3 answers
Andrew
Student
Athens, Alabama
1
Question
Asked
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How do you begin to make connections and keep those connections if you do not have connections in higher places? #Fall25
I am a rising high school senior and I am aiming to be a first generation graduate from a university. Because I am an aspiring first generation graduate, I do not have any people that I can begin to ask questions about steps after university. What strategies would be best for finding people that can answer my questions and potentially helping me find a job after school?
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3 answers
Fahad Elahi Khan
Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate
44
Answers
Chittagong, Chittagong Division, Bangladesh
Updated
Fahad Elahi’s Answer
As a rising senior and aspiring first-generation graduate, you can successfully build connections with consistent effort. Start by using LinkedIn to reach out to alumni from your target schools or professionals in engineering. Send friendly messages to introduce yourself and ask for quick advice. Attend virtual or in-person events like career fairs, webinars, or engineering society meetings, especially those hosted by groups like NSBE or SHPE that align with your background. Once you're on campus, visit professors during office hours to build relationships; they can become mentors and help you connect with others. Join clubs or groups for first-gen students to network informally and share resources. To prepare for jobs after graduation, volunteer or intern in related fields now to meet people and use AI tools to research careers and practice outreach. Keep your connections strong by following up with thank-you notes and occasional updates on your progress. It may take time, but these steps have helped many first-gen students find great opportunities.
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Andrew !
I have some good ideas for you, but first I'd like to let you know that while you are in college, if you make very strong connections with your Major Department, professors, classmates and staff, opportunities will come your way.
Try not to let your imagination run away with you - you're going to be fine and it doesn't matter what "generation" student you'll be. Many moons ago when I was a college student, everyone, with the exception of myself and five of my friends, were all first generation students. It's not really anything to think of as a disadvantage. I am not sure how that even started.
Now for some ways for you to have opportunity. While you are a student, you very well could work a Work Study job in your college Engineering Department. Do this all four years. Work Study is a program that you apply for through Federal Student Financial Aid. Speak with your prospective campus financial aid office about it.
If you make the necessary strong connections with your major department, you will have access to people to ask questions to and access to lots of information about careers. But you have to connect with it in person so a Work Study job will be excellent for this.
A huge part of college is that you come out knowing how to start your career. It's part of what you learn and the whole point of having a Major, so there's no need to worry about it. This will also depend on if you are going to stay in your town or move to a large city where there may be more work available.
You can do independent projects that you could put on a resume. If you connect with local industries and use accessible tools and software such as MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or Excel for analysis it can lead to impactful and resume worthy projects in Athens, AL. You will not know the scope of possibilities until you are actually in college and majoring in mechanical engineering.
To understand the multiple resources you will have as a student, you first have to know which college you will be attending. Once you choose a college, you will discover everything they offer. You will need to ask your Major Department staff or professor if that college places students in Internships during their Junior and Senior year. To have an Internship, you would need a couple of years foundational knowledge of the subject and the work. A good thing would be to register for an orientation/tour of the college during which you can have access to many people to ask your questions.
Although your path for Mechanical Engineering will afford you the opportunity to meet a lot of people, you would be the one who goes after your own job. You might obtain information from those you know about openings at various companies, but still, you will need to be the one who secures the job. Just knowing people is not assurance that you will get a job, it'll be up to you to ace interviews and have a built up resume with experience and skills. College is where you learn how to get your own job.
I hope this helps in alleviating any worry about the future. As you can see, it will be a process and a unique journey for you but in the end, you just may be mentoring future engineer students that come to you for help once you start your career. Take it step by step and try not to let thoughts sway you in a different direction. You can do this !
Best wishes in all you do !
I have some good ideas for you, but first I'd like to let you know that while you are in college, if you make very strong connections with your Major Department, professors, classmates and staff, opportunities will come your way.
Try not to let your imagination run away with you - you're going to be fine and it doesn't matter what "generation" student you'll be. Many moons ago when I was a college student, everyone, with the exception of myself and five of my friends, were all first generation students. It's not really anything to think of as a disadvantage. I am not sure how that even started.
Now for some ways for you to have opportunity. While you are a student, you very well could work a Work Study job in your college Engineering Department. Do this all four years. Work Study is a program that you apply for through Federal Student Financial Aid. Speak with your prospective campus financial aid office about it.
If you make the necessary strong connections with your major department, you will have access to people to ask questions to and access to lots of information about careers. But you have to connect with it in person so a Work Study job will be excellent for this.
A huge part of college is that you come out knowing how to start your career. It's part of what you learn and the whole point of having a Major, so there's no need to worry about it. This will also depend on if you are going to stay in your town or move to a large city where there may be more work available.
You can do independent projects that you could put on a resume. If you connect with local industries and use accessible tools and software such as MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or Excel for analysis it can lead to impactful and resume worthy projects in Athens, AL. You will not know the scope of possibilities until you are actually in college and majoring in mechanical engineering.
To understand the multiple resources you will have as a student, you first have to know which college you will be attending. Once you choose a college, you will discover everything they offer. You will need to ask your Major Department staff or professor if that college places students in Internships during their Junior and Senior year. To have an Internship, you would need a couple of years foundational knowledge of the subject and the work. A good thing would be to register for an orientation/tour of the college during which you can have access to many people to ask your questions.
Although your path for Mechanical Engineering will afford you the opportunity to meet a lot of people, you would be the one who goes after your own job. You might obtain information from those you know about openings at various companies, but still, you will need to be the one who secures the job. Just knowing people is not assurance that you will get a job, it'll be up to you to ace interviews and have a built up resume with experience and skills. College is where you learn how to get your own job.
I hope this helps in alleviating any worry about the future. As you can see, it will be a process and a unique journey for you but in the end, you just may be mentoring future engineer students that come to you for help once you start your career. Take it step by step and try not to let thoughts sway you in a different direction. You can do this !
Best wishes in all you do !
Brian Swain
Mechanical Engineer
62
Answers
Modesto, California
Updated
Brian’s Answer
Hi Andrew,
I was in your shoes not too long ago. My biggest regrets is not trying hard enough during the summers to look for internships or part-time work somewhat relevant to my major. After graduation I spent a solid 3 months applying to jobs via every online job board I could find. I like to use the term "throwing stuff at a wall until something sticks" Eventually I found this posting for a drafting position on craigslist, it was with a tiny company doing mostly data entry and admin and a little drafting. But it exposed me to how a small manufacturing company works. I used that experience to land the next job, then the next one, and the next one and so on. At every job, I tried to learn as much as I could from the oldest grumpiest people there. Personally I recommend looking for internships as soon as you can. Or just going in to any small machining/manufacturing company to ask if they need any help sweeping floors ( since Mechanical Engineers work hand in hand with machinists and fabricators, the more you learn about manufacturing anything the better position you will have after graduation. I hope this helps. Best regards -Brian
I was in your shoes not too long ago. My biggest regrets is not trying hard enough during the summers to look for internships or part-time work somewhat relevant to my major. After graduation I spent a solid 3 months applying to jobs via every online job board I could find. I like to use the term "throwing stuff at a wall until something sticks" Eventually I found this posting for a drafting position on craigslist, it was with a tiny company doing mostly data entry and admin and a little drafting. But it exposed me to how a small manufacturing company works. I used that experience to land the next job, then the next one, and the next one and so on. At every job, I tried to learn as much as I could from the oldest grumpiest people there. Personally I recommend looking for internships as soon as you can. Or just going in to any small machining/manufacturing company to ask if they need any help sweeping floors ( since Mechanical Engineers work hand in hand with machinists and fabricators, the more you learn about manufacturing anything the better position you will have after graduation. I hope this helps. Best regards -Brian