Modern Buddy

Hey guys,

I've been a Buddy owner for about a month and this forum and its people have really been great.

I graduated with Mechanical Engineering from UCLA in March and have been job hunting since then. I'm told job hunting is about the people you know and I don't know that many as a recent grad. Are there any Engineers on this site that can know of a job opening or two in your network? I will be forever greatful!

I just need to get my foot in the door, but the Engineering field is taking a hard hit from the failing economy.

You should check with Genuine/Scooterworks. They have been designing some of their own products. I'm sure an engineer or two are involved somewhere in the process. Nothing like mixing your work with your hobby.

What kinda engine are you?

rajron wrote:What kinda engine are you?

If I were one I'd be a 70's Honda CB/CL/SL 350. Bullet proof!

oh! that kinda motor - supercharged ford flathead with twice two barrel holly - almost 250 hp

fobbish wrote:I just need to get my foot in the door, but the Engineering field is taking a hard hit from the failing economy.

Hey I feel your pain my friend, I'm a Land Surveyor with 25+ years in the field. At 50 years old I've been out of work for a year now!
But you have youth on your side, all anyone wants to hire is you young guys!
Best of luck to you. You'll find what you need it just takes time...

I'm an engineer in Birmingham, AL and while there are a few openings down here, there are a ton in Huntsville, AL (about 1.5 hours away).

If you're willing to relocate, there are a lot of positions at defense companies and various other companies - even for entry-level engineers.

JeffersonJ wrote:I'm an engineer in Birmingham, AL ...

...and why don't we see you at the Homewood scooter club meetings? Friday at 5-7 (drop in) at OHenry's in Homewood. Rain or shine.

Heh, I got a bit excited when I saw this, as I'm a Sr Network Engineer.
Then I read it and realized you meant a different type of engineer than that

Good luck on the job hunt, its rough coming right outa college into this economy!

Kaos wrote:Heh, I got a bit excited when I saw this, as I'm a Sr Network Engineer.
Then I read it and realized you meant a different type of engineer than that

Good luck on the job hunt, its rough coming right outa college into this economy!

Ditto, at university my department (Computer Science) was always lumped into the Engineering school. I don't think we quite fit in because we're really more math than engineering..

If you can relocate, do it. I moved from Oregon (but I will be back) to San Francisco and got a job in two weeks. Of course, that was 3 years ago, but if you're just out of college it is probably the easiest time to move.

Kaos wrote:Heh, I got a bit excited when I saw this, as I'm a Sr Network Engineer.
Then I read it and realized you meant a different type of engineer than that

He obviously meant people who drive trains.

Have you considered contract engineering work? I'm a PE and aside from a seven year corporate gig have done contract work. More variety, more money, more freedom. Pretty much have to get your PE though...

fobbish wrote:Engineering field is taking a hard hit from the failing economy.

You just made choosing my major easier. Seems like India can produce just as bright an engineer who will work for far less.

fantumx420 wrote:

fobbish wrote:Engineering field is taking a hard hit from the failing economy.

You just made choosing my major easier. Seems like India can produce just as bright an engineer who will work for far less.

But they can't work on ordinance, which i can

fantumx420 wrote:You just made choosing my major easier. Seems like India can produce just as bright an engineer who will work for far less.

If you want a career that you can be fairly sure will still exist as a job opportunity in 30 years in the country where you live, pick something that cannot be done by someone working for less money in another part of the world, and which is a fundamental social need rather than a luxury. Off the top of my head, the only things I can think of are nursing and public safety.

Only problem with nursing is getting a seat in nursing school!

-v

Vic wrote:Only problem with nursing is getting a seat in nursing school!

-v

The first rule of nursing school, you don't talk about nursing school! Ohh, wait...

Been a software engineer for 33 years, and while it ain't easy for a newbie, in my opinion, it's a lot easier than for an old fart like myself. Seems like employers are more willing to put up with limited experience than they are with higher salaries.

Also, despite laws to the contrary, age discrimination is rampant. Had an interview a couple of years ago for a position that I could have filled with my eyes closed. One of the last things one of the interviewers asked was if "I would be comfortable working with the rest of the staff (since they were all obviously much younger than myself)". Saw the handwriting on the wall and told him, "Sure, just so long as they stock the coffee room with Depends and pablum". Guess I could have raised holy hell since references to age are verbotten during the interview process, but I didn't really need the job and it was so much more fun to watch "junior" trying to decide if my answer was serious or not.

Good advice about trying to do something that can't be outsourced. Never heard of a plumber in New Delhi clearing a clogged toilet in New York.

I'm a ChemE who's been selling Medical Devices for 10 years. If you can stomach it sales is recession proof. I can't take it anymore...you can have my job.

charlie55 wrote:Been a software engineer for 33 years, and while it ain't easy for a newbie, in my opinion, it's a lot easier than for an old fart like myself. Seems like employers are more willing to put up with limited experience than they are with higher salaries.
Also, despite laws to the contrary, age discrimination is rampant.

Yeah, you'll find that in any technological field (mine's IT). The older you are, the less new technology you're assumed to know, and the less willing/able you are to learn it, because your brain is all cluttered with info about punch cards and CRTs and fax machines.

Thanks, guys, for making me feel a little better. I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask EVERYONE in my network if there are openings. I've kicked up my job search another notch.

KABarash, I'm sorry to hear about your situation too.

texepictetus wrote:I'm a ChemE who's been selling Medical Devices for 10 years. If you can stomach it sales is recession proof. I can't take it anymore...you can have my job.

Texepictetus, why don't you like being a sales engineer?? I would love to hear why because that's actually one of the two things I really want to do! The other being manufacturing.

TVB wrote:

Kaos wrote:Heh, I got a bit excited when I saw this, as I'm a Sr Network Engineer.
Then I read it and realized you meant a different type of engineer than that

He obviously meant people who drive trains.

ive been working on the railroad all my live long days ? is that how the song goes

I'm a chemical engineer in training, and I went to an engineering fair today at my school. I was looking out for a coworker, and I saw that Altec is looking for full-time mechanical engineers. You might check with them.