Mattie Eckerstrom, GPC-E
Mattie is a recent graduate of the University of Rochester with a master's degree in chemical engineering. She currently works as a Test Technician for Sion Power Corporation in Tucson, AZ. She is the Graduate Programming Chair - Elect for FY21.
A quick confession: although I am a member of the GradSWE Leadership Team, I’m actually no longer a grad student. This May, I completed my master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Rochester (although I was in Chicago because our classes, like those at most other schools, were moved online after spring break). Since then, I have moved to beautiful Tucson, AZ and started working in the test department at a local company developing lightweight, high energy lithium batteries. It has been a great experience so far, and I’ve learned a lot.
I realize, though, that I’m very fortunate to have found a job that I enjoy and that is (more or less) in the field I studied. Finding your first “grown up” job out of grad school can be challenging. There are lots of options out there for people with engineering degrees, but we all know that there’s a lot of competition, as well. Even with a great academic record and a perfectly crafted resume, landing that perfect position can take time and patience. Throw in a global pandemic, with many companies instituting hiring freezes or work-from-home policies, and things get even more difficult. Having navigated this process myself, I wanted to share some advice that would have helped me in hopes that it can make things easier for fellow GradSWE members.
I realize, though, that I’m very fortunate to have found a job that I enjoy and that is (more or less) in the field I studied. Finding your first “grown up” job out of grad school can be challenging. There are lots of options out there for people with engineering degrees, but we all know that there’s a lot of competition, as well. Even with a great academic record and a perfectly crafted resume, landing that perfect position can take time and patience. Throw in a global pandemic, with many companies instituting hiring freezes or work-from-home policies, and things get even more difficult. Having navigated this process myself, I wanted to share some advice that would have helped me in hopes that it can make things easier for fellow GradSWE members.
- Start early
This one may seem obvious, but I found that applying to jobs was something I kept putting off, especially while I was trying to manage online classes and being a TA remotely. If graduation is still a couple of months away, it’s easy to feel like you have all the time in the world. But applications can be quite time consuming, especially if they ask a lot of job-specific questions or require screening evaluations. Tailoring your resume and writing a cover letter for applications that require one adds more time. And of course, there’s the waiting to hear back. Even if a potential employer responds quickly, multiple phases of interviews can take several weeks, especially with many interviews now being conducted virtually. Of course, everyone’s situation is different, and you may not be in a rush to secure a job the minute you finish your degree. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. If, however, you want to start working right away, it’s better to start the job search sooner rather than later. Just be clear in your application about when you’re available to start. - Be flexible
This one is important given the limited capacity in which many companies are currently operating. When I started my search, I was using very specific keywords related to the fields I had studied the most. Since I already planned on moving to AZ, I was also looking in a fairly limited area geographically. After a while, I started just seeing the same positions posted on every site I looked at. I think that it’s important to not limit yourself to one specific type of job. Although it ended up working out for me, I wouldn’t recommend limiting yourself to one specific place, either. Try the most general search terms, for example, “engineering jobs in (insert place)”, rather than only “chemical engineering jobs”. Look at every job posting that comes up, even if it’s a company you’ve never heard of or the position title doesn’t sound quite right based on your skills or interests. Be open to positions that don’t align exactly with what you think you want. You might be surprised by the options you find. It’s okay to apply for jobs even if you don’t check every box, or even if you appear over-qualified on paper. Even the most entry-level of positions can be a valuable learning experience, and many may offer an “in” to a company with room for growth. You can also consider jobs that are online or remote anyway (tutoring or editing research manuscripts, for example). - Hone your digital presence
This is especially important when looking for a job during a pandemic. Without in-person career fairs or recruiting events, hiring managers will get all their first impressions about you from what is available online. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated with your current education information and any work experience you may have. Remember to list any relevant skills, and take advantage of the quizzes LinkedIn offers to show your proficiency. Include samples of your work. This could be a paper you’ve published, research you’ve done, or even an assignment for a class if you feel it represents you well, or if you have limited experience in a lab or industrial setting. Basically, include as much information as you feel you can so that it is clear why you are the ideal candidate. Make lots of connections. Check out virtual career fairs from professional organizations in your field (like SWE’s virtual fair for WE20). Create a professional signature for your email that highlights key information - this looks professional and may help you stand out when communicating with a potential employer. Finally, if you are offered a video interview, practice using whatever software will be used so that you’re comfortable with it ahead of time. - Do some digging
Similar to #2, it may not be enough to just apply to the obvious roles for the obvious companies. Many large companies in particular use algorithms to screen for candidates before a real person even sees your resume. This is where it can be helpful to get creative with your online searches. Rather than simply searching for jobs, search for companies in your area that are doing work in your field, Then, check out their own websites to see if they’re hiring for a position you may be interested in. This way, you may find a job posting with fewer applicants. With smaller companies, it can often be easier to get an initial interview, giving you a better chance of securing the job than if you apply to a large company with easy-to-find job postings and hundreds of applicants. The odds are good that everyone in your area looking for a job in your field are seeing the same postings on Indeed, LinkedIn job boards, etc. If you’re willing to get creative and do some serious research, you may be able to find a position that you never would have thought of, but ends up being a great fit. - Be patient
This is perhaps the biggest piece of advice I wish I would have gotten. It’s important to remember that this is an especially challenging time to be looking for any job, let alone your first job out of grad school (the phrase “unprecedented times” is being thrown around a lot for a reason). You may not get hired for your dream position right away, and that’s okay. It’s not necessarily a reflection of you or your accomplishments, but rather the crazy circumstances of the world right now. Be persistent, and keep searching and applying. If you can, ask for feedback after a rejection. Take what you’re given and learn from it. Do your best, don’t give up, and the right position will come along.
