret studying engineering to be honest, I should have done something in the medical field, that way at least there is government funding. Even if there is a government cut, at least you can still have a job and have lower paid.</p>
<p>Now I am having no income whatsoever and paying a lot of rent. I tried getting a part time job, but obviously nobody wants to hire an engineer doing mundane jobs without, you guessed it “experience”.</p>
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<p>Wait, isn’t this the same Australia where even high-school dropouts can make $200,000 (USD) a year?</p>
<p>[The</a> $200,000-a-Year Mine Worker - WSJ.com](<a href=“http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204621904577016172350869312.html]The”>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204621904577016172350869312.html)</p>
<p>Originally posted by 84jalpa
New Member</p>
<p>Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2</p>
<p>"I have a warning for students interested in engineering. I am an employed engineer that has worked for 30 years in the field. I came out of college with all of the advice and enthusiasm that I have read on this board. I graduated with a 3.8 from Michigan State University and later received my Masters at UM. I also had an internship. All of these were important to getting an “initial job”, but quickly they will become irrelevant and most do not seem do understand that making a long-term “career” out of engineering (i.e. retiring from the field) is a battle and I wouldn’t advise anyone to enter (most engineering fields). I would suggest heathcare where jobs are less apt to be outsourced and are in long-term need due to an aging population.</p>
<p>A couple of items that many should consider when going into engineering. </p>
<p>1) If manufacturing is being conducted in a third world country, why would you need say a US EE or ME who is stationed on the other side of the globe? I have worked in both China and India and they have plenty of capable engineers that can perform the jobs where they are needed… in the countries where the manufacturing has been outsourced to.</p>
<p>2) What about engineering professions such as “Civil”… surely, they cannot be outsourced. True. However, as my counselor friend who works for Northwestern (yes, NW), put it… they are only placing 1 out of 5 graduating CEs. Many of whom are leaving the US as ex-pats to China, India, Abu Dhabi, etc.</p>
<p>3) It’s all about “green engineering”… we need new technology, correct. How many engineers do they really need to work on developing new windmills? The concept has been around since 1AD and honestly there is very little aerodynamic development work that is needed to optimize these creatures. How about high tech automotive engines? After all the problem with non-green cars is the technology correct. No. The problem is infrastructure… the technology is simple. An major automotive OEM can produce an alternative fuel car. It’s not the technology… it’s where do you get it filled up at. How about nuclear… hmmm I think Japan just sent a very clean and practical power source back a good decade or too. In addition, I have a friend who is a recruiter for “environmental engineering”… extremely hard to place people unless you are an “exact fit”… In other words, if you don’t fit exactly in the box, with the exact background, irregardless of how good of an engineer you are… you won’t get the job.</p>
<p>4) Stability… This country values banking and has never valued hard sciences. The simple fact of the matter is that I have worked for over 15 different companies over the course of my career, due to downsizing, re-organization, mergers and acquisitions, and the inevitable bankruptcies and closed doors. Most of the companies I have worked for do not exist or exist in the manner when I worked for them (read unhealthy and on their knees). Final thought, most of the engineers I know over the age of 40 are out of work… why??? They’re experienced right??? The problem is the actuarians that consult for the companies understand that once you reach the age of 35… you cost more… you are more apt to have a family and children… you’re more apt to get sick and take disability… you have a higher income… you have more vacation… more wants and needs, etc. Most companies will simply replace you with lower cost out of school engineers or H1B Visa Holders… both of which they can exploit.</p>
<p>Bottom line is that engineering is an out standing field “when you’re employed”… </p>
<p>5) Long hours… perhaps the most ridiculous hours required of any profession, irregardless of the discipline… Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical, Environmental, etc. I have worked all over the world for extended periods of time and long hours and less personal time (read tethered to a blackberry 24/7) is the norm. Engineering in general is a profession where it is very difficult to have “a life”.</p>
<p>6) Little to no chance for lateral movement. You better like where you interned… because for the rest of your working days you will be in the exact area you chose until you die or your company goes under… better hope you do not become unemployed for an extended period of time or you will not work in your field again… period. In the old days, engineers were known as being “generalists” and it was very easy for say a chemical engineer to work in a completely different field. Today, if you are an aeronautical engineer, automotive engineer… whatever… good luck trying to get a job as a lowly h-vac engineer (when the econ takes another dump and your company downsizes or goes under)… they’ll just want an h-vac engineer with 15 yrs of experience, specialized certificates, a masters, commercial… not residential or vise a versa, etc… even though a monkey can do the task…</p>
<p>Years ago, I would have laughed at a posting like this. I would have talked about changing the world and making big, instant money (I did). The problem is that there is no stability (read chance to make a long term career) in most engineering disciplines. This country has outsourced most of it’s manufacturing base and it no longer needs engineers over here. As for other engineering disciplines, we are a broke nation and congress (both parties) seems uninterested in investing in areas that might promote, other, non-transferable engineering career paths such as Civil or Environment… without money to create an infrastructure for say hydrogen powered cars, or to rebuild bridges and highway systems… better look for that expat job in China where they value the hard sciences (they do). This nation is run by bankers and if they can exploit a H1B visa holder for a few buck less… they will.</p>
<p>Sorry to be a pessimist, but I would advise all engineers to work on a second major as a back-up plan. I know too many “older” unemployed engineers that were unable to make it to retirement. I have been lucky and god willing I will make it another 15yrs until I can retire… good luck and god bless. - John"</p>
<p>I know the post is a year old, but still applies nonetheless.</p>
<p>Beautiful and accurate post! </p>
<p>I am (was) a civil engineer, graduated 24 years ago and have not had a solid job as an engineer since 2009. But I’m sure it’s my fault – bad engineer, poor interviewee, low GPA, no contacts (many unemployed too), just over 50, etc. – right?</p>
<p>The market is horrible and I have heard of no signs of improvement anywhere that would help me. If you are lucky enough to be employed, then guard that job with your life. </p>
<p>My present problem is determining how to become unstuck from the mold I created. Do I try to get advanced degree in another field of engineering? How would the employment market greet me? Do something different such as accounting? </p>
<p>Any ideas on how to transfer two decades of civil engineering/project management to something that will work?
Thanks!</p>