<p>Hi, I am extremely interested in the engineering department at the University of Illinois, especially the Mechanical and Electrical Departments. I was wondering, how is the job placement and graduate placement at the University of Illinois for an engineering major. Any information you could offer would be extremely helpful.</p>
<p>I am a graduating senior in the mechanical engineering department right now, and I had a job offer as of this past October, 7 months before I graduated. It was at General Dynamics Electric Boat (company that makes nuclear submarines for the Navy). That was the only one I got because I decided to go to graduate school, but basically every friend of mine has a job by now, so job placement is just fine as long as you are proactive about going to the career fairs.</p>
<p>With that in mind, the school has something called Engineering Career Services who put on lots of great career fairs, and will do everything they can to help you find a career.</p>
<p>Do you mind telling us what salary range you or your friends were being offered? it just might get everyone more excited about going to U of I and studying hard! Also, were grades a big factor in the interview process? Like would you say you would have to maintain a 3.0 to get the good interviews?</p>
<p>Grades are not really a factor at all in the actual interview, but MOST companies like seeing a 3.0 or higher when deciding whether to give you an interview or not. That name of UIUC will carry you a little, so if you have a 3.1 from UIUC vs a guy with a 3.3 from East Bufu State, the 3.1 would USUALLY win, but grades are still important. Some of the companies that get lots of applications like Boeing or Lockheed are going to be more concerned with GPA than a company like ExxonMobil, who is just desperate for engineers right now. Keep your GPA up. It will help get you interviews, but won't necessarily get you jobs.</p>
<p>As for salary, I am a mechanical engineer, as are most of my friends. I got almost exactly a $60k offer, which is above average overall for the country, but was kind of low given that it was in Connecticut. I have a couple friends with offers in the $70k range from Northrop and Exxon, and one friend with an offer that is nearly $80k (courtesy of Marathon petroleum). Those are the highest I have heard of so far. Most of my friends are more in the $55k - $60k range, which is, again, for mechanical engineering.</p>
<p>Thank you for the information.</p>