Quote:
Originally Posted by Skippy
Hi all. I have a problem. I can't seem to get a good job where I am, don't really want to move unless it's for a really good job, and am considering going back to school.
A little background information:
I have a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and worked as an engineer at an automotive test facility for about two years. Somehow, I managed to never learn CAD or any other drafting software, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to go back to school to get another engineering job.
I've done a little over three years total active duty time as a Navy Seabee. I'm still in the reserves and will hit five years total service this month. I really enjoyed being on active duty and have applied to go active duty again, but my rate was overmanned so the Navy declined. That was about seven or eight months ago, so I'm thinking about giving it another shot.
I have applications in progress with two police departments. I was going to apply to the Border Patrol, but they've temporarily stopped taking applications for agents. I also started the application process for FBI and found out that I'm not eligible under their criteria.
The Navy trained me as a diesel/heavy equipment mechanic and I wouldn't mind doing it in the civilian world. However, I'd have to make a heavy investment in tools and I'm really not up on computer diagnostics since the Navy's junk is mostly too old to be computerized.
I've considered driving truck but am somewhat resistant to it due to my tendency to gain weight if I'm not extremely active.
I'm willing to go back to school, but I'd rather keep to a relatively short course. A few weeks to a few months.
Advice?
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Learn ProEngineer, not AutoCad (that's from my brother who is an M.E. at Johnson Space Center). If you like M.E. would you consider something outside of automotive? Again, my brother started out wanting to work in automotive but his background in control systems led to a job at NASA (with a brief stint with a defense contractor) which he finds very challenging and satisfying. He made more as a defense contractor though.
If you're interested in staying in engineering but are open to new challenges, go online and look at newspapers across the oil patch. Most of them have positions available for BSME. The oil industry expands and contracts by hiring and firing, so it's a roller coaster. But I will say, people can get wealthy if they have the nerve and the luck (I had too little of both and got my butt kicked! But it was fun while it lasted).
Also, I have an acquaintance, a recently retired military guy, who got a contract job doing 3d surface terrain modeling for targeting systems. He runs the civilian side of the shop. He's got a peculiarly appropriate background, but I'll bet your mathematical background and engineer's perspective should make you qualified in every way except the particular software. Your education demonstrates discipline of mind and your military experience informs the other kind of discipline. You can learn the software. My acquaintences duty station is interesting and apparently quite rewarding. I seriously considered it and so, asked question that I thought of. PM me if you want to know more including why I didn't make the change (not much to say except the company name and so forth. I don't know my guy well enough that I could make a recommendation either way).