Landing first entry level engineering position? (Any PE’s with advice?)?
I'm usually not one to question questions on here, as I like to share my knowledge and experiences with others, but I could beyond doubt use some advice/suggestions. Here's the tale -I'm a recent graduate of an ABET accredited program from a highly ranked school in southeastern Pennsylvania. I've earned a B. S. in Civil Commerce with a Minor in Architectural Commerce. My GPA was about B range, just past 3. 1. So, my grades were decent, I have the degree, and I do have 6 months of internship experience with a consulting firm whose services were in site design / land development. As not compulsory by my univeristy and others, the job search started in fall of my senior year (2008). I attended three school-hosted career fairs and made use of the university's career development and interviewing services. I also searched on my own. My resume was handed out to well over 30 companies, and in the winter/early spring I interviewed with a handful of firms. Some answered and clearly stated I was not selected, others simply made no follow up gesture (go professionalism!!!). Other firms were kind enough to send mail stating they were not hiring at this time. Anyways, I'm not here to complain. I feel that I've made a decent effort in my search. I've been browsing online nightly for weeks trying to find access level work. Many positions are structural yet my concentrations were in water resources and transportation. I applied at my internship firm and got no answer. I will be compelling the F. E. in October of this year which would make me an EIT by about January if I pass. This would beyond doubt make me more marketable. My resume is solid and was recently reviewed by a relative who is a PE. I'm a friendly person, highly motivated, a very hard worker and capable of getting things done. Who would have thought getting your foot in the door could ever be so hard with an commerce degree. According to Forbes. com "engineer" is the toughest profession to fill in America. Unfortunately the economy is against me and fellow graduates no matter what their field of study. So I question, is there any advice those in industry might have for landing that first job? The work may not be here geographically and I know that, so relocating is a likelihood. There must be some firm out there who needs cheaper labor and a young mind with new perspectives. Thanks in advance!Didn't have luck with the ACoE first time around but I'm still in contact with them. Province? I'm in an American state - the time spent in practice before being able to sit for the PE is 4 years, not 8. Asking for advice. . . not your life tale. 5 / 30 + against your. 3 / 100 kind of says something. . .
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Filed under Entry Level Engineering Jobs by on Jul 22nd, 2011. 
Comments on Landing first entry level engineering position? (Any PE’s with advice?)?
be diligent, professional and patient. It will come. Commerce is in demand, and you will get that job soon. EIT is more marketable, so that is a excellent thing. I am guessing you are still young?
Try the army corp. of engineers. You will have to join the army, but…you would be an engineer…and when you get out with your degree and your EIT and your experience from the army…you will be able to take your PE and will be able to work somewhere commanding a fantastic salary and job…
and dont worry about what he said down there…as an army corp engineer, you could work in soooo many different places…you wouldn’t have to go overseas…you could work in hoodwink NY, to Albuquerque, NM…especially if your water resources…you could basically work for any major city in America…
in our province, u only have 8 yrs to get your pe designation. i have seen many who is still a EIT after graduated from university over twenty or thirty yrs.
the condition for a civil engineer designation is 4 yrs of experience but u must complete it within 8 yrs.
try the army corp, the civil are always in front of everybody else to lay the airstrip or build a bridge over water….
hope u don’t die or become a quadriplegic before u’re discharged.
Only 30 companies? Come on now, I handed out over 100 resumes and only got 3 interviews and I already passed my FE and had a higher GPA than yours and had 3 summers of internships and was active in the student ASCE and had scholarships out of the wazoo and worked part time with a civil commerce firm and I still couldn’t find a job. The civil commerce firm that I worked part time for in school didn’t have enough work to hire me fulltime.
A civil commerce degree right now and in the next 2 to 3 years is useless. It is a lot of work and time to come out unemployed.