Do you think engineers have an entitlement complex when it comes to jobs?

[Metagame]

I see it all the time on here and in real life. Even among my friends who are engineering majors, many feel entitled to jobs after they graduate because of all of that "hard work" in their undergraduate. On outsourcing, many feel the government needs to step in and attack the free market principles that are at work here (globalization). If companies can get a foreigner to do your job for a fraction of the cost, then too bad. The government needs to stay out of the free market and out of our personal lives. So, how come we never see other professions that have been affected by outsourcing as much as engineers but yet don't complain, whine and feel as entitled to a job as much as engineers?

[Squiggles]

Honestly!! How hard can it be to drive a train?

[mtmp5k]

Engineering is hard, if I was one I better have a job given to me when I graduate

[Jimbobs]

As an engineer, I can say with certainty that I did not feel entitled to a job when I graduated. Having said that, I didn't have any problem getting a number of offers. However, I've always felt that was because I did well at the interviews and tests involved. Some of those interviews were very complex and much more demanding than I have ever heard anyone else go through: multi-day interviews, stress interviews and trick interviews as well as aptitude tests, psych profiling etc.

Bottom line - neither I nor my friends felt entitled to anything when we graduated.

[Metagame]

As an engineer, I can say with certainty that I did not feel entitled to a job when I graduated. Having said that, I didn't have any problem getting a number of offers. However, I've always felt that was because I did well at the interviews and tests involved. Some of those interviews were very complex and much more demanding than I have ever heard anyone else go through: multi-day interviews, stress interviews and trick interviews as well as aptitude tests, psych profiling etc.

Bottom line - neither I nor my friends felt entitled to anything when we graduated.

Congrats on your success, that's great to hear from you and your friends. However, my experience is different with friends and family of mine who are in engineering and the many posts by engineers across many forums. How do you feel about job outsourcing and the fact engineers trained here have to compete with foreign engineers willing to work for a fraction of what they charge? Do you feel indifferent to it or do you think the government needs to protect engineering jobs?

[joe_greps]

What sector are we talking about? I can't comment outside of the construction sector myself.

From that perspective I find most are good people in a sector that has allowed liability and regulation to degenerate into insanity.

They typically would rather leave or just don't care, none I suspect feel entitled any more than a garbage man feels entitled.

[jda]

Nope, just engineers without engineering jobs i.e. Mark 77 formerly known as Pitz.

[spike1128]

I don't think engineers can have entitlement complex if their jobs are easily outsourced. You just got to work with it, so the outsourcing will cause their salary to go down.

Now, if you been reading the other threads you will notice other professions having entitlement complex. Just read the pharmacist thread about they feel they are entitled at least 80k a year after graduation. I doubt engineers will be thinking they are entitled to make 80k a year as fresh grads. Also read the finance thread where Mark77 and other are arguing about engineers or financiers being entitled. Not to mention, maybe accountants are entitled. Everyone is feeling entitled when it comes to jobs. Just look at the garbage man in GTA, he possbily make the same as any of the professional mentioned above, do you think the garbage man has an entitlement complex. Being entitled to a job is not a problem, being entitled to a job paying a big salary is the problem.

If you look at it, engineers usually don't have a life during undergrad years. I think not being overly entitled, but at least they should to be able to get a job that uses their education, even if it's a 30k a year job.

[iEyeCaptain]

I'd like to hear Mark77's opinion on this.

[spike1128]

Mark77 is possibly on vacation. He doesn't comment on weekend, maybe that's why nothing from him at the moment. He will be all over it once he sees this.

[Metagame]

If you look at it, engineers usually don't have a life during undergrad years. I think not being overly entitled, but at least they should to be able to get a job that uses their education, even if it's a 30k a year job.

I don't think not having a life during undegrad is a good reason to be entitled to a job. There are people in other professions (such as math or physics, for example) who had to work just as hard in undergrad but spent 10+ years earning their PhD, since you can't get a job with just a BSc. Yet, you don't see them entitled to faculty positions in academia or whining and decrying the large amount of H1-B's post-docs that are competing with them for faculty positions.

[THINKPADT61]

No such thing as entitlement.... Engineering degree is relatively easy I think, just look at how many new Engineering grad out there~ They should make it tougher IMO. Doing so will give you new engineering grad better chance of landing a engineering position.

[spike1128]

I don't think not having a life during undegrad is a good reason to be entitled to a job. There are people in other professions (such as math or physics, for example) who had to work just as hard in undergrad but spent 10+ years earning their PhD, since you can't get a job with just a BSc. Yet, you don't see them entitled to faculty positions in academia or whining and decrying the large amount of H1-B's post-docs that are competing with them for faculty positions.

Yes, but of course you are right about it doesn't justify them being entitled, but then you can say that about any other profession. At least in math, physics or science doing a PHD is almost like saying engineers doing a PHD, it's comparing apples with apples. They are all science degrees. But then you turn around and see the other majors (business, art, etc) all chilling in their undergrads, then feeling entitled to a big salary and a job as well.

I think people go to school, so they can get ahead in the job market. Like I say before, you only study so you can get a job. Doesn't have to be an engineering job, no it does not, but of course like I said previous it's a waste not using your education because of the amount of time and effort put into it. It's the same as a Masters of physics or Masters of math. Hoping for a job is not the issue, being entitled to a job with a big unrealistic salary is the real problem.

Metagame, refer to my previous post about the other professions. They talk about it here all the time.

[iEyeCaptain]

Mark77 is possibly on vacation. He doesn't comment on weekend, maybe that's why nothing from him at the moment. He will be all over it once he sees this.

The calm before the storm is deafening.

[CDNPatriot]

Engineering degrees are over rated. They are just under grad degrees no different than many of the Bachelor of Sciences. Put any of these guys into a management role and you've got disaster.