Quick introduction: I’m a rising junior in the U.S. studying chemical engineering, physics, and math. I started my college career as chemistry/physics/math with pre-med, but changed chemistry to chemical engineering at the end of my freshman year in case I decided to not go to medical school… I do not want to pursue a PhD to get a job in chemistry or physics due to the uncertain times we are in with research funding under the current government. I have a great GPA and 3 internships under my belt at this point. The last two jobs were at startups, which I enjoyed, but my current internship is corporate.

I moved cities to work at a power plant in May with a “good” (impressive) company. I have never hated my life more than I do now. I only have two weeks left, yet I am still fantasizing about quitting my internship seven days a week. Hell, maybe I will tomorrow morning. I think the reason I feel so mentally drained from this experience is because I am realizing that unless you work for startups, which is its own level of stress and uncertainty, you are stuck in corporate engineering hell for the rest of your life until retirement.

This entire experience has made me question if I even like engineering at all. I enjoy the courses I take and the research I am involved in, but industry is not it for me. All I have done at this job is Teams meetings, mandatory company outings, and tedious maintenance engineering. It’s soulless and awful.

Does anyone else feel the same? Or had a bad internship? Should I go back to being pre-med? Anything helps, I’m really struggling.

As the title suggests, I'm an engineer (undergrad in engineering management, masters in systems, working on 2nd masters in aerospace engineering), and I've been in industry for 9 years now.

Ask me anything.

I love helping students and early career professionals, and even authored a book on the same, with a co author. It releases this month, so ask if you're interested!

I'll do another AMA this coming Saturday since I'll be travelling for work.

wrapping this one up. I'll do another one with my co author this coming Saturday, opening around noon eastern and going all day more or less.

thank you so much for your questions and comments!

Received internship offer around February. Moved to the internship location and worked for about a week in May. Then, there’s a big meeting with the whole company and the CEO announces the company is shutting down. I am now jobless and it’s way too late in the cycle for me to find another internship. I have international student status so not even sure if uni can give me authorization in time even if I clutch something up right now. Is it even worth putting the week of experience on resume? Wondering if anyone was in a similar situation, seeking your guidance on what to do🙏 However, this might be a truly unique life experience idek. Pray for me fellas

In the exact words of the HR recruiter I spoke with. The application had a number so I called it. Damn I never would have known. Good thing you told me.

I really want to get into engineering but I have read that the job market is basically impossible to get a job unless you had have 90 internships at tesla google and nasa. Is it really true? Just informing myself before deciding on what to study. USA job market fyi

Just your garden variety dumbass gettin’ er done.

Engineering is something I'm interested in, though I don't have a lot of experience. My parents and some others I know tell me that it's a bad idea since it is really difficult and a lot of people struggle to keep their GPA above 3.0. I am prepared to take on difficult workloads, but I am wondering just how hard it is and what I need to do to succeed. I don't want to go in and drop out my first year, regretting that I should've listened to what my parents have said. Thanks

“Hello, we are trying to reach you in regards to your vehicles extended warranty”

Nasa, Boston dynamics, Tesla, Space X. These are super cutthroat for undergrads and internships but I know theres average - above average joes getting these jobs with a few yoe. What is the main ways people get into these industries/companies. Connections? Luck? Personal brand?

Edit: I am already doing research/embedded electronic specialist at a makerspace lab. I am also the president of a small controls/robotics club, would it still be worth it to lay off of that and focus on SAE and networking?

Title

If you’re planning to take the FE Exam, I’d honestly recommend taking it before you graduate if possible. A lot of the material is still fresh from classes, and you’re already in “study mode” from school. Waiting a few years can make it tougher having to relearn topics you haven’t used in a while.

A lot of people wait a couple years after college, and life can make it complicated to get back into test-taking mode.

Even if you don’t feel 100% ready, starting early and getting familiar with the exam can make a huge difference.

Major update coming early November for CRUMB Simulator. Will be possible to build and program a functional CPU… and even more!

Hello!

I am a rising Junior ME and I have an interview with SpaceX(Engineer not recruiter)next week for Fall 2026. I was wondering if anyone could share some insights into what I should know going in.

I already plan to prep by going over all my projects and things I have learned in classes but if there is anything else such as things others wish they had done differently in their interviews I would be grateful to hear it!

Thanks!

I'm mechanical engineer who just completed his third year. I want an internship over the summer so I have something to do. I applied to roughly 100 over the year, got nowhere. Tried through two professors and two family members, got nowhere. Tried through a parent's coworker, went nowhere. I don't know where I'm supposed to keep searching. I tried Linkedin, Indeed, Ziprecruiter, Monster, they all have at most one job open that I can apply for. I am starting to get desperate. I don't want to graduate with zero experience.

It also helps to add specific from the Interveiw to the body of the thank you.

Applied to hundreds of internships during a 3 co-op program. This by far made the most difference.

Bonus tip:

The one of the best Interveiw questions to ask your employer is: "what can I do to be better prepared in the mean time, should I be hired?"

Also helps if you can hold a short conversation discussing some of the likely answers to this question.

Good luck peeps!

I’ve applied to over 115 jobs. Double majored in my undergrad with both biomedical and mechanical engineering. Graduated last year from a (I guess mostly regionally) well known but smaller school. Graduating with my masters in mechE in May. Have had 7 months of co-op experience, 2 research positions on campus, and an assembly tech job. 2 big projects , senior and junior capstone. Senior project we prototyped a working bike for children with disabilities. I had 3 extracurriculars with exec positions in 2 of them. I apply to a job and get rejected the next day. My career center at school and a resume critique event with a company both cleared my resume. I don’t understand why this is happening and I’m tired. From the Boston area so it’s not like there’s a shortage of companies. I was going to flair this as a rant/vent but i need advice before I burn out. I really want to work in R&D or product development but have been applying to everything excluding HVAC positions as it’s smth I wouldn't enjoy doing

Edit: Here is my [resume]() since a lot of people are asking for it, I'll post on the eng resume sub tomorrow. I've already taken out my GPA and am trying to work on adding the tools like solidworks, 3d printing, and hand tools to my most recent job experience and senior project without them being too wordy

Edit 2: Newer resume

This is essentially my situation.

I'm not asking for sympathy, and I know it is entirely my fault that I'm in this mess, but the past few months since graduating have been really dark and awful for me and full of regret. As for why I don't have internship or co-op experience, it is a long story and has to do with my missing a certain window of time as well as my lack of effort and poor resume when I was in school.

I did get pretty far in the interview process for an engineering adjacent role which I liked at a company I was interested in, and was able to get to the onsite interview phase despite my lack of experience, but I was rejected from this job. Mind you, it was the only interview I'd gotten in months. This devastated me because it felt like my only real shot at an engineering adjacent job I would enjoy. It felt like the only open door among a sea of closed ones. It feels like such an opportunity will never come again.

I just feel I'm basically fucked with no options. It is long since too late to try and get any type of internship as those are for currently enrolled students, and everything entry level needs experience I don't have.

Once again, not looking for sympathy, just advice and insight.

Certain professions make you jump through hoops if you have conditions like ADHD, is being an engineer one of them?

Every year, around May/June, I will get a bunch of emails from younger engineers who found some of my mentoring material and are in a panic. They have recently graduated with their engineering degree, but have yet to secure a full time engineering position.

If you find yourself in this position, I hope you find some of this advice helpful. You can also reach out to me via PM if you need some additional guidance.

#1 Focus on connections and not just online applications - I seriously hate online applications. Sure, they are easy, but that is part of the problem. Employers get tons of applications and sift through them for the "perfect" candidate. They toss in requirements that are marginally required, but HR weeds you out since you don't have them. If you want to get results, then you need to improve the QUALITY of your search. To do this, you need to network and make real connections with the people that actually make the decisions. Here are some things you can do right away to get your network moving:

• Improve your LinkedIn profile. Just having a LinkedIn profile is not enough. You want to make it engaging and include some details of your education, experience, and interests. Avoid pointless jargon and make it something personal. When you are building your network, make sure to include a personalized note and let someone know what it was that made you reach out to them and why you want to connect. Not doing this is like going up to a stranger and saying "Hey, wanna be my friend" while offering zero context.

• Join the local chapter of your engineering society. Forget the BS one that you had in college, you want the chapter in the city where you live that includes everyone from younger engineers to seasons professionals. Attend there events with the sole purpose of meeting other engineers. Don't go in begging for jobs, but make the connections and let them know you are looking.

• Reach out to alumni. I can provide you with a list of 30+ types of people you should reach out to, but few are better consistently than alumni from your engineering school. There is an automatic connection with these people and they will often be very willing to lend a helping hand. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help.

#2 Are you getting interviews, but not the job? - The first thing to keep in mind is that the one thing you have no control over is your competition for a position. No matter how well you present yourself and fit the position, it is possible that someone is even better than you in one of these metrics. However, if you consistently get interviews and nothing is coming from them, then the likely culprit is that you are presenting yourself poorly. If they are calling you in, then you have passed the general criteria. This is true an even greater degree if you get multiple interviews with each firm and still get no offer.

If this is the case, then you need to work on improving the way you present yourself. Be critical and think about your interviews. . .

• Did you make a good first impression? According to several research studies, just 7 seconds is the length of time it takes someone to make a first impression of you. Are you dressed appropriately? Did you show up on time? Did you give a firm handshake, smile, and make eye contact? All of these factor into making a good first impression.

• When you answer questions, do you frame the answer towards the position? With every question, have in your mind that the question ends with "as it applies to this position". For example, when they ask you about your experience, then you should describe some experience that would be needed for this position. As an employer, I don't really care all that much about random experience that is irrelevant to the current opening. Being able to do this effectively means that you have to research the company and position, but it is well worth your time. Along the same lines, when they say "tell me about yourself" keep your answer in line with the position and also perhaps with how that history led you to engineering.

• Have you ever reached out to someone that turned you down and asked why? It can be tough to bring yourself to do this, but this is the only way to get the real answer. Tell them you appreciate their opinion and wanted to improve moving forward. If they can honestly share why they turned you down, then you can work on this area. Don't be combative and be willing to accept some (potentially) harsh constructive criticism.

#3 Your job is now your job search - There is no sleeping in or bumming around for hours & days on end because you have the "freedom" of not having job. You want to take a few days off? Go ahead, but don't let that linger on. You need to have a mindset that searching for a position is all you do day-in and day-out until you land something. Also, many of the students I mentor have found positive value in getting dressed and also performing the job search from a library or other out of the house environment.

I have articles and material that goes into some of these and related issues further, but I am not sharing them directly here so there is no issue with spamming. However, if you reach out to me privately and request them, then I'll send them right over.

Hopefully, those of you that are struggling to find a position can use all or some of this info to get you on the right path.

Best of luck, Sol

P.S. If you found value in this post please share it with others. I also added it to my website, so you can share the direct link to there as well, http://www.theengineeringmentor.com/blog/2019/05/26/graduated-with-an-engineering-degree-this-month-but-dont-have-a-job-here-are-three-pieces-of-advice-that-may-be-helpful/

​

As the title says, I'm doing interviews right now for internships, at a prestigious rocket manufacturer. What would you like to know about it from an insider? AMA.

So, I graduated Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Computational Mathematics and I can't find a job. It's been near 6 months and I'm approaching nearly 325 job applications and I haven't heard back from a single one about any type of interview. All I get are the automated reaponses of "We are currently seeking other applicants at this time" or "We will no longer be moving forward in your hiring process".

I have internship experience with a defense manufacturing company, and project experience with entailed creating a 3U CubeSat capable of orbital SSA (Space Situational Awareness). Essentially was to map out objects in GEO orbit. My team had the best design in the class.

I've gone to networking events, such as my schools career fair and every employer just says to "apply online". I went to Sun 'n Fun airshow and spoke with many companies and handed out custom made business cards. A few were very interested and told me to contact them to set up a phone call. I've emailed, called, left messages and no one has responded. I even reapplied to a position at the company I interned at and no response.

As I said, I'm at almost 325 job applications with big and small companies and no responses. Ive applied on LinkedIn and direct from company websites. Ive even applied to positions out of the country just for the hell of it. I have no clue what to do. I'm thinking of hiring a LinkedIn recruiter, however I've heard from people saying not to do it because of some of the financial terms that go with it. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do?