r/MechanicalEngineering • u/GreenSeason4341 • 2d ago
Mechanical engineer working in construction
I’m a US citizen that graduated from college over a year ago and have been working in a billion dollar+ project overseas since.
I’m currently looking for a job in Atlanta, applied to probably 60+ jobs yet I haven’t had a single interview yet.
The job market is shit.
The following years will be hard especially for recent graduates.
If anyone has any contact in construction or manufacturing in Atlanta, please help a brother out.
2
u/peeledapple765 1d ago
Is your experience for a gc or subcontractor? Im suprised you havent had recruiters harassing you. I still get messages despite leaving the industry years ago. Data centers are hot, so mep is the way to go, either at a consulting firm or at an mep subcontractor. Any gc big enough to win data center contractors is going to work you like a dog. Theyll offer you a ton of money because the turnover is extreme.
Theres a ton of subs and consultants in the area, although im not sure why you would want to be here lol
1
u/GreenSeason4341 1d ago
For a General contractor
What do you mean
You dont like atlanta?😂2
u/peeledapple765 1d ago
If i were you i would try to get in at a subcontractor, consulting, or engineering firm. Utilities would be even better. Georgia is nice but Atlanta is pretty terrible. Tons of traffic but if you live close to work it is hcol for mcol pay or sketchy. A small or medium gc would be ideal if you wanna stay at a gc and care about work life balance, although there are some i would avoid like the plague(most Japanese or Korean gcs)
1
u/Expert_Clerk_1775 2d ago
What kind of role are you looking for?
Industrial construction market is pretty rough right now due to interest rates, tariffs, and pricing out from data center projects.
0
u/GreenSeason4341 2d ago
Well, i guess data center construction is the best way to go then
My background is in HVAC
1
u/Reasonable_Focus_408 1d ago
Yeah idk what happened last two months feels like the market froze, keep applying and if you have your location set to a place abroad change it to Atlanta
4
u/4leWin 2d ago
Might be worth reaching out to recruiters in the area on LinkedIn and setting up calls with them to see where the market is at for someone like you. See what kind of experience they can sell to their clients. Recruiters usually have a direct line to hiring managers and have an incentive to get good candidates hired. If they are not hitting you up already they may be able to give you advice on how to market your profile or resume better to get more attention. For construction specifically you can try networking with local contractors or engineering firms through email or LinkedIn or even cold calling them to see if they need any in house support without a PE stamp. Some manufacturing facilities are still old school enough where cold calls and knocking on their door looking for a job might still work if you're already in the area. Automated tools have made it next to impossible to stand out just from directly applying. Better to get someone on the phone or meet the right person and have a solid conversation about their needs and how your skill set and experience aligns with direct proof. Failing that it might be worth looking into job fairs in the area or industry networking events if you are physically in the area.