How to get more experience?!!

tonsiltickler

Right, I'm at my wits end at the moment. I finished my masters (mech eng and process automation) in September and I cant find work. I have 9 months experience in an orthopedics manufacturer, and 3 months voluntary in a hospital( my undergrad was in biomedical engineering). I have a paper which has been accepted for a journal and still nothing.

Any time I apply for a job its through an agency. They either don't respond even if you chase them up or reply immediately and say they are looking for 3yrs+ experience. I am applying for lots of grad roles and have still heard nothing. What do I do?

I'm currently working as a production operator for a computer manufacturer. Does this type of work undermine my engineering experience or does it help? I'm just feeling a little directionless at the moment. Any helpful comments appreciated.

Rgds,
Dave

bobbytables

Not sure if this is any good to you, but my younger cousin only graduated with a B.Eng. (hons) in Mech Eng this year and immediately got himself a Graduate Engineering job with Nissan in the UK.

Apparently business in the Mech Eng/Auto sector is booming in the UK. They simply can't get enough Engineers from what I hear.

I know you're primary degree is Bio, but along with your M.Eng in Mech, you might very well pull it off. Depends what your after.

HTH

tonsiltickler

Cheers!

I'll look into it as it would be something I'd be pretty interested in.

Benny Cake

tonsiltickler wrote: »

Right, I'm at my wits end at the moment. I finished my masters (mech eng and process automation) in September and I cant find work. I have 9 months experience in an orthopedics manufacturer, and 3 months voluntary in a hospital( my undergrad was in biomedical engineering). I have a paper which has been accepted for a journal and still nothing.

Any time I apply for a job its through an agency. They either don't respond even if you chase them up or reply immediately and say they are looking for 3yrs+ experience. I am applying for lots of grad roles and have still heard nothing. What do I do?

I'm currently working as a production operator for a computer manufacturer. Does this type of work undermine my engineering experience or does it help? I'm just feeling a little directionless at the moment. Any helpful comments appreciated.

Rgds,
Dave

Working as a production operator definitely won't hurt your job prospects. Speaking as someone who interviews engineering graduates for the company I work for, I would much rather see someone willing to get out there and find work rather than sit back and wait for the perfect job to come along.

Get someone to proof your CV and make sure its up to scratch, if you're grades were good in college but you're not getting responses to graduate roles you're CV might not be doing you justice...
Best of luck.

pljudge321

tonsiltickler wrote: »

Cheers!

I'll look into it as it would be something I'd be pretty interested in.

Jaguar are looking for lots of people as well, they were recruiting in UCD and Trinity a couple of weeks ago.

gb153

tonsiltickler wrote: »

Any time I apply for a job its through an agency.

Also consider applying to companies directly yourself. Go to company websites and find their careers section. The company will be happier to get an employee directly without middle man fees to have to pay for agencies/recruiters.

delonglad

I feel your pain, I had to leave to get work and luckily enough I have worked my way up pretty quick and will be working from Ireland for my company in the New Year. Plenty of jobs over here in the Netherlands, they are screaming out for engineers.

I know its not nice having to move away from family and friends but if your unhappy in your current position or feel your not fulfilling your dreams take the leap and see what you can find! I can pm you a pretty good contact in the engineering sector over here if you'd like.

Agencies in Ireland are often labelled in a bad way but mostly you'll find its the company they are recruiting for that is picky or just advertising the job before hiring internally (I think they have to advertise by law)

Best of luck with your search!