EE Degree becoming Obsolete...

Your absolutely right. I canned one guy who had graduated from Cal Tec because I did not like his superior attitude and his lack of basic knowledge. He went back to Cal Tec for a Masters degree. He will still be unhireable as far as I am concerned.

ask for your money back from the school

If you are an "In demand" computer person you can often pull down 6 figure wages.

But a lawyer with a technical background would do just as well.

But the original poster can't find ANY job so I don't think he is an "in demand" computer professional.

Good for you. Keep up the good work.

I have seen techs get college degrees and approach their bosses for a promotion. The bosses can't see where the guy is any more valuable with the degree than without.

If you want to get the benefit of a degree and your present employeer doesn't want to pay you more you have to bite the bullet and look for a PROFESSIONAL level job. You may well have to take a pay cut but you will be on the track for future advancement.

And, like it or not, usually getting a degree when you are pushing 40 usually isn't cost effective.

Life is all about paying the money and taking the choices.

Usually (but not always) civilian contractors in "combat zones" live OK. Since the contractors are the ones that take care of the water and electricity, they make sure that THEY have running water and electricity. Communal showers is no big deal; if you never were in the military, then think about high school gym.

Most EEs end up being paper generating or paper pushing bureaucrats. It's a living.

Try going back to your school and picking up few chemistry/materials classes since you already have physics background that came with the degree. I have BS. in EE and I'm working as a programmer for a company that is heavily involved into material science work. You have a better chance of getting a job if you call yourself material science/ee then just EE.

Aleks

These guys are usually always hiring.

It doesn't matter. All the US armed services will accept Canadians. Jump on the bus and go to Detroit or Duluth and sign up. I the 60s there were more Canadians in the US Army than draft dodgers in Canada. I'de do it before I set around all my life whining.

today i learned something

Ironically, one of the areas of the electrical industry with the greatest job security is the not at all sexy area of power distribution and consulting engineering. This is an area of mature technology that is not constantly changing. An EE that concentrates in computers, integrated circuits, etc, will find that his education is obsolete almost before he graduates. On the other hand, most electrical engineers in power distribution and consulting engineering are just beginning to really know what they are doing after ten years on the job.

We have an EE in his late 60's and over 30 years of experience in our office, and I am sure they will let him stay on the job as long as he wants. To really be valuable in this field, (in the US) an engineer should get his PE license. Experience as an electrician is also invaluable to an engineer that wants to consider this field.

I have close to 20 years experience as a consulting engineer, and I have never had trouble finding a position, and have never been laid off or let go. Any job I have left has been has been to pursue other interests or change locations.

Mitch Thompson, PE

Another option is to go the temporary of Job shop route. It means travel and it's part time. You work when they need you and they let you go when there done with you ( just like " permenent" jobs). It wil be hard to break in but fortunately places like Aerotek have recruiter that were flipping hamburgers last week so you can sweet talk your way into the first job or two. Here's a link to start.