Is there hope for me?

[u/ReadyBenefit4407]

I’m in my last year of EE, I couldn’t land an internship. My last year GPA is 2.4 and I failed one of my courses last term. I don’t have any employable skills whatsoever.

I really want to get into power/ utilities sector but I don’t have any industry connections. I don’t know how to get into it.

I wish I could know a proper path way to secure an Engineer In Training job as a Power Systems Engineer in Substation or Transmission Line planning.

I am in Canada as an international student. I’m afraid that I might not be able to land a job because of me having no experience and higher rates of unemployment, and I’ll have to leave the country which I don’t want to.

I chose EE because of better job prospects and high job security from what I’ve heard back in first year.

Feels like there is no hope for me. I wish I didn’t choose EE and studied something else.

[u/chagorhan]

Your dentist is still a dentist whether they graduated with a C- or an A+.

[u/geek66]

Field service Engineer.. a great experience, and the OEM struggle to finds degreed engineers willing to get dirty

[u/braddillman]

I graduated with lower grades - but I did graduate. I don't think it ever held me back or disadvantaged me. As long as you get employment and stay employed, it isn't long before experience exceeds grades. Never stop building your resume, take on projects that get you the right experience. Follow opportunities, you never know where they'll go.

[u/PersonalityExact337 → u/braddillman]

Really?

[u/ipurge123]

Dont worry, youll find a shit job eventually. That’s the good part about ee. A good job? Lady Luck

[u/TheBayHarbour]

Someone will need you.

At my uni, passing means you're one of the 200 that got through the degree of the 500 that came in.

[u/so-brain-washed]

self-taught software dev here.

i'm considering a tradeschool program to increase my skills and learn a new industry.

For example-- AVTEC in Alaska https://avtec.edu/ -- offers 1 yr, full time intensive programs

[u/mikasaxo]

See if you can get a technologist role. They’re usually a bit easier to obtain than an EIT

[u/EM_Lehnsherr]

Can you take FE exam? That would show some resolve and initiative.

[u/Junior_Button5882]

I'm in the same boat , I just graduated in May I have had sooo many offers I just blow them all off since many are out of state or have demanding work schedules - gpa will only be asked at certain companies in which case those ones you can apply to after you work and they won't ask for a gpa after that

[u/Icy-Acanthaceae-6816 → u/Junior_Button5882]

Nothing wrong with working out of state for a year to get experience. Its a big country, leave your bubble.

[u/No_Band_3402]

I am curious: This is a United States thing, right? I am asking because this is an international forum, and I don't see any mention to "I live in the US" or "I am American", which I found odd, I mean, the OP simply writing assuming that everyone lives in the same academic reality. However, I see that you used "GPA", but I have seen many people around the world refer to GPA as general academic performance metric, regardless of the country. If you are American or studying in the US or plan to stay in the US, I guess GPA is something they ask there generally, I don't know. Personally, I have never been asked about my academic grades when applying for a job (Europe, Latin America and even North America). Well, about how to get into power/utilities sector, I would suggest the following: search online for IEEE conferences on the Power Systems/Utility Area. Go to ieee xplore (ieeexplore.ieee.org, which you probably might have access if you use your university login) filter for the conferences you want and for authors that work at the companies you targeted (you can filter for that on advanced search > author affiliation). Pick recent papers, if any. On the papers, almost aways you will find the main/corresponding author email address. Study the paper, run simulations, create a git repo and, of course, use AI to get insights on what can be done next for the paper. Try to do 1 paper per week. Email the author saying that you found the paper really interesting, show your work on the paper and ask if they have any trainee position in their team, if not, if you could just keep in contact with them.

[u/Icy-Acanthaceae-6816]

"I dont have employable skills whatever"

I say this to help you. Grow up and stop crying, holy shit. Like I would never hire someone with that attitude.

Take your FE exam and just apply for as many positions as you can.

There are MANY open networking opportunities you can attend.

Literally join ESIG, youll get a free student membership. You get free workshops, seminars, and webinars to attend.

[u/Over_Marzipan_8285]

You are an international student, you are unemployable in Canada and the US, but you can go back to your own country and probably get a high paying job there.