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Looking For Jobs In California? The Need For Professional Engineers Continues To Increase!
By Sid | September 22, 2008
The first thing you need to do to qualify for most California Engineering Jobs is to get a 4-year degree (at least) from an accredited college.
It’s not always an absolute necessity, though- sometimes, a mathematics or physical science degree may suffice, especially in fields that are in high demand. Most engineers also have a specialty, though most wait until they’ve been working as engineers for a few years before they choose one.
You have to be licensed as a PE (Professional Engineer) before you can offer your services directly to the public. If you don’t have your PE yet, you can also intern, or find other engineering jobs that do not require a degree, by searching California Jobs.
You also must possess 4 years of professional experience and pass a state licensing exam. Requirements vary by state.
The most rapid areas of growth in the engineering field are taking place in the fields of Environmental and Biomedical Engineering.
The money you’ll make varies wildly according to the career level of the California engineering jobs and the specific field you choose, but in general, aerospace, agricultural, bioengineering and biomedical engineering are the most lucrative current fields.
A survey conducted in 2004 reported am approximate salary range for engineers that ran from $43, 679 to $61, 516, depending on the specialty field chosen and the level of education completed.
Make sure when you write the resume to try and use some of the terms and vocabulary from the ad that attracted your attention, to maximize the relevance of your resume. You also want to use “action verbs” at the beginning of the sentences describing previous work experience- this will help potential employers see you as a person of action that can get things done!
As with a resume, make sure you don’t give the names of any of your references or salary information.
The interview process for engineers is also different than with other California jobs professions. You may be subjected to what is called a stress interview- a series of rapid-fire questions asked in quick succession and by more than one interviewer. This type of interview is most common when the job requires quick thinking and being cool under pressure, and are often given in order to weed out applicants that can’t handle such situations.
To assist with your job search, join some engineering-related professional associations.
Many of these organizations have California jobs career assistance, and help members with placement in their local companies. Some associations even have their own California Engineering Jobs job boards, for their own members job boards. This is a good way to access unadvertised opportunities, too! It couldn’t hurt to attend their meetings, either (such as monthly meetings or lecture series’), as you’ll be putting yourself into some great opportunities for networking.
Additionally, read any industry-related publications or newsletters to stay abreast of new opportunities- many of these publications include classified ads for open California Engineering Jobs.
Topics: Job Interviews |
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