Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Work and Employment
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 02-10-2014, 07:53 AM
 
85 posts, read 151,809 times
Reputation: 103

Advertisements

Quote:
Originally Posted by jobaba View Post
Go to medical school and become a doctor, and never have to whine about finding a job again.

If you don't have good enough credentials, then that is your own fault.
Don't forget, not just anybody gets into med school. They have a "system" to keep the salaries artificially high. Hope you have some connections. You might try the nursing or P.A. route first, although you're seeing this happening with nursing now too. P.A.'s seem to be needed in a lot of places and while their pay doesn't match "doctor", their jobs are pretty much in demand and they pay well enough ($75K-90k) depending.

It might be the wave of the future actually, since many more GP's are needed than specialists. I think we're going to see more pay clinics opening up in the future. JMO, but a GP doesn't really have to be as "spot on" as a surgeon or other specialist. Yes, you need education and training, but in general if you're seeing people for the flu all day, you don't really need to be rocket scientist level. You really don't, no matter what they keep trying to tell you.

I'd like to say one last time to my peers, give these kids coming out of school a break would you? Unless you've never been unemployed for any length of significant time, or been devastated by a job loss, shut your piehole. Part of the reason these kids can't get work is because capitalists at the top want to exploit the world, and they really don't give two cents who gets hurt in the process as long as they get theirs.

Can capitalism not be profitable, sustainable and responsible at the same time? I think it can, but it requires a cultural shift. Sorry, but there really isn't room for a small greedy top ended minority. Not if you want a sustainable capitalist system. If you keep doing what you are, you will sow the seeds of your own demise and allow for something like socialism to creep in, which isn't good for anyone.

There would be plenty of need for engineers if our trade deficit with the most populous nation on the planet (1 out of every 6 people) was scaled back. If things continue to be made overseas, just exactly who do you propose would buy them? You think some guy at the top wants 2,000 pair of Nike shoes? This is why money hording will eventually buckle this nation. I am sickened by some of the responses I see here.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 02-10-2014, 12:44 PM
 
111 posts, read 189,809 times
Reputation: 59
Olderandprobablywiser,

Yes, I am aware of the oil drilling that is a result of a new method of extracting oil, specifically - fracking. With the current crude oil prices of $100.04 (WTI), $108.79 (Brent) there is an increase production of oil and as a result of this activity, there may be residual jobs or some slack in the job market in those regions.

I have contacted some civil engineering firms in ND, TX, PA. North Dakota, gets a lot of attention from the media, but the state population is less than one million. I was thinking of getting a Commercial Driver License, but that would be a significant monetary investment (For myself) and also there is no guarantee of employment in the oil / trucking industry.
Also, I have a bachelors degree in civil engineering, and would like a return on investment. Perhaps this degree is a complete loss.

The trade agreements that this country has made in the past and now, I can't help to think that many people are suffering because of this acts.

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here are some videos from the 90s:

A prophetic interview with Sir James Goldsmith in 1994

1. A prophetic interview with Sir James Goldsmith in 1994 Pt1 - YouTube

Giant Sucking Sound - Ross Perot 1992 Presidential Debate.flv

Giant Sucking Sound - Ross Perot 1992 Presidential Debate.flv - YouTube

I appreciate your response.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2014, 02:44 AM
 
111 posts, read 189,809 times
Reputation: 59
I am just wondering what are the prospects for finding employment in a state department of transportation. Anyone out there in one or has worked for one?

Thanks.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2014, 04:46 AM
 
1,304 posts, read 1,582,420 times
Reputation: 1368
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeng99 View Post
I am just wondering what are the prospects for finding employment in a state department of transportation. Anyone out there in one or has worked for one?

Thanks.
They mostly want people with decades of experience in management. Most projects are contracted out to private companies, usually with a couple state department employee oversight. Go ahead and apply if you like. You'll be competing with hundreds of veteran RE's and other managers.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2014, 08:30 AM
 
Location: Texas
1,407 posts, read 1,015,508 times
Reputation: 1563
We have about two openings for Civil Engineers where I work. I work for the US Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans. It's very difficult to get on here but it never hurts to try. You can apply through USAjObs. Also, there's not on the New Orleans district, but we have districts all over including in other countries. I do Geotech and have be here since I graduated in 2009.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2014, 10:09 AM
 
7,002 posts, read 7,109,680 times
Reputation: 4364
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeng99 View Post
I am just wondering what are the prospects for finding employment in a state department of transportation. Anyone out there in one or has worked for one?

Thanks.
In New York, you have to be directly out of college (since they only hire for entry level jobs, everything else they promote from within), and you have to be a woman or minority (due to affirmative action requirements). Sad, but true.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2014, 10:50 AM
 
111 posts, read 189,809 times
Reputation: 59
rosie_hair,

This is what I suspect, DOT's are very difficult to get into. I live in SoCal and we have graduate degree holders applying for simple technician positions that decades ago, only required a high school diploma.

tewest86,

Yes I have applied on USAJobs, for the USACE, but it is quite competitive. Do you have a master's degree, since you mentioned you are Geotech emphasis ?

mitsguy2001,

Do you live in NY and work as an engineer? I have seen the pay grades for an engineer working for a govt agency, but the pay is very low - I would imagine the living costs are pretty high.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2014, 11:24 AM
 
7,002 posts, read 7,109,680 times
Reputation: 4364
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeng99 View Post
rosie_hair,

mitsguy2001,

Do you live in NY and work as an engineer? I have seen the pay grades for an engineer working for a govt agency, but the pay is very low - I would imagine the living costs are pretty high.
Yes to both questions, but I am in the private sector. The government employees' starting base salary might be low, but they get very good benefits, which make up for it. I spend a good chunk of my salary on health insurance and have to put a good chunk of it in my 401K. Government employees get free health insurance and a pension. Also, government employees with experience have higher salaries than what I'm currently getting, even if they started lower than I did.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2014, 11:36 AM
 
111 posts, read 189,809 times
Reputation: 59
mitsguy2001,

I always hear of the pros and cons of working in the private vs public. I hear quite often that private pays "more", but some of the salaries for the public sector employees can be even higher than private (80k-90k for an entry level position). Also salary equivalency does not take into account: being unemployed, the marginal tax rate, and many of the other things you mentioned.

To get an entry level for the DOT or an public agency, even with the "low" salary, I would imagine they would get many applicants.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2014, 01:42 PM
 
1,304 posts, read 1,582,420 times
Reputation: 1368
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeng99 View Post
mitsguy2001,

I always hear of the pros and cons of working in the private vs public. I hear quite often that private pays "more", but some of the salaries for the public sector employees can be even higher than private (80k-90k for an entry level position). Also salary equivalency does not take into account: being unemployed, the marginal tax rate, and many of the other things you mentioned.

To get an entry level for the DOT or an public agency, even with the "low" salary, I would imagine they would get many applicants.
Here's my take on your situation. If you're seeking entry level, and you've been searching for a while, it's probably not a good idea to be picky about salary.

I know there are a few individuals on here who claim to make $75k entry level, $100k within a couple years, and $150-200K in 7 years or so. And there have been a few that proclaim $60K/year is poverty level. You might not believe this, but be assured that these are trolls.

Are there entry level positions that make $75K easy? I'm sure there are. But go ahead and try to get one in entry level engineering if you like LOL.

Edit.

Didn't see your question. The answer is no and yes. I live and work as an engineer in the Chicago area.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:

Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Work and Employment

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top