Am I doing something wrong to find a job in my field of study?
Asked by son of a gun
I have a BS in Industrial Technology. I concentrated in Automation and Control. When I graduated I wasn't able to find a job in my field of study and I ended up taking a job as a freight broker so I could pay my student loans. I have recently started to look for a new job as an industrial engineer/manufacturing engineer/process engineer...basically anything in a manufacturing setting. I got good grades in college and I am looking for entry level work due to my lack of experience in my field of study but I still am having no luck (I have posted my resume on multiple job sites, went to an engineering recruiter, and applied to numerous jobs over the past month). Any advice or help or even job opportunities would be appreciated. I forgot to mention that I graduated in May 2004.

Best Answer:
Look at your cover letter. Are you selling yourself? Are you giving the employer a reason not to hire you? As a manager I look at the cover letter, if I do not like it you will not get a second look. Tell the potential employer why he should hire you. Highlight your successes in the work place even if they involve picking the most cherry's or getting the most tips. I would look favorably upon a guy who took a job outside of his field. In your present job is there something that you can can learn to enhance yourself? Job hunting is 90% mental. People hire happy people. Engineering is a tough field right now but that won't be the case forever. Getting your first job is the toughest. You need to be enthusiastic!

You are doing many of the right things. Of course you had to work anywhere that would take you at first. It usually takes six months to a year to find a job. Perhaps networking would be more beneficial than just sending resumes on job sites. Talk to professors and ask if they know of any companies hiring. Go back to your school career center and get help with resumes and how to interview and what to do. Ask for an informational interview just to talk to someone in your field and ask how to go about getting a job and if they like the job etc. They could recommend hiring companies of better yet people who could help you. In the end it's who you know more than what you know, but the good grades help.
Answered by doryanne949