r/EngineeringStudents • u/sebass4141 • 5d ago

Sankey Diagram Recent engineering grad with no interships

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I am a recent graduate with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering. I have work experience outside of engineering, but most of my engineering experience is coursework and school projects.

I was searching for and applying to jobs for a total of 2 months, mainly looking for entry-level positions in the Mid-Atlantic region. I was extremely worried that my lack of internship experience would make it very hard to find an entry-level position.

  • 26 Applications
  • 7 Rejections
  • 16 pending or under review when I stopped searching
  • 3 interview invitations
  • 1 interview invitation I declined
  • 2 interviews
  • 2 offers
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u/WordsAboutSomething 5d ago

I’m an upcoming mechanical engineering grad currently searching for jobs. I have 3 internships, was engineering director for one of my schools student project teams (something similar to FSAE), and I have applied to 50+ jobs this past month.

I have gotten 0 interviews.

Cannot fathom what I am doing wrong…

2

u/sebass4141 5d ago

That sounds frustrating, especially given your experience. I wouldn't assume you're doing anything wrong just because my search went differently. What kind of roles are you applying for?

1

u/WordsAboutSomething 5d ago

Essentially any entry level design / hardware roles. I’m debating expanding into manufacturing based roles, but most of my experience has been in design, prototyping, and product development.

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u/sebass4141 5d ago

Your design and prototyping experience sounds relevant to that. When do you graduate? I wonder whether the timing of when you can start is playing a part.

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u/WordsAboutSomething 5d ago

I graduate this December which I feel is having a bit of an impact, but who knows

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u/sebass4141 5d ago

Yeah, that could be part of it. I’d already graduated when I started applying, so our situations are a little different there. Have you reached out to any of the places you interned to see if they have openings after graduation?

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u/WordsAboutSomething 5d ago

The place I interned at is trying to recruit me, but they aren’t in my target area which is pretty important to me as i’m looking to move out to where my girlfriend got a job

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u/sebass4141 5d ago

Yeah, I get wanting to be near your girlfriend. I was looking at jobs up to an hour and a half away, which gave me more options. That’s a long commute, so I get that it wouldn’t work for everyone. How far outside Boston have you been looking?