This year I registered for the mentoring program for undergraduate engineering students. This gave me an opportunity to connect with a professional engineer who has decades of experience in the energy industry that I am interested working in. So far we’ve chatted about the level of flexibility of my Mechanical Engineering degree. Although you won’t be able to attain an electrical or civil engineering job, there are still many positions that does not specify the type of engineering. This is often the case in mid to upper management levels. However, I can’t expect to land a job in management without much experience. The truth is, even entry-level job postings may have 3-5 years work experience as a requirement. I have only 16 months of co-op work experience, therefore it is challenging to apply. However, I feel confident that after being accepted into an entry position, I can work up the experience to eventually achieve management level. I am further assured of this by my mentor’s own experience of going from a technical-heavy job to the management position he has now. His experience has also showed me that it’s never too late to give yourself more education. After getting years of technical experience, I am looking to open up my options by getting a project management degree.
He has also offered help on reviewing resumes and cover letters that I am sending out. A few job positions that I have my eye on are with the Vancouver Airport Authority and Metro Vancouver. I am looking outside of BC. Ideally, I would like to work in Europe but I would also love to explore other places that challenge me. Having a mentor to support my job search is a fantastic resource. It has improved my confidence to apply to more challenging job positions.
We’re currently schedule to visit my mentor’s company this week. I am truly intrigued to find out more about what he does for work and what the environment is like.
This is a short blog, but as I continue my job search, I’ll update you with information about major companies hiring Mechanical Engineers, the jobs available, and tips for applying and getting through interviews!
If you want to check out the mentoring program for yourself, here’s the link: https://engineering.ubc.ca/research-industry/mentoring-program.