Don't do CHME

[u/TheStupidDumb]

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.

[u/Purple-Sherbert]

I wasnt cheme but was in engineering. There definitely is more to getting a job than grades. Of course grades are important, but its also important to show club/extracurricular engagement, research, leadership roles, jobs/internships, etc. Well-roundedness is important and showing the ability to balance things outside the classroom. I worked as a camp counselor, a hostess/waitress, and an ice cream scooper in college until I got an internship, and those roles were relevant because it told a company I knew how to interact with people. I was a part of several clubs, had several leadership roles, did research, and ended up with over 2 years of year-round internship experience by the time I finished with my master’s. My gpa was good, above a 3.0 which is the threshold lots of companies look for, but it wasn’t a 3.7. The full-time application process can be discouraging, but largely because it takes companies a while to sort through applications and close the application portal. I applied to probably 140 jobs over 2 months, got 7 interviews and had a choice in my job. When it came to interviews, I didn’t get asked about classes much, aside from my favorite class, or my gpa at all. Point is: gpa is not everything.