Just a heads up for all you unemployed/recently graduating engineers:

Norfolk Naval Shipyard is now recruiting for engineering positions. The recruiting period ends March 19.

See this for how to apply:

Quote :

"To apply for this position, you must provide submit a completed resume and copy of your transcripts to: NNSY_Engineer_Recruiting@navy.mil. If claiming Veteran’s Preference indicate it in your resume with a copy of your DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from active duty. All documentation must be submitted to the online email address by close of business on Friday, March 19, 2010. "

The copy of your transcript can be an unofficial copy I believe. If you want the job posting that was sent out today please PM me and I'll forward you the email. I think that virtually all engineering majors at NNSY would be accepted, with the exception of perhaps biomedical or computer engineering.

If you do apply, expect to hear back around may-july about the job. This is just about the easiest way possible to get your foot in the door in the DoD and to get a lot of free training to boot. As long as you aren't working with me you'll also probably enjoy your job.

[Edited on March 1, 2010 at 4:34 PM. Reason : Page 29 is optimistic.]

3/1/2010 4:34:20 PM

Ffff... OK, I meant that virtually all engineering majors at NCSU would be accepted. Ignore the description of the requirements, just apply, lol. Pay is about $55k if you GPA is over 3.0. Cost of living in this area is kinda odd. You can spend $800/mo on a one bedroom place and drive 20-30 mins to work, or spend ~$900-1100/mo on the same thing and be 5 mins from work and walking distance to kickass bars. It'd be good to try to find somebody down here to room with as well, as the premium on those is not bad compared to the premium on a 1br place.

3/1/2010 6:45:51 PM

Turning 27 in may

and currently pretty sure my job is gone this week. Already spent the whole weekend getting my shit together.

I'm not above anything. Doing a lot of retail applications, cannot afford to be without a job for longer than about 7 weeks.

I am also looking at other positions but not leaving any stone unturned. sigh

3/2/2010 7:31:17 AM

Is there anything design/manufacturing related in the Raleigh area that would employ MEs that is actually growing? It seems like all there is around the area is construction related jobs (i.e. MEP and building control system jobs).

3/2/2010 9:14:42 AM

are you dead-set against doing any construction related work? I've been working in the engineering & construction industry for 3 years (basically since we got out of school) doing MEP and BCS related work and I really enjoy it. I guess if I was doing quick commercial cookie-cutter work it might be fairly boring, but industrial related work can be rather interesting and challenging.

3/2/2010 9:25:16 AM

Hey Jamie. My interests are in CAD modeling, FEA analysis, and materials. I did an internship with a mechanical contractor and found that it wasn't what I am interested in.

3/2/2010 9:28:26 AM

I'm currently working for a building controls company, but I took the job to have one and now it's starting to show and I'm losing interest.

3/2/2010 9:31:57 AM

Gotcha. Just figured I'd ask; I didn't know that you had worked/are working in those areas already. Good luck finding something that you actually enjoy doing though man. And glad to hear you do at least have something right now!

3/2/2010 9:34:43 AM

Thanks Jamie. It just sems like there is a dearth of design/analysis related jobs in the Raleigh area. I feel like my BSME degree is worthless around here. Every day I wake up wishing I had done comp sci or computer engineering.

3/2/2010 9:37:45 AM

I thought we might see a few IBMers pop up in this thread yesterday/today.

3/2/2010 9:07:56 PM

Quote :

"Every day I wake up wishing I had done comp sci or computer engineering."

I did computer engineering and every day I wake up wishing I had done comp sci.

3/2/2010 9:31:59 PM

I wish i had not done animal science

I have been unemployed since May. Ugh.

3/2/2010 10:06:44 PM

well, no arguing with that one

3/2/2010 10:11:24 PM

I guess I do understand the computer engineering vs comp sci argument. I know it doesn't help the comp engineering field when Dell closes it's plant in Winston-Salem.

3/2/2010 10:45:49 PM

there are ME positions at some of the pharma companies

3/3/2010 2:22:22 AM

I feel like I've put in a resume at every pharma company in the area and haven't heard a peep. I even have some biochem/microbiology experience from labs I took at NCSU.

3/3/2010 9:18:51 AM

Interview tomorrow. Not going to be the best job but its something, and potentially better than what I have been doing.

I just hope not being employed won't hurt too much. I also hope that I get some cash flow in the next 40 days or so when I do get a job!

3/3/2010 9:27:30 AM

Y'all new engineers w/o jobs plz to PM me if you want more details on the jobs at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

3/3/2010 2:06:50 PM

Have my roots in Raleigh right now. Makes things tougher I know.

3/3/2010 2:20:10 PM

3/3/2010 2:21:44 PM

I wish I could take my degree back to NC State and get my ~30k refund.

3/4/2010 8:44:51 AM

ha no.

hopefully in roughly 3 hours i will have a job! if not i have another call back yesterday!

3/4/2010 8:55:30 AM

^, just curious, what is your degree in? Engineering is definitely slow these days.

3/4/2010 8:57:19 AM

I actually feel like I am making a decent salary right now... but to change jobs I am looking at a 30-50% paycut. And I know this is going to affect me for the rest of my career

3/4/2010 3:00:15 PM

Is it possible to get internships without being a student? Does anyone know of companies that do that?

At this point, I'm thinking about going back to get my Master's just so that I am eligible for internships.

3/5/2010 1:51:40 PM

I don't see why not. A company would jump at offering anybody an un-paid position...especially if you're more qualified than a college student. The only reason they wouldn't is if they use internships solely to train you for a certain position at their company, and they didn't feel like you would ever work for them.

3/5/2010 1:53:49 PM

You will notice that most corporate websites have two categories for potential employees:
-Students
-Experienced Professionals

Also, some job listings for internships explicitly state FULL TIME STUDENTS ONLY. I've noticed this on IBM's website a lot.

I'm pretty much convinced that there is no such thing as an entry level job.



[Edited on March 5, 2010 at 2:17 PM. Reason : meh]

3/5/2010 2:17:10 PM

Entry Level job available. 5-7 years experience required.

3/5/2010 2:27:51 PM

i've got a phone interview this week.


fingers crossed so hard they're white-knuckled

3/7/2010 1:47:25 AM

got a job. IT and it is entry level, no I am not an engineer.

Got the fuck out of retail management. I had to have some other experience for my future career.

Anybody want advice if I am qualified to give it- volunteer someplace that can use your skills. Then list that experience on your resume as if it were a job. Contact info, when you started, what you ACCOMPLISHED not just your 'duties' but of course put it under the headline of 'volunteer work'

For instance I know that volunteering at Kramden where we fix up old computers to donate to schoolkids did help me stand out. And because it is computer related, it showed that I knew what I was doing to get my new job. My previous employement didn't really show this, but volunteer work did.

Now because I was a manager at previous job, all be it retail, and have a management degree, I HOPE that I will be able to move up in the company. But beggars can't be choosers right now. Not sure if it were this thread or another one I said this, but, if you need a job, don't be above anything.

Of course I will keep volunteering too. I enjoy it.

I swear getting out of retail is like getting out of prison or perhaps even the armed forces. Yesterday and today I don't work. Its nice out. I can do whatever I want!!

[Edited on March 7, 2010 at 6:52 AM. Reason : phew!]

3/7/2010 6:47:20 AM

yeah, have a part time job, looking for another.

i have 3 degrees and nothing is looking good on the horizon. been digging like crazy and sending shit out. my master's is in architecture. there was a giant layoff of interns recently with the recession and its been tough trying to just get an entry level position

3/7/2010 7:01:35 AM

My friend who just graduated can't even get a retail job. I told him to take his degree off of his resume and applications.

3/7/2010 8:01:13 AM

3/7/2010 8:35:38 AM

HAHAHAAHAHA.

Also: "Ability to travel to remote locations in arctic environments as needed."

3/7/2010 8:48:18 AM

Quote :

"My friend who just graduated can't even get a retail job. I told him to take his degree off of his resume and applications."

I've thought about doing that, but then my resume would read:

Resume for Todd:
1999 - Graduated High School
1999-2010 - Apparently nothing at all
The end.

Quote :

"Anybody want advice if I am qualified to give it- volunteer someplace that can use your skills. Then list that experience on your resume as if it were a job. Contact info, when you started, what you ACCOMPLISHED not just your 'duties' but of course put it under the headline of 'volunteer work'"

I know I should do this, but I'm a slacker so I come up with excuses. Whom do I contact to volunteer with the airplane design companies?

[Edited on March 7, 2010 at 9:47 AM. Reason : ]

3/7/2010 9:45:23 AM

^He expressed the same problem, having held only one job during college. I still think it would be better than putting the degree on.

They're not looking for qualified people. They're looking for morons, so you have to tell them that you are one.

3/7/2010 12:45:07 PM

basically they always ask to fill in any gaps in employment. If they think you are lying, a background check via social security number will show your previous employment anyway.

3/7/2010 1:09:06 PM

phone interview with SAS this friday...woot!

3/8/2010 2:14:33 PM

good luck holmes.

3/8/2010 2:32:10 PM

Make sure you put TWW mod on your resume!!!

3/8/2010 3:19:29 PM

For Computer Science:

Amazon and Expedia are hiring in Seattle.

In the Raleigh/RTP Area:

SAS and Cisco. SAS is just contractor work though.

Deutsch Bank is hiring a bunch (250 by the years end). They just moved global IT operations here in Cary.

3/8/2010 3:50:28 PM

woot, accepted an offer. only unemployed for ~5 weeks, praise jebus! (except I won't start for another 5 weeks). For those interested here's some info about my search:

My background:
-- BSME, NCSU, 12/06
-- MSME, Michigan, 12/09
-- 3 summers internship (pharmaceutical project engineering), 3 semesters undergraduate research assistant (laser material processing), 3 years graduate student research assistant (structural vibrations and control)
-- good credentials (4.0 at NCSU, multiple small scholarships, NASA fellowship at the end of my MS)

My job search:
I started at the beginning of February. Was looking pretty much all over the country except the gulf coast, southwest, and great plains. Here's what happened with the company that made me an offer:
-- 2/4 - Spoke with them at the UM Engineering Career Fair
-- 2/8 - Submitted application for position I spoke to them about
-- 2/16 - Submitted application for another position
-- 2/17 - Got call to schedule phone interview for 2nd position
-- 2/23 - Phone interview, invited for on-site interview
-- 3/9 - On-site interview
-- 3/10 - Job offer
So I accepted the offer today. The position is in Salt Lake City and is for mechanical design/analysis/testing of electronics packaging for a DoD contractor. Offer was good ($68K) and the relocation package is quite comprehensive. This was my only interview so far, but the offer and relocation were around the best I would probably get based on the other positions I had found, and the position was "relevant to my interests". Plus my wife and I think it will be a good opportunity for us to explore that part of the country while we are still young, although we will probably want to make our way back to the east coast eventually.

I submitted ~85 applications. About 50 are still active. I probably won't withdraw from them just to see if I get any responses for future reference. If I do get some positive responses, I'll let you guys know.

3/12/2010 1:57:20 AM

I, too, am unemployed now. I haven't been unemployed for too long yet, but I have sent at least 40 resumes out.

3/15/2010 4:18:33 PM

Passed my phone interview today.

Face to Face interview on Friday.

Good friend of mine put in a word for me. She told me as long as I show ambition and speak clearly, I've got the job.


fingers crossed.

3/15/2010 4:24:45 PM

^^^ Salt Lake City is a great little city...lots of outdoor activities around there..and its within driving distance of many many interesting and exciting places. I hope you enjoy your time there and congrats!

3/15/2010 4:35:29 PM

Quote :

"Deutsch Bank is hiring a bunch (250 by the years end). They just moved global IT operations here in Cary."

a good friend of mine's wife is a headhunter/recruiter for this undertaking - let me check with her to see what kind of skill sets she's looking to place

3/15/2010 5:35:24 PM

I just had an on site there. Nice place. I have another one sometime this week to be determined.

Skill sets:

Heavy J2EE, knowledge of the new age frameworks like Spring. A good knowledge of alternate "Web 2.0" style front end technologies. Seem to have a lot of legacy apps with traditional J2EE (EJB's + Struts or JSF, etc) with a push to Flex.

J2EE impies: Java, JDBC, Relational Databases in General, HTML, JSP, Tags, XML, Web Services, JMS etc.

[Edited on March 16, 2010 at 12:53 PM. Reason : a]

3/16/2010 12:49:56 PM

Quote :

"tl Quote : "My friend who just graduated can't even get a retail job. I told him to take his degree off of his resume and applications." I've thought about doing that, but then my resume would read: Resume for Todd: 1999 - Graduated High School 1999-2010 - Apparently nothing at all The end."

Quote :

"EuroTitToss ^He expressed the same problem, having held only one job during college. I still think it would be better than putting the degree on."

Wish I could do the same. My jobs through college consisted of engineer, newspaper writer for Technician, teaching assistant, research assistant.
Three of the four were directly tied to NC State and the fourth says that I'm some sort of fancy engineer guy. I have zero experience since high school in anything remotely related to part time work. No restaurants, no retail, no nothing.

But hopefully that will be moot now. I SHOULD have a job offer coming in soon. One of my friends who works there says that he's never seen them bring in someone for a face-to-face interview without it being followed up by an offer. I told him good job in making me feel even worse when they don't offer...

3/16/2010 3:57:54 PM

unemployed since August 2009. started an awesome new job this Monday! good luck everyone.

3/16/2010 8:04:06 PM

If there are any computer science grads with SQL experience who would be interested in a short-term, entry-level gig, send me a PM. I might be able to help you out.

3/19/2010 9:50:13 AM