re: Southern University Engineering Program -- Job Search Ideas

Thank you, its really appreciated

But just to be sure, I am assuming that you are not the pretty girl in photo are you?

Okay, well man or woman, I understand what you meant about NSBE. To be honest I was a member of NSBE at LaTech, but ironically I have not been to the meetings at SU.




I do not have anything against NSBE, but have considered paying membership into IEEE.

I honestly do not see why other people overlook SU engineering.

My advice is to find a bunch of places you're interested in online and start cold calling. I haven't ever found a decent job off of places like indeed. Always spend the time making phone calls because it gives me a chance to sell myself (also good learning experience).

Don't take a unpaid internship.

Be open to exploring all options. With my current job, I told them I wanted to start it in the shop getting hands on experience and knowledge. They knew I wanted to do engineering stuff though. After a month and a half in the shop, I have now been working inside drawing specialty tools on the computer, designing other random tools, and solving a few problems here and there. If I get bored, I just walk out to the shop and start doing stuff.

They have a sister company I am trying to transfer to in a couple more months. They do exactly what I planned on doing as a ME

Oh trust me, I am open to different options. The only option I am not open to is an education career (its a personal thing).

Why not take an unpaid internship?? I could use the experience (even if I can only do it once)

Once they see I have an Engineering degree from SU, they will know how proficient I am.

Well Walgreens was #6. This is just the info you're feeding me, what else do I have to go by?

If I was the OP, i would do like the others have said and call any firm and work it that way. I would also do a google search for every engineering company in the state. I did that when i got my current job. Just couple things to remember. First what is your engineering degree going to be in? Find as many companies and locations you would be willing to work for and in that location. I can't also stress location enough. I've have jobs in supposedly great places only to find that it sucked. Couldn't stand the people and was miserable. Find people that work for that company and location. Ask about the quality of life such as cost of living.

Something to remember also that when you get hired, be motivated. I can tell you I've seen all kinds people fail. Some were highly educated but lacked motivation and were lazy. Pay your dues. As a new graduate or soon to be one you have no real or extremely limited experience and therefore you are an unknown gamble. Be eager to learn not just the engineering aspect but the industry itself. Make contacts. You may find yourself later one wanting to set up a small consulting firm. Ya never know so always keep options open.

Don't get a masters in EE unless you want to become a professor or work for some extremely specialized R&D type company.if it's the latter then you need to be at an nationally recognized school like MIT or GA Tech. A MS in engineering won't give you any advantages over a BS for a typical entry level engineering position. Once your career starts your performance and experience will move you up the ladder not your degree.

In my opinion if you can get a BS by taking significantly less classes than what is required for your MS then go that route.

You will have opportunities graduating from Southern, but you may have more opportunities graduating from LSU.

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If you can move to L.A, NYC, San Fran, Chicago etc for the first five or so years of your career it will make all of the difference in the world in the long run.

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These aren't very good cities for STEMs.

LINK

Relative to cost of living, NYC and SF have the second and third lowest paid STEM professionals in the US.

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you in NSBE? If not, you need to get yourself a membership now and establish a network

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Its simple. Join this if you want to be seen as a "black Engineer". Dont join it if you'd rather be seen as an Engineer.

I have to agree with an earlier poster, that some employers might see this as somebody trying to get ahead not on merit but on skin color. (on the flip side there might be employers looking for a minority to hire to add diversity or whatever and might look to these organizations)

This is a great example of where "affirmative action" or "diversity" goes wrong. When a minority is successful on his own merit, others will wonder if it was because he's qualified, or because he was socially promoted and that's when it does more harm than good. My advice is to play up your strengths and accomplishments. You dont have to downplay race, but dont use it as a ticket to get anywhere and there will be lots of employers who will bend over backwards to hire you. For a minority who is qualified and works hard, and doesnt play the race card all the time, the sky is the limit, because a lot of companies would love to add diversity.

Not sure if that really makes sense but good luck to the OP.

If the recruiters and hirers are as closed minded as you are then maybe.

But if you have the grades, the resume, and the work ethic, membership in that group won't hurt you at all, it'll inly help you. It's helped numerous people I know because they were great at what they did first.

I never said just bank on your skin color.

Joining an interest group isn't playing a card all the time, and again, your ignorance is showing.