What to do when your career is in transition

It's time to answer another of your engineering career questions, this time from Todd:

I found myself unemployed last December for the first time in 23 years. My last plant was a victim of the economy. There has been plenty to do searching for a new job but the results have been discouraging.

I wonder, is there still enough manufacturing left in the Delaware Valley to keep a guy like me employed? Or perhaps my engineering career has run its course and I should be thinking career change.

That's sad to hear, Todd. I'm sure everyone reading this feels for you. It's tough out there, and getting tougher.

To be honest, your mid-career age might make it a little bit harder to find a new job. According to a recent survey by IEEE-USA, older engineers took longer to find new jobs. They were still employable, and desirable, but it still took about twice as long for them to land new positions.

Part of your challenge might be the area you're living in. In your letter (which I only excerpted above), you express fears that too many manufacturing jobs have left the country, which is probably true. But a quick search of Experience.com's jobs database finds a large number of positions in Delaware, so I recommend giving them a search.

If that doesn't work, you might want to consider putting your engineering skills to use in a complimentary area, outside of manufacturing but still within engineering. Your long work history and reliability make you an asset to a company looking for a solid, stable employee.

And there's always the possibility that you might need to move to find the right job. If you want to stay in manufacturing, but there just aren't jobs where you live, it might be time to follow the jobs to a new state. Always an annoying prospect, but something to consider.

Your letter says you're already back at school getting a new degree, so you're already ahead of my next suggestion. Adding skills -- both new skills and enhanced versions of the ones you already have -- is vitally important to your continued enjoyability, so you're on the right track there.

Like I said, this might take a little while, but engineers are still highly desired employees, even in this recession. So hold on a little while longer, and we'll keep our fingers crossed for you.

Engineering Career Question: What does an environmental engineer do?

It's time to answer another of your career questions, this time with one from Ryan in Illinois:

I'm pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. I'm getting increasingly worried about what I will do when I graduate. I'm just not sure what EXACTLY I would be doing in any job directly related to mechanical engineering.
Will I be doing differential equations like the problems coming out of my book for homework?
Will I be creating my own differential equations?
Or Will I be solving the simply set up statics problems in my homework?

Basically, Ryan is worried that he's not getting a taste of how he'll put the skills he's learning to use in the real world once he graduates.

I think that's a pretty common fear, Ryan, one that most of use face no matter what career we're heading toward.

Ryan tells me he's only a sophomore, so there's still plenty of time to learn what it's like in the real world -- and to adjust career goals accordingly, if you feel it's necessary.

First things first, you can't go wrong with an internship -- or several. You're early enough in your schooling that you could have two summer internships and one more during an upcoming semester, maybe for credit. (This might even be a requirement of your school program.)

Second, take a look at the definition of a mechanical engineer, which is quite broad. Here's a description from a rival school:

Mechanical engineers are typically involved with the generation, distribution, and use of energy; the processing of materials; the control and automation of manufacturing systems; the design and development of machines; and the solutions to environmental problems.

Research, testing manufacturing, operations, marketing, and administration are some other key activities associated with practicing Mechanical Engineers.

Mechanical engineers are characterized by personal creativity, breadth of knowledge, and versatility. They are also valuable and reliable multidisciplinary team members.

The technical subject areas that form the main basis for their work include mechanics, energy transfer and conversion, design and manufacturing, and the engineering sciences. Through clever use of analysis, modeling, design, and synthesis, they solve important problems to improve quality of life.

Mechanical engineers work on teams responsible for developing a wide range of products and systems including, for example, space shuttle vehicles, aircraft of all sizes and shapes, automobiles, turbines, pumps, power plants, and factories.

Virtually any machine or process you can think of has benefited from the influence of a mechanical engineer.

With such a broad range of tasks and possibilities, mechanical engineers can either specialize (say, in modeling) or become generalists, covering just about anything. You can work in environmental issues, refrigeration, aircraft, or just about anything else you want.

So what to do next? Consider a minor or a second major in a related field. This could give you some specific information that will complement your education as a mechanical engineer.

Next, get out of the classroom. Try to meet some working, professional mechanical engineers, either through local IEEE events, conferences, or other gatherings. Ask them questions. Have them tell you what they do. Ask how their education related to their work once they hit the real world.

Finally, talk to your professors. Your classwork might not give you much perspective into your future work, but maybe a one-on-one session with one or more of your teachers might help to shine the light on your classwork so you understand it in the context of your eventual career.

It's tough to commit to four (or more) years of education without truly understanding what you're going to be doing when you graduate, but you can't depend on anyone else to tell you where you're going to go. Ask questions, open your mind, and learn as much as you can -- before it's too late.

Good luck!

Want to work for the government? Consider the defense industry

This time around we've got a question from Robert, who is facing a mid-career job change and wondering what direction to go:

I have some questions to ask you in regards to engineering jobs in general. I am 45, and will be 46 in August '08. I graduated in December 2005 with a BS in physics with a minor in math and GPA of 2.3. In 1999, I graduated with an AAS in electronics engineering technology. This is in addition to 10.5 years experience in the Navy--working as an interior communications electrician--and 5 years working with a civilian microwave filter company rounds out the meat of my technical career.

I still have not got a job in the engineering field, and frankly am starting to get a little concerned but still remain confident and will continue to do so.

I want to stay within the federal government if possible. When you add my military and USPS time up towards retirement it comes out to about 21 years, but I plan on working a long time.

What do you recommend and/or what would be your first priority in my situation towards getting an engineering job? Should I work on getting a PE certification? Where?

Well Robert, you're facing the same situation as many people in your age bracket: what to do next?

Here's an idea that might suit both your experience and your desire to stay with government work: the defense industry.

According to a recent article in Forbes, "The job market for security-cleared professionals in the defense, aerospace and homeland security areas is wide open, as it has been ever since Sept. 11, 2001. The number of such jobs has only grown since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began. There simply aren't enough skilled workers to fill them."

You may not have security clearance yet, but I think your background will give you a heads-up on getting approved.

Military jobs are location-dependent, and I'm not sure where you're based, but if you're near a major defense contractor or base, or if you are willing to locate, this could be a good fit for you.

Let us know how it goes!

Do You Need a License to Work as an Engineer?

We're back with another career question, this time from Arvin, who asks "I am a mechanical engineering student and my question is as follows: Is it necessary to do a Masters and/or FE/PE license to get a good job after graduating?"

Short answer: Yes. Longer answer: Absolutely. Well, probably.

Here's the thing: there is no national professional engineer license. Every state has different rules, which require mechanical engineers to meet strict guidelines that show they are qualified to practice in that state.

Because of this state-by-state licensing, many engineers get licensed in multiple states. But if you don't know where you want to work after graduation, you might want to wait until you land in your chosen state before you pursue the license for that state. You'll definitely need your four-year degree before you take the exam.

You don't need a Masters degree to get a PE license -- yet. But the rules are changing and it will be required before too much longer.

As for the FE -- Fundamentals of Engineering exam -- this is another definite. It's actually a step in the process to get your PE license. Again, rules vary from state to state, but depending on where you live, you can take this exam in or before your Senior year.

Long story short, your four-year degree might teach you what you need to work as an engineer, but until you pass these rather rigorous exams, no one is going to hire you for a good job. You might get some beginner-level jobs, which could help you build up experience, or an employer might even put you in an internship program that will lead to your getting the PE license on their dime, but until you get those essential pieces of paper, your career isn't going anywhere.

California Announces Green-Tech Job Training Program for State's Youths

Are you living in California, between the ages of 16 and 24, and looking for a high-tech career? If that describes you, then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is looking for you.

The Governor recently announced the California Green Corps, a 20-month pilot program to teach the state's youths (especially "at-risk" kids) the skills they will need to work in Cali's growing green-tech industries.

Participants will receive training in a variety of careers, to fill the need for "construction workers, cost estimators, energy analysts, computer technicians, salespersons, scientists, engineers" and many jobs.

The $20 million program will be funded with $10 million of the state's federal stimulus money and another $10 million from yet-to-be-received private sector donations.

Why California, and why this program? Simple: the state is going to need the workers in order to feed its growing economy. One estimate says that California will create an astounding 83,000 new green jobs in the next two years, and the state needs training workers to fill those jobs.

The Green Corps will start placing youths in job-training programs this summer. There's no word yet on how to sign up for it, but you can read all about it here and register to receive more information when it becomes available.