Foreign Engineers, what was your first job in US?

[chingkoi 1]

I know before a foreign engineer can practice his profession in USA, there are many certifications and other credentials required.

I've been looking for a job in same field I was before but it was really hard. I never expected this to be this hard.

So, I have questions to all other foreign engineers who migrated here in USA:

1. What has been your first job in USA?

2. How long did it take you to have that job?

3. Were you able to eventually have an engineering position?

4. Or if not, did you consider shifting fields?

5. Did you took further studies?

Right now, I'm kinda lost. I'm getting depressed not being functional as I was before.

[3D4D 4]

I was born and educated in the US, but work as an electrical engineer for a large company that employs thousands of engineers (including many who have immigrated from Asia), so perhaps I can provide some helpful information. In my department at work (~80 engineers), a majority of my colleagues immigrated from Asia. Nearly all of them earned their degrees in electrical or mechanical engineering in their home countries and then earned a master's degree (or occasionally, a doctorate) in the US. This is a common model, and one that employers are familiar with. Having at least one engineering degree earned in the US (commonly a master's degree) documents for employers the quality of your undergraduate degree earned in another country. Most of my fellow engineering graduates with master's degrees were able to obtain jobs in engineering either before graduation, or else shortly after - this applied to both US citizens, and to non-citizens. Since I earned my graduate degree in 2011, I would anticipate that the situation hasn't changed much since I graduated. I would strongly encourage you to pursue further studies.

A master's degree in engineering typically only takes 1.5-2 years, and is much more fun than a bachelor's degree, in my opinion. Besides, education is an investment in yourself - one of the best kinds of investments. In addition, significant funding is available for graduate assistants in engineering, so earning a master's degree in engineering can be far less costly than it appears to be on paper. I can probably provide you with some other ideas/suggestions, but some things are discipline-specific. What is your engineering background (civil, mechanical, electrical, or something else)? What kind of job are you hoping to obtain (what specialty/any preference on industry/are you able to move to other places for a job)? Are you open to possibly pursuing a modest amount of further education?

[AmyWrites 593]

My husband is a software engineer, so I dunno if this is what you're looking for but,

1. What has been your first job in USA?

2. How long did it take you to have that job?

3. Were you able to eventually have an engineering position?

4. Or if not, did you consider shifting fields?

5. Did you took further studies?

1. Software engineer at John Deere

2. year and a half of not really looking, six months of REALLY looking for a job, going to interviews. he worked tutoring and small contracts in the meantie.

3. yes

5. he took a PhD level course at our local university

[chingkoi 1]

Hi! Thanks for the replies.

So it seems that I really need to pursue further education to get better chances of landing a job as engineer since most of the other "competitors" on the same position has an MS.

By the way, I am chemical engineer living in Maryland. I previously worked as a process engineer on a manufacturing plant, pharmaceuticals to be specific and yes, given a chance I would really want to study again. It's just that cost is the first factor to consider. I guess I have to start widening my job options to be able to have enough funds for my studies.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Part of the problem with engineering jobs is exporting ork off shore If they can do it else where they usually do. You can hire a first class engineer much cheaper is many other countries than in the US. This leaves a huge number of US based engineers fighting over whats left , unless you are will to locate in geographically undesirable areas.

[UsUs 0]

I was born and educated in the US, but work as an electrical engineer for a large company that employs thousands of engineers (including many who have immigrated from Asia), so perhaps I can provide some helpful information. In my department at work (~80 engineers), a majority of my colleagues immigrated from Asia. Nearly all of them earned their degrees in electrical or mechanical engineering in their home countries and then earned a master's degree (or occasionally, a doctorate) in the US. This is a common model, and one that employers are familiar with. Having at least one engineering degree earned in the US (commonly a master's degree) documents for employers the quality of your undergraduate degree earned in another country. Most of my fellow engineering graduates with master's degrees were able to obtain jobs in engineering either before graduation, or else shortly after - this applied to both US citizens, and to non-citizens. Since I earned my graduate degree in 2011, I would anticipate that the situation hasn't changed much since I graduated. I would strongly encourage you to pursue further studies.

A master's degree in engineering typically only takes 1.5-2 years, and is much more fun than a bachelor's degree, in my opinion. Besides, education is an investment in yourself - one of the best kinds of investments. In addition, significant funding is available for graduate assistants in engineering, so earning a master's degree in engineering can be far less costly than it appears to be on paper. I can probably provide you with some other ideas/suggestions, but some things are discipline-specific. What is your engineering background (civil, mechanical, electrical, or something else)? What kind of job are you hoping to obtain (what specialty/any preference on industry/are you able to move to other places for a job)? Are you open to possibly pursuing a modest amount of further education?

My fiancé is afraid fob being the same boat as the young man who wrote this thread. He is an Electrical engineer and doesn't have much experience as it is because of the same struggle. He would no have an issue with furthering his education other than finances. What do you suggest he does? He wants to work in the UAE however I am wondering if he will have the same struggle finding a job there as he is in India and would in the USA. Any advice from you on this matter would be like gold to us both. He will be happy that i asked and even more happy with your suggestions and advice. I can give you his email if you need it to further help him. Hope to hear back from you soon

[UsUs 0]

Part of the problem with engineering jobs is exporting ork off shore If they can do it else where they usually do. You can hire a first class engineer much cheaper is many other countries than in the US. This leaves a huge number of US based engineers fighting over whats left , unless you are will to locate in geographically undesirable areas.

What are the undesirable areas? We may consider theses areas if it means work and financially stable life? Also whey are they undesirable?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

What are the undesirable areas? We may consider theses areas if it means work and financially stable life? Also whey are they undesirable?

It is mostly a matter of companies that are based in an area that few people like to work. Everyone loves LA it seems so there are a lot of engineers looking for jobs. Not so many like very small cities in areas far from other things. The upper central parts of the US end to be like that. For a job in southern California you are competing with a large number of applicants, for a job in Billings Montana ( no offense name cam up in a conversation yesterday ) you will have a smaller applicant pool. The problem is if you end up out of work you are stranded in a way ( my niece had this experience in Alaska)

[Boiler 45,715]

The Electricians around her all seem to charge $100 an hour. Sometimes you needs to think outside the immediate area.

[3D4D 4]

My fiancé is afraid fob being the same boat as the young man who wrote this thread. He is an Electrical engineer and doesn't have much experience as it is because of the same struggle. He would no have an issue with furthering his education other than finances. What do you suggest he does? He wants to work in the UAE however I am wondering if he will have the same struggle finding a job there as he is in India and would in the USA. Any advice from you on this matter would be like gold to us both. He will be happy that i asked and even more happy with your suggestions and advice. I can give you his email if you need it to further help him. Hope to hear back from you soon

I understand that cost is a major factor, but don't let that stop your fiancé - graduate education in engineering is different than in many other disciplines, although he will still need to have a decent undergraduate GPA. Both government agencies and industry give substantial sums to universities for research work. Professors who receive grants/sign deals with industry to perform research in a given area receive substantial funding, which they then use, in part, to pay the graduate students who perform the research under their supervision. If your fiancé pursues a non-thesis master's degree, then it will likely be expensive, but if he pursues a thesis-option master's, his costs will be greatly reduced (although it will likely take an extra semester to graduate). In my case, the state university that I attended paid more than half of the total expenses for my degree (tuition, fees, books, housing, etc.), and that's in spite of the fact that I was a non-thesis option student at first. Many students come to the US to study engineering with an advisor already lined up and research work planned. These students normally receive a monthly stipend (usually $900-$1300) plus all tuition and fees paid. I knew some people who came to the US with almost no money and were earning their degrees for free this way. If I had known better, I would have done the same thing.

If your fiancé is interested in further studies, here is the path that I would recommend taking: 1. He should take the GRE - graduate schools tend to require it. 2. He should apply to (preferably) several universities to pursue his graduate education. I don't know what city you live in/near, so I'm not sure which specific option(s) are available in your area, or whether you would be willing to move. 3. Once accepted, he can go meet with a few professors at each school (if accepted at more than one school) and ask them about research opportunities and whether they are taking on new graduate students as research assistants. He should be sure that their research is something that interests him. Also, he can look at the course offerings and make sure he would have plenty of classes to take that look interesting and enjoyable to him. Discussing stipends with a professor may be a bit uncomfortable, but he can at least ask whether tuition/fees would be covered by the school if he did research work for that professor. Also, he should ask to talk with 1-2 of the professor's students - they will tell prospective students what it is like to work for the professor (and are usually fairly honest), and may also be willing to tell him what kind of a stipend they receive. 4. He can enroll at the school that he likes the best with the professor who offers him the best funding with the most interesting research. 5. He should have fun and get a (nearly) free degree! It's hard work, but it is rewarding and enjoyable.

I saw a lot of people follow different versions of the points above. At first, I didn't know what I was doing and was just paying for my expensive school bills from my own savings. After I realized that very few people were paying for their graduate degrees in engineering with their own money, I basically followed the path that I just outlined.

If your fiancé was a good student as an undergraduate and received good grades (equivalent to at least 3.25/4.0 in the US, and preferably equivalent to at least 3.5/4.0), then graduate school is a great option. If not, he may still be able to find work, it just may take a while, and his compensation may be a bit lower. It's also worth pointing out that in the hunt for both graduate schools and jobs, being willing to move to a new area can open up many new opportunities. I moved once for graduate school and again to take a new job, and am glad that I made both of those moves. If you live in a major city, however, there is also a reasonable chance that you may both be able to stay in your area for grad school/employment afterward. Anyway, I hope this information helps you.

[UsUs 0]

I understand that cost is a major factor, but don't let that stop your fiancé - graduate education in engineering is different than in many other disciplines, although he will still need to have a decent undergraduate GPA. Both government agencies and industry give substantial sums to universities for research work. Professors who receive grants/sign deals with industry to perform research in a given area receive substantial funding, which they then use, in part, to pay the graduate students who perform the research under their supervision. If your fiancé pursues a non-thesis master's degree, then it will likely be expensive, but if he pursues a thesis-option master's, his costs will be greatly reduced (although it will likely take an extra semester to graduate). In my case, the state university that I attended paid more than half of the total expenses for my degree (tuition, fees, books, housing, etc.), and that's in spite of the fact that I was a non-thesis option student at first. Many students come to the US to study engineering with an advisor already lined up and research work planned. These students normally receive a monthly stipend (usually $900-$1300) plus all tuition and fees paid. I knew some people who came to the US with almost no money and were earning their degrees for free this way. If I had known better, I would have done the same thing.

If your fiancé is interested in further studies, here is the path that I would recommend taking: 1. He should take the GRE - graduate schools tend to require it. 2. He should apply to (preferably) several universities to pursue his graduate education. I don't know what city you live in/near, so I'm not sure which specific option(s) are available in your area, or whether you would be willing to move. 3. Once accepted, he can go meet with a few professors at each school (if accepted at more than one school) and ask them about research opportunities and whether they are taking on new graduate students as research assistants. He should be sure that their research is something that interests him. Also, he can look at the course offerings and make sure he would have plenty of classes to take that look interesting and enjoyable to him. Discussing stipends with a professor may be a bit uncomfortable, but he can at least ask whether tuition/fees would be covered by the school if he did research work for that professor. Also, he should ask to talk with 1-2 of the professor's students - they will tell prospective students what it is like to work for the professor (and are usually fairly honest), and may also be willing to tell him what kind of a stipend they receive. 4. He can enroll at the school that he likes the best with the professor who offers him the best funding with the most interesting research. 5. He should have fun and get a (nearly) free degree! It's hard work, but it is rewarding and enjoyable.

I saw a lot of people follow different versions of the points above. At first, I didn't know what I was doing and was just paying for my expensive school bills from my own savings. After I realized that very few people were paying for their graduate degrees in engineering with their own money, I basically followed the path that I just outlined.

If your fiancé was a good student as an undergraduate and received good grades (equivalent to at least 3.25/4.0 in the US, and preferably equivalent to at least 3.5/4.0), then graduate school is a great option. If not, he may still be able to find work, it just may take a while, and his compensation may be a bit lower. It's also worth pointing out that in the hunt for both graduate schools and jobs, being willing to move to a new area can open up many new opportunities. I moved once for graduate school and again to take a new job, and am glad that I made both of those moves. If you live in a major city, however, there is also a reasonable chance that you may both be able to stay in your area for grad school/employment afterward. Anyway, I hope this information helps you.

This is great information that i will pass on to him asap! I am willing to move wherever we need to move in order for it to pay off in the end. I can easily find a job anywhere as i am a school teacher and there is always an opening/need for that anywhere. As of now i reside in Arizona for a job. I am from the east coast but again as I said am willing to move to wherever is best for the both of us. He has always wanted (before we even met) to work in the UAE because of the better pay versus India's pay. I want to do what is best for us both. However maybe hearing this plan will ease his nerves and he won't panic so much with finding work here in the USA. If he has any questions I will be sure to ask you