From Engineering
School to
Engineering
Professional
5/29/2016
Eric Erickson
1
From Student to
Engineering Professional

Who am I?

Mechanical Engineer
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

What do you want to do?



Don’t let this question stump you
What is engineering any way?
What does it look like after graduation?

5/29/2016
Worked in Aerospace and Semiconductor
Capital Equipment
Limited professional experience in college
How to get a job - It is good to have
friends
Eric Erickson
2
What is Engineering Anyway?

Common Elements Regardless of Discipline or
Industry
R&D
 Product Development
 Sustaining
 Operations

5/29/2016
Eric Erickson
3
What is Engineering Anyway?
R&D
What is involved
Education Level
Engineering Subfunctions
5/29/2016
Develop Technology
More focus on advanced degrees - PHD/Masters
Analysis
Testing
Design
Software
Project Mgt
Eric Erickson
4
What is Engineering Anyway?
Product Development
What is involved
Education Level
Convert Technology to Marketable Product
PHD/Masters/Bachelors
Testing
Analysis
Design
Engineering Subfunctions
System Engineering
Software
Project Mgt
5/29/2016
Eric Erickson
5
What is Engineering Anyway?
Sustaining
What is involved
Education Level
Engineering Subfunctions
5/29/2016
Product improvement (small changes)
Typically Bachelors
Design
Testing
System Engineering
Analysis
Software
Project Mgt
Eric Erickson
6
What is Engineering Anyway?
Opperations
What is involved
Education Level
Manufacturing products
Typically Bachelors
New Product Introduction
Manufacturing
Engineering Subfunctions
5/29/2016
Eric Erickson
7
What does it look like after
graduation?

Contract vs. Full Time Employee


Generally full time is preferable because of benifits
Contract – Typically an entry level or commodity type position
Drafting/Designing




See how multiple companies work – Multiple contacts
Pick your Industry?




Good to get a foot in the door
You test drive them and they test drive you
If there is something you always wanted to do…do it
All things being equal it is better to pick one on the upswing
Commercial vs Government Contracts
It is good to have friends…Every job I have gotten I knew
someone somewhere that got me an introduction
5/29/2016
Eric Erickson
8
What does it look like after
graduation?

How do you get to know people in industry when you are
still in school

Start investigating companies before you need a job !!!

Job fairs
• Ask questions about their industry and company
• Start making contacts now!!!


Internet
Interview mistakes

You don’t know it all

I would not want to work for a company that…
• I am sure that this cost me an offer

After an interview send thank you e-mails and follow up with
phone call.

5/29/2016
Call back when you say you are going to call back
Eric Erickson
9
Trends
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
You will have multiple positions and employers during your
career
Out sourcing of engineering jobs is gaining momentum
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Software was the first to go
India and China are the destination of choice
Collocated engineering (US and off shore) will be the norm
moving forward
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5/29/2016
You will be competing with engineers from all over the world
Eric Erickson
10