Tips for a fresh college grad on the prowl for work? (Page 1/13)
nitroheadz28 JUL 25, 09:24 PM
Well now that I've taken a nice break since graduating with my bachelors in mechanical engineering back in may, its time to start looking for some income. I've been keeping my eyes open/ sent out a few resumes for a little while now and the market is a little weak (especially for entry level positions) around here despite the manufacturing industry being pretty expansive further away from the NYC area aka Long Island.

So, any tips? I typically poke around all the normal sites, craigslist and all the other crap that comes up on google. I wish I could've done an internship while in school but my schedule prevented that, I'm about to resort to calling random companies asking if I can get something along those lines

I was on good terms with a couple professors from school, commended on my performance/ work ethic regularly and told I wouldn't have any issue scoring a job. I knew that was full of crap but I suppose its even worse off than I thought despite my profession being in demand.

Maybe just pull a PK and move somewhere where there are openings- then try to join the military?
theBDub JUL 25, 10:52 PM
I don't know any Mechanical grads that didn't get some work within 6 months. Ask your professors to send your resume to some friends in the business if they can, or to recommend places to look. I do know one person who did an internship after graduating because he couldn't find full time but he started right after graduation and it developed into a full time position. Your school probably still provides career searching resources for alumni; look into that.

It's a bit late, but you really should have opened up that schedule. With no internship, you have a rough road ahead of you. PM me your e-mail if you want to send me a resume and see if I can send it to a few friends. I don't know a ton of Mechanicals but hey, you never know.
nitroheadz28 JUL 25, 11:24 PM
I asked my profs to keep me in mind for any potential opportunities and followed up with them a month later and nothing, so I just stopped bothering with them. My school really sucks, but I suppose its worth looking into. By opening up that schedule, you mean getting started on the job/ internship hunt before/ right after graduating right? In that case, I'm not in a rush to find work , 2 years of 21-23 credits on top of a whole load of other crap wore me out good, I needed some time off.

I'll shoot you a PM, I appreciate it.
Doug85GT JUL 25, 11:48 PM
Be willing to relocate. You want to go where the good jobs are. If that means North Dakota, then move to North Dakota. If you are tied to an area, then your destiny is no longer in your hands, it is tied to how well that area does.
jmclemore JUL 26, 02:41 AM

quote
Originally posted by nitroheadz28:

So, any tips? I typically poke around all the normal sites, craigslist and all the other crap that comes up on google. I wish I could've done an internship while in school but my schedule prevented that, I'm about to resort to calling random companies asking if I can get something along those lines





I had a friend "no degree" and a lousy laborer who decided he was too lazy to do
manual labor too under qualified to do anything else. He took a night job for
about 10 bucks an hour and found a small mom and pops store where he volunteered.

we all thought he was an idiot but after 6 months he quit the night job and the store
for a job as an assistance manager at a grocery store. 6month later he's the manager
of a small meat packaging company and 1 year later he gets hired at local factory
as a department manager... I would have thought it was just dumb luck but having known
him, then and now, it's clear he knew how to manufacture a resume and how to produce
an effective result. The fact he was a skilled Bullsh*ter who can make friend with a rabid dog
didn't hurt either.

It might not be much help but hell if a high school graduate can find a career path to
a job the always read "Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Business Management
and 5 years experience" I figure someone with a degree should have a shot......

[This message has been edited by jmclemore (edited 07-26-2013).]

TheDigitalAlchemist JUL 26, 07:01 AM
If you can possibly escape New York, I recommend doing so.
I would definitely meet with some of your teachers and your school's employment office.
What type of job do you want? What type of company?
avengador1 JUL 26, 10:52 AM
Didn't your school have a career center? They usually keep employers on file that are looking for graduates. They also would have a description about what positions they are trying to fill. At least that is how they did it in New York back in the 80s when I graduated.
FriendGregory JUL 26, 02:03 PM
Make contact with everybody in school that might know your name and contact them on Linked In. Make it perfectly clear that you are looking for work and your willingness to relocate, intern or any other options that are out there. Any positions that you find, setup email alerts for keywords that interest you or a possible employer on that site.
tbone42 JUL 26, 04:22 PM
.. flip the burgers AWAY from you so you don't get splattered by the grease!
rogergarrison JUL 26, 04:23 PM
First, you will be very lucky to find any job in your field (although you did pick a good one) that dont start you at fed minimum wage, if any at all. First thing Id do is head to a bankruptcy lawyer to get out of that student loan youd be paying on for 30 years.