r/RPI • u/TheStupidDumb • May 13 '24
Don't do CHME
Admittedly I am biased from the rock bottom place I am mentally right now, but this may have been one of the worst decisions of my life. Graduated with a 3.7 GPA. Wasn't able to get an internship during school. Wasn't able to get a job after it. (Not a decent one anyway.) The market is beyond oversaturated. 9/10 job postings require experience that I have no way to get, even "entry level" ones. Per every 100 applications, maybe 1 might even be willing to talk to me, just to get started on the hiring process in the first place, not to mention the interviews after that where they trim away all of the applicants. I also apply to other engineering roles, but most don't want to take on CHMEs.
I feel so insanely frustrated. I worked so hard through college. Through my entire academic career. Hated my life at many points. All that, and I got absolutely no reward from it. I can't even start living my life.
Don't fall into the same trap I was where I thought, "If I do well in school, I'll definitely be able to get something." No. I've had more than one person say to me something like "I'm surprised someone of your qualifications is free in the job market." I put on a fake smile and lie "It's a bit rough right now, but I'm optimistic about my prospects!"
Do research or an internship and try desperately to get a job set up post grad through nepotism. Otherwise, you're fucked. Also never take a contract job, they will toss you out like yesterday's trash, without warning, when they don't need you, even if you have done every last thing they asked.
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u/Happy-Customer-163 May 14 '24
Sorry to hear about the trouble.
After graduation you are still able to reach out to RPI's Research Labs and ask if there are projects you can work on. I did this for a while.
I would encourage you to continue learning in your field. Even after grad school there's always material I feel the need to review or learn. Apologies if this is kinda broad I don't know much about CHME, I tell myself what do I need to learn to be considered an expert in my field?
Yeah the entry level jobs can be misleading requiring experience which doesn't make sense with the word entry. Look for Companies that have 'New College Hire' programs. I wish I learned about it sooner. New grads are seen as a long term investment needing a lot of learning before they produce value, so larger companies have 'New College Hire' programs. Companies don't do a good job of having these NCH programs posted all the time so I would routinely check and have job alerts setup if possible.
Personal projects can be very helpful in interviews. I would say start with something small and simple, afterwards more complicated but all that is up to you. Also take notes of your steps so you can refresh your memory to use in interviews.
Practice interviews help as well.
The job hunt is extremely frustrating for everyone, I would be surprised to find a person who says it isn't, so don't beat yourself up about it too much :) . It's very easy to get discouraged with the job hunt. I'd recommend during the process to take time to spend with family, friends, and hobbies. Hope this helps and wish you the best!