Looking outside the US for engineering jobs?

<p>I was wondering if any countries other than the US would be having a demand for engineers around 2012. Is it a good idea to apply for engineering jobs outside the U.S.? I want to increase my chances of getting a job.</p>

<p>very good topic. How does applying overseas work and all that?</p>

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<p>I have a friend from college (ChemE) and is currently working for dow chemical, if I recall correctly, in Singapore or Malaysia. He is paid US salary, but cost of living is very cheap…</p>

<p>Another went to Perth as a geotech engineer after he finished his grad school…</p>

<p>I know a handful of cal poly grads that went to work in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia (for chevron)… I guess to answer your question, it’s possible if you want to live overseas.</p>

<p>Well if you do not want to move oversea. You could look into companies like Lockheed Martin, and other companies that work with the DOD.</p>

<p>There are two main ways of doing it, either getting hired by a company based in another country or getting hired by a company with a presence in the US that has operations/headquarters in other countries. My experience has been that there are a lot more of the second type of jobs available than the first. They can actually set up an interview with you and everything, and you could possibly start in the US and move to another country after a period of time (which is what I’m doing.) </p>

<p>It seems like you’re more interested in how it’ll change your odds of getting a job after graduation though, and from my admittedly limited experience the jobs outside of the country are usually harder to get the ones inside, so it probably won’t change your odds much. It’s not a bad idea to apply though if you see a job you like, but make sure the company has a strong history of doing this sort of thing and will help you with immigration/visas/whatever you’ll need. You don’t want to have to deal with all that on your own.</p>

<p>Whats it matter…? Doesn’t the world end in 2012 anyways?</p>

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It is.
Just let me know whenever you sell your house, cars and gold for pennies on the dollar… I’m willing to pay CASH >.<</p>

<p>If you are interested in a position abroad, I would first review your genealogy to see if you qualify for a passport iure sanguinis, especially in the EU. Many Americans don’t realize it, but based on their relatives, they are considered to be citizens of Italy, Greece, Malta, or Ireland (those are the most common) and qualify for a second passport.</p>

<p>In Dubai, the current trend is sending Americans home in favor of cheaper South American labor. For those here, they make better salary than at home, have all housing and transport fully furnished, as well as a private education for the children. They all love the overseas lifestyle, live-in maids, gardeners, twice-yearly trips home, etc. They save 90+% of their salary, paying only for their food, phone, and exotic travel. However, there are engineers stationed here and working in Iraq at $30,000+ a month; some just out of school! I just hope this all exists when I finish school. Being an expat kid has opened my eyes to the opportunities abroad.</p>

<p>Yeah, but the Iraq gig has the drawback of increased risk of violent death associated with it. That would be a drag.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the feedback. I know I have to apply anywhere and everywhere because my gpa doesn’t stand out at all.</p>

<p>Yea, I screwed my GPA too. Grad school could be your redemption.</p>

<p>Certain industries allow better “foreign” opportunities than others.</p>

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<p>Such as?..</p>

<p>Its incredibly easy to get jobs in developing countries with an engineering degree from a country like America or Japan. GPA really doesnt matter to these folks, as they just dont have the work force they need. </p>

<p>Many of the Sri Lankan and Indonesian students at my school didn’t care about their gpa at all. Reason being a degree from any American University was a Amazing feat. This is what I was told and experienced in school, so you have a good chance at a developing country.</p>

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Do you go to USC by any chance?</p>

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Nope, I went to a School on the East coast.</p>

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Petroleum.</p>