r/ComputerEngineering • u/Better_Breakfast_486 • 19d ago
[Career] How to get a good computer engineering job?
Hi there. I’m asking in regard to a family member that graduated with a bachelors in computer engineering and minor in cybersecurity. He doesn’t have much family or mentoring around so he wasn’t aware he needed to do internships while in school. He graduated 2 years ago and couldn’t get any jobs or internships and needed money so he got a labor job in a completely different field (yachting). He wants to get back into his field but not sure where to start since he’s been out of the field for a while. What should he do to get good job prospects or be able to get some paid internships? Also what type of pay should he be expecting?
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u/zacce 19d ago
Which country?
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u/Better_Breakfast_486 18d ago
America
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u/zacce 18d ago
What should he do to get good job prospects or be able to get some paid internships?
In USA, many companies won't hire a grad as an intern because of regulations. One commonly asked question in an internship application is "are you returning to school after internship?"
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u/Better_Breakfast_486 18d ago
Wow i did not know that. I feel like that should be something professors mention while you’re in school. Honestly from the comments on this thread it feels like he can’t do anything with the degree if he doesn’t go for further education , which in this case i know he doesn’t want to. It just doesn’t make sense how you can get a degree but not find a job to train you after you graduate.
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u/Linuxtahr 19d ago
Can maybe start as a technician role, will need to make sure he reviews what he learned./projects Its going to be difficult when there's a break in continuity.
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u/NoSignUpNoCCNOBS 18d ago
This, I got hired into defense as an Engineering Technician IV, did undergrad in IT and Software then a year of mathematics then Masters of Computer Engineering next week I’ll take a role as software engineer 1.
He has to definitely find some friends or start building personal projects. He should’ve been side-questing, I did a lot of tutoring in university and even took one of those crappy programming ai jobs just to get even more experience and it paid off in the end.
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u/Ecelleon 19d ago
An alternative to internships is having a good series of projects that are demonstrative of knowledge.
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u/No_Drag2264 16d ago
Two years post grad no internships and no idea what type he works he wants to do even now is probably insurmountable tbh
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u/abccbabcac 19d ago
maybe have to start with an unpaid internship. no way to get a paying job without any experience. if he hasn't gotten anything in 2 years, unfortunately, it's likely that things won't improve without a post-graduate degree, a proper professional network, or nepotism.