Job Hunting Help (Austin: apartment, job openings, public school)

[Preston3124]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Maybe he should expand his search to San Antonio?

He is checking Indeed, right? They currently show openings for just 4 entry level jobs for ME in Austin, one requires a master degree, but one is for a BS holder and it is at National Instruments.

Looking at Indeed, there are 4 entry level jobs for ME in Austin, 7 in San Antonio, and 13 in Houston (and several are clearly not entry level), so it looks to be a slow slog to get a job anywhere in south central Texas. Have him work on associated skills, coding, etc and definitely get a job as a placeholder for now.

No he hasn't looked at San Antonio. He's not to that point yet, but maybe that's something to consider if the search in Austin continues to come up empty.

He's checking all of the job search sites and he has applied for all the entry level ME positions including the one at NI. I'm going to suggest that he look at temp jobs as a placeholder until he can find the full time job.

[cfbs2691]

Originally Posted by Preston3124

I'm going to suggest that he look at temp jobs as a placeholder until he can find the full time job.

Excellent idea!
Most people aren't aware that usually temp/contract jobs can become direct.
It's " try it before you buy it" for employers to see if the candates a fit.

[testmo]

Houston is still hiring hundreds of ME grads. The days of 130k salaries to starters over. He needs to state an expectation around 60k. Doubt he will find a job in his field in austin. It's not an industry that is there. 3m hires a lot of chemical engineers

Are her skills transferable to find a new job if he finds a job elsewhere? Or are they fine with her being the major breadwinner

[Preston3124]

Originally Posted by testmo

Houston is still hiring hundreds of ME grads. The days of 130k salaries to starters over. He needs to state an expectation around 60k. Doubt he will find a job in his field in austin. It's not an industry that is there. 3m hires a lot of chemical engineers

Are her skills transferable to find a new job if he finds a job elsewhere? Or are they fine with her being the major breadwinner

His salary expectation is 55-65k. She's in an engineering training program that lasts 18-24 months so I don't see them moving before then.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by testmo

Houston is still hiring hundreds of ME grads. The days of 130k salaries to starters over. He needs to state an expectation around 60k. Doubt he will find a job in his field in austin. It's not an industry that is there. 3m hires a lot of chemical engineers

Are her skills transferable to find a new job if he finds a job elsewhere? Or are they fine with her being the major breadwinner

Maybe a year ago, but if you check Indeed, they list just 13 entry level ME jobs in Houston and two of them are actually teaching jobs that require much more than an BS. It is just a bad time in the cycle (super low oil prices and slowdown in semiconductors) for ME jobs.

[testmo]

Im an ME in houston. It's laughable only 13 jobs in houston. More like hundreds. In my one department I have 4 new graduates. Job losses haven't hit solid d egreed professionals in a big way

Indeed isnt a good way to get into the industry. Alumni association, asme, and head hunters are the way to go

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by testmo

Im an ME in houston. It's laughable only 13 jobs in houston. More like hundreds. In my one department I have 4 new graduates. Job losses haven't hit solid d egreed professionals in a big way

Indeed isnt a good way to get into the industry. Alumni association, asme, and head hunters are the way to go

Good to hear, looks like I have been taken in by my neighborhood who works for indeed and who is a constant evangelist for it! Yes, working and building a network is the way to go in job-hunting.

How is the market for ME in Austin as compared to Houston?

[CarnivalGal]

In addition what had already been mentioned, I would also have a professional look at his and possibly tweak his resume. If he's not getting any callbacks, then I would start there. As someone who used to hire for a living, I can tell you that a bad resume is a killer. People who are generally technical also tended to have the worst resumes. A professional can also help maximize his LinkedIn account (key words for searches, etc.).

[Preston3124]

Update:

He started a new job two weeks ago. Yay! As these things sometimes happen he had two interviews in two days and both were very promising. One offered the same day as the interview and he liked the company so he took it.

[bpvarian]

To me it's weird that his dad is writing on this forum looking for a job information for his son. To me that says a lot about his son's job hunting skills. And maybe a little bit about helicopter parenting....