Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Shoe In

"We'll be sure to get you something. I mean it will be three months, but... you're a perfect fit for this job! Yeah, you should at least come in for an interview." - Recruiting engineer at Large Company Inc. whom I was drinking coffee with at an informal meeting

(One week later)

"We regret to inform you that you have not been selected for the position of..." - Email from human resources at Large Company Inc.

This is not the first time this has happened to me. I talk to someone, in this case face to face, other times it has been over the phone or email. We discuss a specific job or opportunities at their company and they assure me that there is an opportunity for me at his or her company. Inevitably, they decide to go with someone else. Why?

I have gotten the response that others are more qualified. When I get rejected from an entry level materials science job even though I have a masters in materials science, good grades, a little work experience, plenty of computer simulation experience, manufacturing experience, patents pending, and on top of all that I am very healthy.

I am a shoe in. I could be bought right now for cheap. I could be anywhere in the country in two days. I will go to countries that most Americans and Europeans would never even consider. On top of all that, I engineer well. I have solved difficult computer problems that my peers did not even attempt. I have seen how hard graduate students from other countries and the US work. I will go toe to toe against any other similarly qualified individual to get the job. What am I supposed to do? Active military? I don't know. Recommendations?

2 comments:

  1. first of all, sorry to hear that you didn't get the job (I am assuming it was the Maryland one)...

    About the job thing, have you tried telling them the things that are in your last paragraph? I mean, are you making it known that you are an "instant hire" from the get go?

    Apart from that, do you have any family who are in an engineering field who could put you in a better position so as not to be blown off as easily?

    Also, if you come back to Mass, the CDC will help people secure a job even after they have graduated, they could work wonders.

    I hope this helps, and I hope you as well as can be!

    - Scott

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  2. Actually, I'm still waiting to hear about the Maryland job. It was a local job in Wisconsin. The economy is not great here right now. Kohler is in talks with the union about the last 2000 union jobs left in the US.

    Well, yeah I have actually been telling companies that I am here now. It gets a little more edgy each month. I'm trying not to be desperate.

    No family in engineering, although my family has contributed engineering contacts it just has not panned out into a job yet.

    I really have not been working with the CDC much. I will do that.

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