6 answers
Henry
Student
Lagos, Nigeria
1
Question
Asked
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What is the best advice for a mechanical engineering student that is in his final year?
I'm currently taking the degree bachelor of engineering in the department of mechanical engineering.
I'm in my final year and I've been wondering, what next? How can I be valuable? Do I still further my education or get a job and how do I set myself in a good position to be given a job?
It's quite a lot for me, that's why I seek help.
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6 answers
Fahad Elahi Khan
Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate
44
Answers
Chittagong, Chittagong Division, Bangladesh
Updated
Fahad Elahi’s Answer
As a final year mechanical engineering student, it's normal to feel overwhelmed about next steps focus on building value through skills and experience. First, decide between a job or further education: many go straight to work for practical experience, while a masters can specialize you in areas like robotics or renewables, boosting long term pay. If pursuing a job, update your resume with projects, internships, and skills like SolidWorks or FEA, and prepare for interviews by reviewing FE exam material for technical questions. Network on LinkedIn with alumni and attend job fairs aim for entry level roles in manufacturing or design. To stand out, get certifications like Six Sigma or learn emerging skills in sustainable design. If grad school, research programs now and line up recommendations. Either way, start applying early in 2025 for positions or schools, and consider part time work in a machine shop to gain hands on edge. Talk to career services for tailored advice you'll be in a good spot with planning.
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Henry,
It's great that you are so close to earning your degree! Well done! You have a number of options for your future. You can explore all of them, but at the end of the day the decision will depend on your goals.
You can look for a job in your country. That might mean entering a Graduate Engineering Trainee Program or a Mechanical Engineering Intern position where you will receive training on the job. You can use Indeed, LinkedIn or Glassdoor to check what kind of positions are being advertised and which industries are hiring. You'll probably find options in the oil and gas industry as well as in energy and power and manufacturing. I would recommend making some contacts with recruiters at companies you might be interested in during your final year, express your interest, do an internship if you have the chance.
You can explore options to get a master degree in your country or abroad. Consider which part of mechanical engineering you are most interested in and where you would like to see yourself in a few years. Find a graduate program that matches your interests and ambitions.
You can also work for a few years and get your masters/PhD later (although going back to student mode when you have been working is hard). Hands-on experience in the industry is always valued in engineering, but for higher level positions you often times need an advanced degree.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It's great that you are so close to earning your degree! Well done! You have a number of options for your future. You can explore all of them, but at the end of the day the decision will depend on your goals.
You can look for a job in your country. That might mean entering a Graduate Engineering Trainee Program or a Mechanical Engineering Intern position where you will receive training on the job. You can use Indeed, LinkedIn or Glassdoor to check what kind of positions are being advertised and which industries are hiring. You'll probably find options in the oil and gas industry as well as in energy and power and manufacturing. I would recommend making some contacts with recruiters at companies you might be interested in during your final year, express your interest, do an internship if you have the chance.
You can explore options to get a master degree in your country or abroad. Consider which part of mechanical engineering you are most interested in and where you would like to see yourself in a few years. Find a graduate program that matches your interests and ambitions.
You can also work for a few years and get your masters/PhD later (although going back to student mode when you have been working is hard). Hands-on experience in the industry is always valued in engineering, but for higher level positions you often times need an advanced degree.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Lorenzo Gholston
Healthcare Payer
21
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Lorenzo’s Answer
Hi Henry,
Congratulations on reaching your final year! This is a great achievement. As you think about your future, consider what matters most to you. What are you passionate about? What motivates you? Where do you see yourself in 1, 3, or 5 years? These questions can guide your next steps.
One option is to look for internships that might lead to a job after graduation. You can start working and then explore graduate school options. This approach lets you gain real-world experience while studying. Some employers even help pay for further education. If you choose this path, try to secure a job first, then pursue graduate school before your career fully takes off.
I hope this advice is helpful. Best of luck!
Congratulations on reaching your final year! This is a great achievement. As you think about your future, consider what matters most to you. What are you passionate about? What motivates you? Where do you see yourself in 1, 3, or 5 years? These questions can guide your next steps.
One option is to look for internships that might lead to a job after graduation. You can start working and then explore graduate school options. This approach lets you gain real-world experience while studying. Some employers even help pay for further education. If you choose this path, try to secure a job first, then pursue graduate school before your career fully takes off.
I hope this advice is helpful. Best of luck!
Oh alright, thank you so so much sir
Henry
Glenn A
Mechanical Engineering Manager @ Belkin
152
Answers
Irvine, California
Updated
Glenn’s Answer
Henry, it's great that you understand your degree is just the beginning of your engineering career. Earning a master's degree can offer more benefits. You might even be able to study while working, with your company covering some or all of the tuition. It's up to you to decide what suits you best.
Whether you start working now or after getting your master's, you need to prepare for the job search. Many graduates aren't ready when they finish school, and I wasn't either. Begin with a strong resume. Adding a goals statement that matches the job you want is helpful. For example, "Entry-level position in product development for medical devices" is good, while "ME 1 position at GM for braking system" is too specific.
First, an AI bot reviews your resume, then a recruiter, and finally the hiring manager. You can use an AI tool to align your resume with the job description. Human Resources decides if you get a phone screening or if your resume goes to the hiring manager. As a hiring manager, I spend 30 seconds to see if I want to look deeper. Make your resume easy to skim to respect their time.
Since you don't have a lot of industry experience, keep your resume to one page with a readable font size. List skills in a table, not a paragraph. Include jobs and some details if you had a co-op or internship. If you worked in a non-related job, just mention it briefly to show you have work experience. Highlight relevant projects that demonstrate your technical skills and leadership. Include a few hobbies to show your personality, as shared interests can help in interviews.
Applying for jobs is crucial. The more resumes you send, the better your chances of reaching a hiring manager.
Be prepared for interviews. Find sample questions and practice your answers.
Your school likely offers resources to help with each step.
Whether you start working now or after getting your master's, you need to prepare for the job search. Many graduates aren't ready when they finish school, and I wasn't either. Begin with a strong resume. Adding a goals statement that matches the job you want is helpful. For example, "Entry-level position in product development for medical devices" is good, while "ME 1 position at GM for braking system" is too specific.
First, an AI bot reviews your resume, then a recruiter, and finally the hiring manager. You can use an AI tool to align your resume with the job description. Human Resources decides if you get a phone screening or if your resume goes to the hiring manager. As a hiring manager, I spend 30 seconds to see if I want to look deeper. Make your resume easy to skim to respect their time.
Since you don't have a lot of industry experience, keep your resume to one page with a readable font size. List skills in a table, not a paragraph. Include jobs and some details if you had a co-op or internship. If you worked in a non-related job, just mention it briefly to show you have work experience. Highlight relevant projects that demonstrate your technical skills and leadership. Include a few hobbies to show your personality, as shared interests can help in interviews.
Applying for jobs is crucial. The more resumes you send, the better your chances of reaching a hiring manager.
Be prepared for interviews. Find sample questions and practice your answers.
Your school likely offers resources to help with each step.
Alright I will, I sincerely appreciate you 🙏🏻
Henry
Kent Howard
Security Risk Management
14
Answers
Frisco, Texas
Updated
Kent’s Answer
Hi Henry. Congrats on being so close to graduation. Keep your chin up and push through.
I like to step back to the 20-25k foot level to be able to look at things from a different, broader perspective. While I am not anywhere close to mechanical engineering, I see some things that you might want to dig into when I look beyond the degree that you will be getting.
One, artificial intelligence. My thinking here is that you might want to dive into AI a bit to see where/when/how the technology might be able to be applied. If there are folks in your network that can put you into contact with ME practitioners, you might be able to get some really good info about how AI is being used in your field. The idea is not to think about AI replacing you as an engineer, but how you might be able utilize AI to augment your work whether that is improving accuracy, taking care of the math involved with a particular project, or whatever. Of course, you will have to be mindful of what your ultimate employer allows/approves, but you get the point. There's catchy phrase that's been attributed to a few different people and that's quoted in a few different ways, but the idea is the same - you might not be replaced by an AI, but you might be replaced by someone that knows AI better than you.
Two, consider what other peripheral topics or areas of knowledge might be beneficial for you to be deeper with. Think in terms of areas that are complementary to ME.
Three, if you aren't already actively networking, start now. Don't wait for graduation. Introduce yourself to engineers on LinkedIn or other professional networking site. I anticipate that there are professional organizations that you can join as an engineer, as well. This is a great way get exposure to practitioners in your field. The secret here is that networking isn't JUST who you know, but who the people that you know happen to know. You can have a fairly small number of meaningful (aka people that you regularly interact with) contacts in your network, but end up with dozens or more downstream contacts. Develop and leverage a professional network.
Good luck and many blessings to you, Henry.
I like to step back to the 20-25k foot level to be able to look at things from a different, broader perspective. While I am not anywhere close to mechanical engineering, I see some things that you might want to dig into when I look beyond the degree that you will be getting.
One, artificial intelligence. My thinking here is that you might want to dive into AI a bit to see where/when/how the technology might be able to be applied. If there are folks in your network that can put you into contact with ME practitioners, you might be able to get some really good info about how AI is being used in your field. The idea is not to think about AI replacing you as an engineer, but how you might be able utilize AI to augment your work whether that is improving accuracy, taking care of the math involved with a particular project, or whatever. Of course, you will have to be mindful of what your ultimate employer allows/approves, but you get the point. There's catchy phrase that's been attributed to a few different people and that's quoted in a few different ways, but the idea is the same - you might not be replaced by an AI, but you might be replaced by someone that knows AI better than you.
Two, consider what other peripheral topics or areas of knowledge might be beneficial for you to be deeper with. Think in terms of areas that are complementary to ME.
Three, if you aren't already actively networking, start now. Don't wait for graduation. Introduce yourself to engineers on LinkedIn or other professional networking site. I anticipate that there are professional organizations that you can join as an engineer, as well. This is a great way get exposure to practitioners in your field. The secret here is that networking isn't JUST who you know, but who the people that you know happen to know. You can have a fairly small number of meaningful (aka people that you regularly interact with) contacts in your network, but end up with dozens or more downstream contacts. Develop and leverage a professional network.
Good luck and many blessings to you, Henry.
Networking! Alright I so much appreciate your advice sir
Henry
Marie France D Haiti, MS, MBA, CBAP, PMP
2
Answers
Updated
Marie France’s Answer
Hi Henri,
Moving from being a student to a professional is a big step. To answer your questions about "what's next?" and "how to be valuable," the best skill you can build is effective communication. When I studied abroad in Spain, this was some of the best advice I got.
Aim to be the engineer who not only knows the answers but can also explain the 'why' and 'how' in a way that helps the project move forward. As you start your career in Mechanical Engineering, you might wonder how to stand out. While your degree and technical skills are important, being able to communicate well is your greatest asset.
For what's next, getting a job is often the best way to gain real-world experience, which can help you decide if pursuing a Master's degree later is right for you. Remember, a Master's degree means you'll need to explain more complex ideas, but it doesn't replace the need for strong communication skills. Your real value lies in turning complex mechanical ideas into clear, practical business steps.
Good luck!
Moving from being a student to a professional is a big step. To answer your questions about "what's next?" and "how to be valuable," the best skill you can build is effective communication. When I studied abroad in Spain, this was some of the best advice I got.
Aim to be the engineer who not only knows the answers but can also explain the 'why' and 'how' in a way that helps the project move forward. As you start your career in Mechanical Engineering, you might wonder how to stand out. While your degree and technical skills are important, being able to communicate well is your greatest asset.
For what's next, getting a job is often the best way to gain real-world experience, which can help you decide if pursuing a Master's degree later is right for you. Remember, a Master's degree means you'll need to explain more complex ideas, but it doesn't replace the need for strong communication skills. Your real value lies in turning complex mechanical ideas into clear, practical business steps.
Good luck!
Effective communication, To be able to bring clarity, wow I'm so grateful for this advice. Thank you ma'am
Henry