<p>You're</a> an Engineer? You're Hired - US News and World Report</p>
<p>More good news that engineering hiring is picking back up. I don't necessarily agree with the "hot" fields in the article, but I've had several friends graduate in electrical/computer engineering over the past year, and even the ones that weren't very good students (but great friends, mind you!) have all found gainful employment making between $60-80k/year at the BS/MS level. For my Ph.D friends, there never really was a recession.</p>
<p>I believe that recessions happen when technological advances result in more efficient businesses, and fat is trimmed from the economy.</p>
<p>Engineers built the printing press. The assembly line. The personal computer. All things that put many out of work.</p>
<p>Its no wonder that they’re in high demand even in a recession.</p>
<p>This article is totally obvious if you think about it. As long as engineering remains heavy in math and physics, people will avoid it and the demand for people who didn’t avoid it will remain strong (relative to everything else). You think it’s hard getting a job as a civil engineer? Try getting a job after going to a law school that isn’t an Ivy. Heck, try getting a job after going to an Ivy law school and graduating in the bottom 50%.</p>
<p>This is what I read about Portland, Maine today!</p>
<p>“The Greater Portland metro area will be one of the top 10 places in the U.S. for job growth and employment opportunity over the next three months, according to an article in Forbes Magazine.”</p>
<p>If someone wants a structural engineering firm to apply to in Maine, send me a PM! The firm we’re working with right now is swamped out of their minds. I just finished working today, at midnight. It will be another long day tomorrow, and we’ll be working all weekend. </p>
<p>We’re on track for one of our best years ever.</p>
<ol>
<li> Arrive early and stay late.</li>
<li> Say please and thanks to everyone, even for small things.</li>
<li> Be positive and smile.</li>
<li> Be a good listener, people like to talk about themselves.</li>
<li> Be on time for meetings.</li>
<li> You are being watched.</li>
</ol>
<p>Another good tip for young engineers: When you spot a problem in a project, try to solve it! I worked with an MIT graduate, an older engineer. A project manager said about him, “The guy’s always bringing me problems without suggesting a solution!” The man was let go not long after that.</p>
<p>Congrats, Maine! Hope you have a great year!</p>
<p>Re: #6</p>
<p>The person in question probably worked in an organization which was very conservative in adapting changes, such that attempting to solve the problem without going through a lengthy process of specification, design, approval, etc. would be wasted work. Such methodology, based on fear of breaking something else when fixing something due to high costs of new problems but lower rewards of fixing old known problems, may not be a good cultural fit for an organization which works in a space where the costs of new problems and the rewards of fixing old problems are different.</p>
<p>80k starting salary with no end of the year bonus after a masters in ece sounds downright depressing.</p>
<p>There was a Dilbert cartoon where the recruiter calls Wally and reads from his script Are you or anyone you know an engineer? Wally response was yes. Then the recruiter screams Woo Hoo!</p>
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<p>Not sure what your standards are, but 80k isn’t bad for a job in Atlanta.</p>
<p>80k as a starting salary, depressing? Wow.</p>
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I know right? I don’t get out of bed for less than 100k…pennies.</p>