Engineers still in demand when economy is down

jbeckton · Expert Joined: Jan 05, 2007 Posts: 1925

I have been pretty busy with some recruting visits my company has to local colleges this fall and I was suprised to see the competition. I would say that about 60-65% of the companies at these fairs (job fairs are for ALL majors) are looking for engineers and many are paying for reloction on top of $60k+ starting salaries for new grads!

There are simply more jobs than engineers to go around now and that doesn't look like its going to change anytime soon. Even companies that are looking to reduce costs are doing so by hiring MORE engineers to increase the efficiency of their plant/product/service.

Just something to consider for young people are looking for a career that will weather the storm better than most.
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Nano

I'm an engineer. Sure, there is always work for a good, all-round proficient engineer. But the question is: will they be able to pay you a good enough salary?

For all but the most complex technical problems, software and textbooks are available that will enable a monkey to do reasonably good engineering work.

That means as an engineer, if you want to have a decent career with good pay, you have to take a few courses in marketing and economics on the side, so that you can smoothly advance into more lucrative management or high-level consulting functions.

If you don't you'll be stuck behind engineering software crunching numbers until you go stark raving crazy. (I'm speaking from experience, because that fate nearly befell me, before I managed to advance to a consulting position. It was damn close though!)

Woodenpaddler · Coal Joined: Jul 29, 2008 Posts: 16

My engineering company's workload is strong with a municipal client base. I get calls from headhunters all the time. Experience counts, not school or grades. I've heard other firms with a client base of private developers (e.g. shopping malls) aren't doing as well right now.

Engineering in general is good because it trains you to think more objectively based on facts.

blukatzen · Moderator Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 698

My husband is an electrical engineer, who has been in the field of Pump design (control panels) for many years. He's been in it so long, he's read specs he'd written 30 years ago when he was a young engineer. He's moved into pricing the systems his company designs (specialty pump wastewater management and booster systems).

One can consider that his job won't be outsourced due to society's always needing fresh clean water, and how to get that water out of the pipes to home/industry.

Companies that he's worked for have either downsized or moved, but he's fairly comfortable in his situation, and he's been in the industry for so long, he can do the money estimating part fairly easily, and read specs like nobody's business.

I don't think a young engineer would be able to do this kind of work, as it takes someone who has a "feel" for the marketplace, and who intuitively knows where the market is headed, and knows what laws, etc govern what has to be there on a spec.
It's also the abilty to piece this all together and have it ready for a deadline to bid on a project. (*that's* the real test.)

Blu

dinopello

I just lost my analog electronics engineer to retirement. It's tough to replace guys like that. Good techs and machinists are also hard to find. Our problem is we don't really have enough mechanical work to keep one full time so we look for the jack of all trades. Those are even harder to find.

dsula · Heavy Crude Joined: Jun 13, 2007 Posts: 147

joeltrout · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 1317

GASMON

Presently, no such thing as a out of work gas engineer in the UK, at ALL levels.

As to the future ?????

Gasmon
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Been there, Done that, Bought the tee-shirt

ROCKMAN

So true Gasmon....the future????

Having started as a petroleum geologist in 1975 and survived a number of industry busts I can readily admit the anticipation of another bust is never far away. And this is even with a good grounding in PO. I think this underlying thought is guiding much of senior management in the oil patch thses days: times are good but just keep playing the short game. Design a business plan for based upon expectations 10+ years out and you're setting yourself up for a fall. It seems the current rule is get in...make some money..be ready to bail out.

jbeckton · Expert Joined: Jan 05, 2007 Posts: 1925

Ainan · Heavy Crude Joined: Feb 18, 2008 Posts: 312

I've been saying for a while now Engineering is the path to walk if you are just starting University. I picked Computer Science, the rewards are reasonable at the moment, but I'm already working 9 hour days in a cubicle farm and I haven't even finished my degree yet. Also consider geology, something I would have picked instead. Sorry for the poor grammer, my brain turned to mush in a 3 hour meeting today.
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April 2008 Global Population: 6.8 billion
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Mechler

I'm just about to start a management/engineering position with one of the big boys who have a large stake in wind/renewables. My particular position in in the process of doubling the number of new hires.

Having an engineering degree (and in my case, military experience) is definitely a good thing.
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"It is certain that free societies would have no easy time in a future dark age. The rapid return to universal penury will be accomplished by violence and cruelties of a kind now forgotten." - Roberto Vacca, The Coming Dark Age

jbeckton · Expert Joined: Jan 05, 2007 Posts: 1925

jbeckton · Expert Joined: Jan 05, 2007 Posts: 1925

lawnchair · Intermediate Crude Joined: Oct 20, 2004 Posts: 793