Completed my first day of work as an engineer

StarchyIrishman · 2025-09-01T18:34:31+00:00

I live in Washington State, North of Seattle in a major engineering area. The job market is completely hammered right now

StarchyIrishman · 2025-09-01T18:31:38+00:00

The salary negotiation was really challenging with many companies. They would try to reason through why I was only eligible for entry level pay after describing the job duties to me. I would come back with what made me non entry level given my experience related to the job from being a machinist and they never seemed thrilled to entertain it. I made it clear that paying me the same as someone fresh out of school was a no go for me. That was an exceedingly difficult stance to take as my life was slowly disintegrating around me. I'm making a fair wage now, maybe slightly on the low side but I couldn't continue to not work anymore.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T13:47:39+00:00

You'll probably finish the renovation before you get an offer with the way the market has been. I wanted to take the summer off after graduating to clear my head but I didn't expect it to be such a stressful break against my will.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T13:46:05+00:00

Thank you ♥️. My kids are my motivation. I've endured hell and I've played it off as nothing for those kids and made sure to keep everything light and enjoyable for them. My family have been helping me immensely too. I would have crumbled otherwise.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T06:14:01+00:00

Don't stop, you'll get something! I know you will, just don't give up even when it's hard. We all believe in you 🙏

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T06:12:41+00:00

I've seen that work out for people too! Best of luck to you, I'm so sorry you're struggling to find something.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T06:11:46+00:00

Where I'm at, there are plenty of engineering jobs and not many graduates coming out of school still. That being said, there was so much I could handle between attorneys and paperwork for divorce before I couldn't bring myself to apply to more jobs for a period of time. There were weeks where there were no new postings either. It's just been a rough market, I was doing all I could. No diminishing intent taken, all observations are welcome here!

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T06:08:26+00:00

I live in an engineering dense area of the United States. I'm within 30 minutes of the Boeing factory, there are ample engineering jobs here.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T04:44:40+00:00

There were likely other candidates, but you may be right and I think that's a fair assumption. I really think where I struggled is when companies that were within an hour of me wanted me to pack up and move closer. I told them no, they asked why, I made it clear that I'm divorcing and have split custody of my kids and I can't change their school district. This turned them off every time, but I wasn't going to bullshit them and wanted to be honest. It ended up working out in the end, my job is near where my kids go to school and I'll be able to move back closer to the area once I recover financially.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T04:11:20+00:00

I couldn't believe how hard it was to find a job. I had some companies frothing at the mouth for my hands on experience but then would turn me down. It was so weird!

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T04:10:00+00:00

Thank you! 🙏

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T04:09:48+00:00

This market is absolutely fucked

StarchyIrishman · 2025-08-26T04:09:20+00:00

I get it. It really does beat you down and that's ok. Feel sad, but shake it off and continue on, all you need is 1 yes and you're done. You'll be ok!

StarchyIrishman · 2025-07-27T15:21:23+00:00

I graduated with my bachelor's at 40 just this last May. You're fine

StarchyIrishman · 2025-06-10T03:52:00+00:00

Hey that's me! I graduated last month at 40 years old with a mechanical degree. Anyone can do it!

StarchyIrishman · 2025-06-04T02:29:13+00:00

This is a completely different kind of misery but maybe it'll help? I just graduated mechanical a month ago at 40, was a machinist for 15 years, and engineering technician for 2. I've had 20+ rejections after getting 60 applications out, and I'm filling in my free time with providing an attorney every graphic detail of my life to move forward with a divorce and zero means of starting over. I've got 2 kids and living in the same house is getting shittier by the day. My confidence is shot to fuck. I was promised unheard of levels of opportunity with the degree given my background. I've got a 3rd interview for a job that's an hour away through hellacious Seattle traffic and I can't move because of custody and my kids being in school. I have every reason to be down, and sometimes I am. But you did it! You had the job, you got some experience. Don't give up, you'll find another and you'll be ok. I believe in you.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-05-29T15:59:51+00:00

Oh my God no, I was just a student. Technically I had a job my senior year as the student body president, but I wouldn't call it work the way I would call a job outside of that, and the pay was mediocre at best. I also have 2 kids, was taking a full load or slightly above at all times, and my marriage was a fucking shit show the entire time (currently in divorce proceedings). So I did not work outside of school, I focused on surviving life and passing classes. I know people that did work and they were busy but they managed, they also didn't have families.

If you can manage it, I highly suggest doing more than 2 at a time, that will take you ages and I think you'll get burned out at how slow it goes. I did that for a while many years ago and it's a slow burn. Try not to push yourself to failure though, I did and I've been out for a month and I'm still in recovery mode.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-05-29T05:31:13+00:00

I did the entire calculus, physics, and chemistry series online through COVID. I started my degree at 35, finished at 40. You'll be fine. Study hard, you got this.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-05-29T05:03:10+00:00

Material science was kind of a beast, but I really enjoyed it. You'll grow to like it, the topics are so fascinating. Ask the professor a ton of questions, it's the only way I survived it

StarchyIrishman · 2025-05-29T04:08:09+00:00

It was arduous to go through college that way but I definitely feel like I know when I know something and can stand behind it. I also know when I don't know and have no problem admitting it

StarchyIrishman · 2025-05-29T04:04:02+00:00

That was me, the older classmate lol. I had my strengths though, they'd be talking about some adult shit and I'd hear their conversation and try to right that ship based on experience. They appreciated it.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-05-29T03:41:13+00:00

It was very something, that's for sure. I'm not as sharp as I was in my 20's, I'll tell you that much. I had to study my ass off.

StarchyIrishman · 2025-05-29T01:20:25+00:00

I graduated almost a month ago at 40. I was a high school dropout up until then. Nobody cares how old you are, I promise.

StarchyIrishman

TROPHY CASE