Ever worked construction?

[Triple J]

I'm structural so I can't do most of general civil stuff.   Started an master's, finished classes, still have the project (hence the MS project). Most openings I'm seeing are looking for 2-5 yrs exp.  

It's tough for many structural engineers right now. Most rely on construction of buildings, and there aren't too many being built. Three years ago we had a hard time even finding a structural engineer to hire who wasn't worthless...now we can easily get very good ones since so many are out of work.

My advice, as a management level engineer:

1. Finish your Masters. No one gives a shit that you started it and didn't finish. A BS in engineering is very common. An MS will help set you apart, and also allows you to specialize to the field of your choice. Get student loans if you need. I got my MS using student loans (same for my BS). I still owe money, but it was a very good investment. Of course...only do this if you want to be an engineer...otherwise it's a waste of money.

2. Apply for the 2-5 year jobs. The worst that can happen is they don't call you back. Hell, even try for an internship. No money while getting your foot in the door is better than no money while sitting at home watching Oprah.

3. If you have a BS in civil engineering, which is what I would guess since I've never heard of a BS in structural engineering (usually only MS degrees are specialized like that), then you can do normal civil stuff. You may not want to, but that's a different story. No engineer out of school fresh with a BS really knows anything anyway, so they get trained.

4. Some industries are booming right now, or are at least doing well. Tunneling and heavy Civil (what I do) is one of them. Look into tunnel engineering firms (JE, PB, Hatch Mott, etc)...or into tunneling contractors (Kenny, Shea, Traylor, Barnhardt, etc). Mining (Barrack, Newmont, etc) is also doing well. Spend some time on the internet doing research. Most structural engineers I knew in school had their hearts set on skyscrapers and bridges (just like most MEs wanted to design airplanes)...and most don't do that. There are interesting jobs in other fields.

5. Finally, don't be afraid to leave CA.

Good luck.  

[Langanobob]

Quote from derby:

just a bit of advice: next time you get a job, don't quit because your boss is a make the beast with two backstard:

I didn't follow your link but I think I remember the thread.  The conventional wisdom is of course to never quit a job 'til you  have a new one lined up, but life sometimes pays off on risks and sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.  I had a bad boss once and one day I just had enough, left a brief resignation effective immediately note on my desk and walked out.  Had $300 to my name and it wasn't pretty but within two months I had a great job that literally turned my life around.  I've wondered how things would've turn out if I didn't have the gumption or stupidity or whatever it was to walk out on the bad boss.  But it was an overall bad job, not just the boss.

Quote from TripleJ

5. Finally, don't be afraid to leave CA.

+1.   I was going to ask why erkishorde is limiting his job search to California?  There's a big and exciting world out there. 

[cokey]

I 3rd that motion..  get out of ca.. shit isn't there a build boom in some overseas countty?  Prob make more too..  hey bun bun, where on the east coast are you?

[wbeck257]

sounds to me like you aren't built for construction...
not a whole lot of care for feelings out there.

[hbliam]

I was thinking that about the unfinished MS too. I understand that it looks like you lack the drive to finish what you start but at the same time, not everyone even tries for it and of those that try, not everyone finishes so why do you get punished for aiming high and then finding out that you just don't cut it? You're still better than the guys that didn't try in the first place, aren't you?

Actually, no. It makes you look like a quitter. It also just doesn't make sense. You do all the other work that goes into it and then fail to complete the last step?

Now that I have this other info:

-Get any type of job. Sales at Best Buy, waiter, whatever.
-Finish MS.
-Get entry level position in your field.
-Work hard and move up incrementally like the rest of us.

And let all the CA haters shovel snow. We can ride our Ducati's year round.

[herm]

the US forest service is always hiring if you MUST stay in CA...
if you're not afraid of hard work (i assume, since you are looking into construction) you could actually do ok...

[Speedbag]

Convince yourself to finish school.

I almost quit a couple of times on my way to getting my lowly BS in engineering. Glad I had shitty jobs during those times to get my head back on straight.

Trust me, it's worth it.  

[rgramjet]

Actually, go get a job as a laborer! 

After about 3 months, you will relish the time you spend working on your ms.

[IZ]

Brief moment after the Air Force when I worked construction.  Actually, it was digging trenches and laying conduit pipe.  Fun stuff!  I learned how to operate the backhoe & bobcat and drive the dumptruck.  Also, used the jackhammer and did a lot of digging.   Definately an experience but nothing I'd want to do again.  Not at this age and not during the fall/winter months in Michigan.   That experience sealed the deal on higher education!      

[Popeye the Sailor]

You can use a structural engineer?

Don't go look at the website or anything.


You can't find a job because you're not trying.

[erkishhorde]

Don't go look at the website or anything.


You can't find a job because you're not trying.

I did look at it right after I posted that and the answer was no.

Thank you calling me a lazy bum.

[Popeye the Sailor]

I did look at it right after I posted that and the answer was no.

We're hiring interns, which the company pays relocation, corporate housing, and about 3-4k a month.

[ducpainter]

We're hiring interns, which the company pays relocation, corporate housing, and about 3-4k a month.

Is that number for enginerd interns only?

[Popeye the Sailor]

Is that number for enginerd interns only?

Yuppers. Dye your hair and lie.

[erkishhorde]

We're hiring interns, which the company pays relocation, corporate housing, and about 3-4k a month.

I didn't see any intern postings and all the jobs were mechs, aero, and ee. There are a wide variety of engineers and we can't all do the same stuff.