[travis]

I hope you all can kinda point me in the right direction here. I have, after an unbelievable amount of debate, decided to sacrifice some toys and go back to school and finish my engineering degree. I have been working in what seems like a dead end field anymore (telecommunications), and am sick and tired of working so far away from home. I've got a lot of knowledge and experience in what I do but unlike even just a few years ago there just seems to no longer be any demand for it. Sales and marketing seem to be about the only things growing in the telecom business...neither of which I want anything to do with. I can't seem to get into anything telcom related that requires hands on work because I don't have hardly any experience with the hands on side of it, and it seems like NOBODY wants to do any training any more. I can talk guys in the field thru rewiring central offices but since I haven't actually been doing it for a living, nobody is interested. So I give up...its time to move on to bigger and better things. I'm only a couple of classes away from completing my associates in general engineering, although for my own benefit I'm going to retake a couple of the calculus classes because I have forgotten so much of it just from simply not ever using it in real life (just like most things in college). I am torn between mechanical and chemical engineering...I love the physics side of mechanical engineering but overall chemical engineering is more appealing to me. In any case, and one of the reasons I kinda lost interest in the whole engineering thing years ago, I have had 0 luck finding any kind of entry level engineering position anywhere...especially something geared towards a pre-graduate. Any suggestions on where to start looking for something like that? I'm guessing that there are jobs like that out there but they aren't advertised.

[pdq67]

Travis,

Imho, go check out a Hands-On Tech School! You were just a jump away from Linn Tech, Linn, MO when you were in JCMO!! EXCELLENT TECH. SCHOOL!!

I honestly think in this day and age, you will be better off with a trade b/c of all the CONSTANT outsourcing since you said you don't want to get into the Management side!!

Same with me guy!!

Looking back, I probably would have been better off staying on the RR but like you said, I didn't want to be away from home! GOT my BSME and have commuted and traveled almost the whole time away from home to other towns and around the country so go figure!!

AS for a degree, I figure the BEST to get is a BSME b/c you will learn a whole bunch of stuff BUT not all that much stuff that can be used in Industry b/c OUR darn indusrty has bit the dust!!

Good luck guy and keep in touch.

pdq67

[jacket]

I would study the field that I most enjoyed. There is nothing worse than doing a job that you don't enjoy. There are always parts of a job that are not enjoyable, but overall you should like your job.

[travis]

Paul, I think your absolutely right about the tech school thing, and it is definately another option I have considered. Some things just cant be outsourced and there will always be a demand for them. For example, my Dad does heating, air, and refrigeration, and has been doing it for 30 years. He could quit his job today and go out and find 12 more just like it in the same day...practically anywhere in the country. I had tried to get on as an entry level electrician after I got layed off last year, but the several different guys that I know in the business said things have just been horribly slow since new construction has been at an all time low, and companies have been bidding jobs ridiculously low just so they can keep their techs working.

Jacket...you are exactly right. And thats where I'm at right now...I don't enjoy it anymore.

[BillK]

Travis,
It sounds like one of your requirements is to be able to get back close to home and stay there. Because of that, the first thing I would do is to spend some time in your home area trying to find out what kind of jobs are available, then maybe even talking to some employers to get ideas.

[pdq67]

Go interview "OK Jobs"!!

I figure they should be helpful and should be your states unemployment people like here in MO. (MO Jobs)..

And More Source is one of the biggest employment outfits there is but I don't know if you can get them to help you or not??

And try to go back to you school AND ask the Counciling/Placement Service for help since you have hours at their Institution.

None of this can hurt AND just maybe something will turn up!

AND I have to be honest and say that you have to have a GOOD attitude job-hunting b/c until I made peace with my now gone Ex-Boss, I couldn't buy a job b/c of the bitterness and hatred that radiated from me after all the lies and B/S they promised me at the old Firebrick Company..

My old Boss and I shook hands and made up and it was as tho the weight of all that crap was lifted off my shoulders by the Almighty and it wasn't a while later I got the job I have now as an Environmental Engineer with MoDNR, APCP.. (I'm almost positive they called him and he gave me a glowing recommendation b/c he used to BS and say, "if he had something that had to be done, he would give the job to me and I would get it done for him"..)..

(AND the old Firebrick Plant is now long gone too! -- So sad...)...

I really hope you find something close to home that will support you and your's that is at least as pleasant as WORK can be..

Been there, HAD to do IT!!

Good Luck Guy...

pdq67

[travis]

BillK, I've been doing that even before I got layed off. Only recently have started seeing more and more engineering jobs becoming available. Unfortunately, just like always, it seems that nobody wants anybody with less than 5 years experience. There has to be some way to get those 5 years of experience though.

And I've went thru the unemployment and temp agencys...they are full of dead end, $8/hr jobs. I would have a better chance of getting a job most anywhere if I was billingual

And I don't think I'm giving off an angry vibe...because I'm not angry. While it sickens me that a huge telcom company that has been around since the beginning of time can go from the biggest and (arguably) best to nothing in just a few short years. They went from 133,000 employees when I started in '97 and are working towards their goal of 1800 employees when the merger takes place. That just baffles me.

I'm more frustrated than anything. I like to think I'm a fairly smart guy but damn I'm really starting to wonder. I went and took a 4 hour test with one of the railroads in Tulsa last week...kicked a$$ on the test, but the job wasn't exactly what they advertised (they posted the wrong job information in the job add ). And while I think I could still do very well at it, there was 1 part in particular that was an immediate turn off...something I just don't think I could overcome. They did have a job title that was perfect for me...but no openings right now. The hiring manager agreed that if they hired me this other position is where they would want me, and he is going to keep my resume and test results in case a position there does come open.

I sent off some 30 resumes/job applications yesterday...something will turn up eventually.

[pdq67]

Travis,

AND I know you aren't mad, disappointed AND MAD like I was, No!!!!

I will bet a do-nut hole to a Buck that no State Agency will find you a job!!

We, the taxpayers, are paying for a multi-billion dollar Gov. Placement Agency that DOESN'T work!! Their job is to expand so they need more money to hire more people so they get off the unemployment rolls so the taxpayer pay's the tab!!

Sorry I mentioned this CRAP!! Anyway, e-mail me if you want to vent!! AND you know how I will talk your leg off, He, He!!

pdq67