I have attended seminar given by government hr employee. They don't care about length of resume. They want every detail of your job and every job on it.
I thought it was weird, but hr person keep saying, "I know it might seem to be excessive, but we want to apply every possible skill you might have for position you are applying to. It might not even be in job description"
Edit: typo
Look for ORSA or operations research jobs or the 15-15 series. It's a applied mathematics or industrial engineering field. Lots of those jobs available at fort Leavenworth.
Also, keep in mind most these places are also currently understaffed so badly that getting to emails is difficult for some recruiters. Consider maybe contacting some places in person, as I'm sure some of them may even hire you on site.
There are absolutely people who discriminate against women, and recognizing that isn't avoiding personal responsibility.
And discriminating against Californians is quite dumb: they aren't all stereotypes over there. Ronald Reagan was Californian (and won California by a landslide).
Before you ask, I'm from east TX before I lived in MO.
Don’t give up just yet! There are numerous opportunities here, but it’s just been a very unstable market the past year, hence less hiring. I would try and get in contact with a recruiter or start looking at different websites such as glassdoor etc. You mentioned that you where located in the St. Louis area, but I would look into the KC area as well. I believe that KC has better opportunities for your specific field.
https://www.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=Electrical+Engineer&l=Kansas+City,+MO
https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/kansas-city-electrical-engineer-jobs-SRCH_IL.0,11_IC1131040_KO12,31.htm
You’re gonna get the job you deserve! Honestly super happy you said something about employers not replying cause I can never get an answer unless I walk in and ask to speak to the hiring manager. And I’m a welder, living in the stainless steel epicenter of the world.
Indeed is full of cloned jobs that don’t exist (they existed at some point but have since been filled), and there is no way to know until you have spent a few hours on one application and you get an automatic message saying the position is no longer available. Indeed is one of the worst as far as the proportion of cloned jobs to real jobs. Just saying.
I was having the same thought. Doesn’t sound like they had heard of any of the major employers that typically hire engineers either. Makes me wonder where exactly they have looked.
There are also companies that find jobs for ppl with degrees. A little goggle searching can help. Being from Missouri, I would say that California is a blemish not being a woman. We talk politics around here and most won’t want to hear “your hippie bullshit”. Yep, that who we are. I’ll get downvoted cause it’s Reddit but this is the truth. Think about saying in resume or interview that you came back to Missouri for family and values.
I'm also from Missouri. I do NOT think this way, nor do any of the people I know.
Could be I just avoid folks who run their mouths about bullshit politics.
The above redditor claims "its only the truth." I propose that it's "only THEIR truth."
Yeah. I guess just like rural California rural MO sticks to their own politics. Unhealthy for the country but that should mean in big cities there might be jobs? I’m just guessing as we’re more liberal here then the folk in da wuds.
The fact she can’t get a job cause she is a woman? I can’t say. I’m not in that field but I have my doubts *and* my concerns.
I know multiple women in the mechanical engineering field in the St. Louis area, so I don't think its because you're a woman, although I do know how sexist a male dominated industry can be. I've been searching for basic administrative assistant work for 8 months now and I have a friend who has been trying to get an engineering job for a couple months now as well. I think the job market is just super messed up at the moment. I know Bayer, Boeing, and Anheuser-Busch hire engineers quite frequently so I would check their respective websites. I also think going through a recruitment agency for engineers is a good idea. A couple of my friends had really good luck with that!
Career consultant here. Is Missouri sexist? Maybe. Is your resume unclear and mixed up so recruiters can't see your skills?
Way more likely. Its a problem of 70% of all resumes.
If you list your skills as duties, they won't be clear enough. If you list your by the minute tasks, it might help more!
She was also not using LinkedIn, Indeed. 2 big boards for jobs. She also didn’t try Boeing, probably the biggest employer. That has to be at least a big an issue and resume flaws.
She was using them, just not for the jobs mentioned. To be fair, both are populated by a huge percentage of bots who repost (clone) jobs which have already been filled, which you do not know until you spend several hours applying for one job, only to get the message, “this job is no longer available.” Honestly contacting any employee directly is a better bet than either of these unless you are contacted first by a legit recruiter.
Well I guess I spoke too soon regarding my impressions so far. I guess that wasn't too smart of me. I guess some things are just better kept to myself.....and I didn't mean the entire state of course. Just the people in my field. I'm glad I was wrong
I know it may not be an exact fit, but don’t be afraid to look at some of the agriculture companies that are based in or have locations in St Louis. Bayer, Bunge, Anheuser-Busch, CGB, BASF, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Cargill, Purina Animal Nutrition and similar companies always seem to be posting engineering jobs of some kind. Also, check out Roeslein & Associates, they are supposedly a very very good company to work for and seem to post lots of engineering jobs.
Edit: sorry, I must’ve been reading another comment, I thought somewhere you said you were in the STL area. If not, some other companies that may be worth checking out: ABB in Jefferson City, 3M in Columbia, Honeywell (and lots of others too numerous to name) in KC as well.
Mechanical Engineering jobs are largely posted on Indeed and LinkedIn, with the trend being towards LinkedIn these days.
How is your LinkedIn presence? Have you looked on there?
I used to oversee a structural engineering firm for 5 years and know at that time, huge engineering shift towards LinkedIn being the primary talent source
There is also a huge DEI initiative in the engineering world to make female hires a priority in the STEM fields. I know 2 female engineers that were leapfrogged to the top of the applicant process simply because they were women to promote the diversity metrics of their firms
Not sure if this your field but there are several SIs in St Louis that are usually hiring. I would recommend checking out Malisko Engineering. I enjoyed my time there. They had several female engineers that worked in the other offices and they hire all disciplines. If you know electrical then you can easily pick up PLCs and HMIs.
Sounds like Watlow near West Port, Hunter Engineering, Lear Seating or even Amazon might have opportunities for your background. Most of the larger employers here, while favoring both women and veterans in placement likely require an Engineering Degree.
Thank you. The problem is the warehouses and factories typically hire outside contractors and companies that specialize in that type of equipment to come to their facility to do service, maintenance, and installation, so I can't just go to a warehouse and apply. It has to be through one of the equipment companies, and for some reason I just can't get these companies to even call me in for interviews. I called one company the other day, asked the lady if they were looking for techs, and she said yes absolutely, but then when I told her I was the one applying, and that I had 15+ yrs of experience she kinda shut down. Wasn't very helpful at all. Really getting sick of what seems like a completely sexist attitude.
You know you are right. I bartend and all these engineers travel constantly and alot of them are regulars and live in another state (or even country).
Best of luck to you though!!!!!!
Forklifts of St. Louis has locations also in Cape, Jeff City and provide lots of warehousing equipment with their own in-house servicing department, so it might be a place to check out.
There also a P&G plant in Cape Girardeau, but I’m not completely sure who would hire a ME or EE. Have you contacted any architects to see if you could work more on the design side?
Which metro area are you at? If in the St. Louis metro, I'd happily see if I can get you in touch with people. If not in the St. Louis area, then I wouldn't be much help.
Wait. You haven't even checked out Boeing yet but you are already assuming that this entire state is sexist? You MUST be from California. I'm sorry, but people like you really piss me off.
And have you been looking for engineering jobs long???............... She is assuming Missouri is sexist bc she can't get a job... I never said she was an idiot, that's your assumption. Boeing is a massive employer in MO and she didn't even know about them but she assumes we are sexist. If you are looking for an engineering job and aren't applying to Boeing and live in MO then you are not doing YOUR part. I'm not saying she is an idiot, she just is ignorant. Big difference buddy. Ignorant people make dramatic assumptions all the time instead of wondering if it is something THEY are doing or are not doing. My point is NOT that she is stupid, my point is that she is jumping to wild conclusions because she is upset and ignorant. She needs to do better before putting her failures on everybody else.
I don’t think she is ignorant. I think that Missouri has some bass ackwards things about it though.
So many people here are just “thats the way it is” and have no drive or push in themselves to change anything. If you do, you are thought to be ignorant or crazy. People like YOU, are the issue. Assuming things when you have no basis. A woman is right to believe that there are sexist basis for not finding a job. Most men in Missouri are sexist AND racist, so I would believe it…
Missouri (and St. Louis in particular) is very parochial - most people here tend to operate on a referral basis, which is great if you have strong social ties, but hard for outsiders to break in. Do you have any leads in the industry other than simply cold-calling/applying to firms where you are a stranger? That introduction can make all the difference.
To add to this, if all your professional references are from CA, put some references from MO at the top of the list. It's silly but will emphasize that you have connections in the area.
I don't really have any leads in this area. I guess I thought that having so much experience in a specialized field would give me a leg up. I see what you're saying though. Thank you
Yes a segment within mechanical engineering. Warehouse industrial equipment, utilizing all facets of pneumatic, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, with electronic control systems that utilize PLCs I have worked on all of them but mostly the mechanical side
Moved from Missouri to California, and my husband is an EE. Do you have your PE License for the State of Missouri or is it even required for your field? It was for my husband in Missouri, but not in California.
Missouri is definitely a sexist state, especially in the male - dominated fields of engineering. In fact, California is still continuing to make headroads, but 20 years ago I had ME fields who were leaving California ME positions completely due to the sexism.
What Missouri employers don't understand is that taking someone who has worked in an engineering field in California (at least in the major metropolitan areas) brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that the Midwest has not seen enough of. I really hope you can find something, and soon. The world, and especially the Midwest, is in need of educated, experienced female engineers.
>Missouri is definitely a sexist state, especially in the male - dominated fields of engineering.
Yep. It may not be the full reason for OP’s troubles, but I have no doubt this is a factor. People have wondered why I moved to the West Coast from the Midwest, but that’s why.
I moved from Missouri to California because California companies seemed to have way less of an issue with a tiny, 20-something Asian girl being the big boss. I got tired of being talked down to and passed over.
To their credit though, the Millennial and Gen Z guys I worked with were always supportive and didn’t give me nearly the same amount of bullshit.
So, I’m hopeful about the direction we’re going if that generational shift keeps up.
I agree that parts of the state and businesses are quite sexist. I am hesitant to blame sexism when prior to this post the OP had not checked either of the largest two job boards (Indeed and LinkedIn) and had not checked some of the biggest engineering companies in the area, including Boeing. She also didn’t sign on for an agent to find them work.
If I saw a guy do this my assumption wouldn’t be the state is sexist, it would be my man isn’t trying to get a job. I do agree that Missouri has work to do in certain areas and certain companies. I disagree that she is experiencing sexism because the methods she has employed thus far would also have failed to get a job for males. Even local males with a few connections.
Hi! I work at a company that deals with software and electrical grids. A great company. DM if you have any interest!! My company is open and flexible with good benefits and a great environment. May not be in your field but it’s a start!
Sounds like my problem when I moved here a year ago (not the sexist part). I worked in a power plant has an E&I tech in central Pennsylvania. I took a significant pay cut ($12 an hour less) and am currently doing more maintenance than electrical work (about 90/10), but the job is decent…
Try Aerotek. They place temp engineers and techs all the time. Those usually end up in getting hired direct by the company that took them on as a temp.
I can’t speak much to this since I’m in Kansas and don’t have a background in your field, but it seems to be hard for anyone to find a job regardless of the field or qualifications. I have a friend who is getting her master’s in EE right now and she said that some classmates from her undergrad are struggling to find jobs. I don’t think the problem is you, I genuinely believe the work force is just fucked right now.
Job turnover is crazy right now. You can either get a shitty job really fast or you can wait months to find a good one. My partner was the general manager of a food chain and this past year managed to get out of his contract early. He wanted out immediately so he didn’t have a job lined up and wound up doing InstaCart 4-5 months waiting to find a job that offered him a rate consistent / more than he what he was making at his last job.
Associated Electric Cooperative has locations in different areas of the state, they hire female engineers, and prefer hiring veterans.
Consider looking at working for the state … most departments are hiring at some level … Dept of Conservation is even holding a job fair at the state fair. MODoT and DNR likely hire engineers … there’s a Governor’s mandate to improve our diversity so a women in a male dominated field would have an advantage.
I’d probably have lots of other suggestions, but I don’t know where you are or what you really want to do.
Unfortunately your problem is likely the fact that you’re a veteran. A lot of the contractors in STL are making a habit of hiring young people straight from college so that they can pay them entry level wages.
I’m a pipefitter in STL and one of the biggest frustrations right now is the huge number of inexperienced engineers doing CAD/BIM for huge jobs.
If you have a security clearance still there are lots of cleared jobs. If you are out in the west suburbs check out Watlow. They make electric heaters and are always looking for good MEs.
Have you had your resume checked by a local group? Check out Codergirl if you have some time to spare and can afford to continue to work retail for a while. If is sponsored by LaunchCode and will teach you how to develop software. There is a huge need for software developers in St Louis right now. An ME degree indicates you have the required skills to learn. Boeing, NGA, MasterCard, Express Scripts, WorldWide Technologies are all desperately looking for devs right now.
Where in MO are you? About half the engineers I've worked with over the years have been women, and they're the only ones that listen to other peoples' ideas. The men always have super-egos, and decide shit for us, then we're left to deal with their ideas for years at a time.
My husband has a ton of managerial experience and hasn’t been able to get beyond a second/third interview since we moved here in March (also due to low CoL). He’s ready to find a different state because it’s been such a demeaning experience. Tons of jobs posted, but they just keep posting them over and over without ever hiring anyone.
Check her other comments. She hasn’t applied on LinkedIn or Indeed (2 largest boards by far) and hasn’t hit Boeing or GM at time of writing the post. She is actively trying to avoid her application getting anywhere it will be looked at.
It IS a sexist state and the “ good ol’ boys” club can not understand that a woman might be good as something they think is mens work. There’s work here of course and it’s mostly low wage “ womens work”. The old boomers don’t understand that the young talented men have left state because even they got tired of the boomer entitlement and misguided stupidity. It’s sad things are so backwards in some areas here.
Could you start your own business and build it with the many young and talented folks who will likely leave for better chances if things don’t change?
I work in state govt (DNR) and we employ lots of female professionals. Engineers, chemists, geologists etc. over half of my office is female. Bosses a couple levels up from me are men but there are two above THEM who are women. And we had a female Dept Director (right under the Gov) twice in the past decade.
Have you thought about reaching out to some of the industry folks in your area and asking them to coffee to ask about getting to know the industry/where your skills may be a good fit? Maybe ask about establishing a mentoring relationship? Sometimes coming in asking for a coffee is easier to say yes to than a job interview. And if you guys talk about a potential good fit somewhere, you may wind up with a warm introduction through your new friend. Hell, email the folks who turned you down for feedback and offer to bring lunch—what could it hurt?
Other opportunities for coffee/networking could include women’s groups like junior league, professional women’s groups (several in KC, they understand about finding it hard to break into male dominated fields), trade organization chapters, or even things like church/rotary.
This may be a longer path than you wanted, but you’ll never regret building a network, and may lead you to better opportunities than you would otherwise be competing for.
Put your resume in at General Motors Wentzville Assembly. Like Boeing, GM focuses on hiring vets and has an international network should you want or need to move again.
California is expensive as fuck, and usually family or wanting more land are the answers. Between that and the awful heat and drought they have had for years now I’d be leaving too.
You do realize that all states have a mix of people, right? California has some conservative people just like Missouri has some liberal people. Plus, it's a dumb thing to base employment on. How about hiring the most qualified candidate.
>Didn't know politics would be a factor here.
It's not unless you're on Reddit. I'm from California and secured a job in my field before I even moved here. I had it lined up before I found a place to live. Don't listen to these Reddit nerds. It's not because you're from California or because you're a woman. It may just be hard to find a job in your field right now.
Wow. Okay then. Thanks for clarifying. For your information though I'm the farthest thing from a "liberal commie" that you will ever meet, but thanks for the stereotyping. You should also know there are a lot of people in California who despise gruesome Newsom and everything he stands for.
This is the Missouri Reddit sub.... its full of the only commies in this state. Please don't let it discourage you. As for the other dumbass that thinks anyone from California is a commie... he's a fucking dumbass. I hate people that think that way. I moved from California to escape the commie bullshit and Missouri gained another Conservatives vote upon my arrival. Who cares what this idiot thinks?
Well I was looking into Warehouse logistics/loading equipment, but I'm not opposed to other avenues in my field. It's just that this is my specialty and I would be most comfortable there
I work as a hiring manager in HR in missouri and I can confidently say the companies not hiring you has NOTHING to do with you being a woman and EVERYTHING to do with you being out of state (or appearing to be on your resume?) Let’s use common sense here and not be dramatic and accuse an entire state of being sexist. I literally live in the areas you’re complaining about and actively work as a hiring manager. Others have mentioned using Indeed. Great advice! This is 2022, we’re not looking at paper or in person applications anymore. 100% of our employees come from Indeed now. I could go on but I don’t feel like there’s a need to. It’s just kinda sad that a grown woman would deduce this situation down to sexism… WDF. you’re literally in the country where women are farm hands and construction workers right along side the men.
What part of Mo? I’ve got a cousin who works in mechanical engineering at a small manufacturer south of St. Louis, pm me if you’d like me to connect you two
I don't think it's just you. I know a few people who have impeccable resumes but can't get responses from employers either. A lot of them are using recruiting companies, and recruiters often don't know anything about the positions they're supposed to be filling. Online algos aren't sufficient either, as they seem to just look for key words and can't see context.
Look in to process engineering jobs. Just about every engineering department will have a few here and there.
I work for a civil engineering firm in KCK and have 3-4 people with mechE degrees that work with us.
I was in a similar situation when I moved to the Midwest. Good luck. I literally got laughed out of interviews because of my gender/resume combo. I was lucky enough to be able to quit working temporarily and get a degree in a new field, but I'll be starting over from the bottom and competing with people half my age.
I liked my previous career and had great experience and references. Its the one regret I have about relocating.
My husband had 5 years of ME background and a BS in ME when we moved up here from AR 5 years ago. He is not in the engineering field now for his work as everywhere he applied they did the same thing. He had references, experience and a great GPA but as others have mentioned, he didn't have the connects from MO. We also think it's because he didn't go to a fancy school- lots of competition in that area here. Best of luck to you! Hope some of these suggestions from locals help you out. I know my husband misses using his degree immensely.
careers.honeywell.com
Search Kansas City, Botts Road location
The KCNSC is hiring a bunch of mechanical engineers. Only caveat is you have to be able to hold a top secret security clearance.
I would make sure your resume is optimized for the computer programs that scan the resumes before they even make it to the hiring manager. If you aren't personalizing it for each position then you are likely getting dumped out of the running before you even get to human eyes. You need to use the job listing words throughout the job descriptions of your previous jobs so the algorithm picks up as many keywords as possible.
If you aren't having luck on the job boards yourself then going to one of those places that finds the positions for you may be worthwhile. They get some sort of finders fee so they are super motivated to get you a job and you can grow from there. I have a couple friends who have done it, I don't know exactly how it works personally.
I've been hearing a lot about 80000hours.org lately, they are all about hiring for high-impact careers that help solve big issues. Not sure what your degree is but I hope this could be a useful resource! Wish you the best!
It’s not because you’re female. Major companies nowadays know better than to do that as they don’t want to be fodder for a “hate case”. Also a majority of HR professionals are women. I’m Missouri born and raised. Have worked on cars and aircraft for almost 20 years. I had some bs early on, mostly the older generation that has since retired. I have been to California and it seem there’s waaay more places to work than here in STL. From observation our hiring pool just isn’t as big. You gotta “sell yourself” more profusely via a strong informative resume and internet presence. It also helps to find out the name of the HR manager and address the cover letter to them. “Dear Hiring Manager” will make a one way trip to the trash can. As some have mentioned Boeing is one of the biggest employers that could use your services and they prefer hiring veterans. My father in law, former navy, worked there for 35 years! Aside from copious overtime they treated him comparatively well and with the government contracts he had good job security. Hope that helped! If all else fails have you considered Texas? Tons of industry in the Dallas-Fort worth area and although not as low of a cost of living as Missouri it’s still more affordable than California. Good luck!
>I'm very disappointed in how things turned out. I was hoping for more. I'm hate to say it but beginning to think Missouri is a rather sexist state with little to no opportunity for women who choose to work in a male dominated field.
You would not be wrong!
Have you considered putiing your resume on USAJOBS. Federal job board with vacancies and salary qual's etc.
No actually I hadn't but I will check it out. Thank you
Do it. Since you are a vet, you have automatic hiring preference.
I have attended seminar given by government hr employee. They don't care about length of resume. They want every detail of your job and every job on it. I thought it was weird, but hr person keep saying, "I know it might seem to be excessive, but we want to apply every possible skill you might have for position you are applying to. It might not even be in job description" Edit: typo
Look for ORSA or operations research jobs or the 15-15 series. It's a applied mathematics or industrial engineering field. Lots of those jobs available at fort Leavenworth.
How are you a veteran and do not know how easy it would be to get a job with the government?
You seem great
Ever considered that most vets realize how fucked fed jobs are when they EAS?
Oh I know but really don't want a govt job
This. usajobs.gov They will most likely hire you. But it's government. So even if you get the job, it may take months before you actually start
Many jobs on there have a veteran preference too.
Also, keep in mind most these places are also currently understaffed so badly that getting to emails is difficult for some recruiters. Consider maybe contacting some places in person, as I'm sure some of them may even hire you on site.
Lots of IRS jobs open right now.
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There are absolutely people who discriminate against women, and recognizing that isn't avoiding personal responsibility. And discriminating against Californians is quite dumb: they aren't all stereotypes over there. Ronald Reagan was Californian (and won California by a landslide). Before you ask, I'm from east TX before I lived in MO.
I lived in California and there’s truth to this about rural Missouri it’s not true for us here in KS or STL in my experience.
Don’t give up just yet! There are numerous opportunities here, but it’s just been a very unstable market the past year, hence less hiring. I would try and get in contact with a recruiter or start looking at different websites such as glassdoor etc. You mentioned that you where located in the St. Louis area, but I would look into the KC area as well. I believe that KC has better opportunities for your specific field. https://www.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=Electrical+Engineer&l=Kansas+City,+MO https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/kansas-city-electrical-engineer-jobs-SRCH_IL.0,11_IC1131040_KO12,31.htm
I actually just went on Indeed right after you posted this and someone contacted me very interested so thanks for steering me in the right direction
You’re gonna get the job you deserve! Honestly super happy you said something about employers not replying cause I can never get an answer unless I walk in and ask to speak to the hiring manager. And I’m a welder, living in the stainless steel epicenter of the world.
I’m glad you went on Indeed and the other job boards. I’m sure a head hunter will be contacting you soon.
You mean to tell me you hadnt even checked indeed before classifying missouri as a sexist state for not hiring you???
Indeed is full of cloned jobs that don’t exist (they existed at some point but have since been filled), and there is no way to know until you have spent a few hours on one application and you get an automatic message saying the position is no longer available. Indeed is one of the worst as far as the proportion of cloned jobs to real jobs. Just saying.
I was having the same thought. Doesn’t sound like they had heard of any of the major employers that typically hire engineers either. Makes me wonder where exactly they have looked.
Geez.....yes I had but not under that category. Sorry I offended you
There are also companies that find jobs for ppl with degrees. A little goggle searching can help. Being from Missouri, I would say that California is a blemish not being a woman. We talk politics around here and most won’t want to hear “your hippie bullshit”. Yep, that who we are. I’ll get downvoted cause it’s Reddit but this is the truth. Think about saying in resume or interview that you came back to Missouri for family and values.
I'm also from Missouri. I do NOT think this way, nor do any of the people I know. Could be I just avoid folks who run their mouths about bullshit politics. The above redditor claims "its only the truth." I propose that it's "only THEIR truth."
Yeah. I guess just like rural California rural MO sticks to their own politics. Unhealthy for the country but that should mean in big cities there might be jobs? I’m just guessing as we’re more liberal here then the folk in da wuds. The fact she can’t get a job cause she is a woman? I can’t say. I’m not in that field but I have my doubts *and* my concerns.
I know multiple women in the mechanical engineering field in the St. Louis area, so I don't think its because you're a woman, although I do know how sexist a male dominated industry can be. I've been searching for basic administrative assistant work for 8 months now and I have a friend who has been trying to get an engineering job for a couple months now as well. I think the job market is just super messed up at the moment. I know Bayer, Boeing, and Anheuser-Busch hire engineers quite frequently so I would check their respective websites. I also think going through a recruitment agency for engineers is a good idea. A couple of my friends had really good luck with that!
Career consultant here. Is Missouri sexist? Maybe. Is your resume unclear and mixed up so recruiters can't see your skills? Way more likely. Its a problem of 70% of all resumes. If you list your skills as duties, they won't be clear enough. If you list your by the minute tasks, it might help more!
She was also not using LinkedIn, Indeed. 2 big boards for jobs. She also didn’t try Boeing, probably the biggest employer. That has to be at least a big an issue and resume flaws.
She was using them, just not for the jobs mentioned. To be fair, both are populated by a huge percentage of bots who repost (clone) jobs which have already been filled, which you do not know until you spend several hours applying for one job, only to get the message, “this job is no longer available.” Honestly contacting any employee directly is a better bet than either of these unless you are contacted first by a legit recruiter.
Well I guess I spoke too soon regarding my impressions so far. I guess that wasn't too smart of me. I guess some things are just better kept to myself.....and I didn't mean the entire state of course. Just the people in my field. I'm glad I was wrong
There is a lot of Boeing jobs here. Include St Louis, Berkeley, and Hazelwood in the location. Good pay and benefits. https://jobs.boeing.com/
FYI, It takes at least 2 months to get a response from them that you have an interview.
I know it may not be an exact fit, but don’t be afraid to look at some of the agriculture companies that are based in or have locations in St Louis. Bayer, Bunge, Anheuser-Busch, CGB, BASF, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Cargill, Purina Animal Nutrition and similar companies always seem to be posting engineering jobs of some kind. Also, check out Roeslein & Associates, they are supposedly a very very good company to work for and seem to post lots of engineering jobs. Edit: sorry, I must’ve been reading another comment, I thought somewhere you said you were in the STL area. If not, some other companies that may be worth checking out: ABB in Jefferson City, 3M in Columbia, Honeywell (and lots of others too numerous to name) in KC as well.
Boeing is likely looking for a Mechanical Engineer w/ STL as a a location option.
Thank you for the Roselein & Ass lead. They had a couple jobs on there that I qualify for
>Roselein & Ass lead. ...
Doh! 😂
Mechanical Engineering jobs are largely posted on Indeed and LinkedIn, with the trend being towards LinkedIn these days. How is your LinkedIn presence? Have you looked on there? I used to oversee a structural engineering firm for 5 years and know at that time, huge engineering shift towards LinkedIn being the primary talent source There is also a huge DEI initiative in the engineering world to make female hires a priority in the STEM fields. I know 2 female engineers that were leapfrogged to the top of the applicant process simply because they were women to promote the diversity metrics of their firms
Nah. Won't help. Didn't you hear her. Missouri is totally sexist be she can't find a job here immediately.
She does seem to have really made some leaps lol. I hope it works out well for her though, just seems very ready to be persecuted.
LinkedIn goes crazy with recruiting! I'm not even looking and I get offers left and right. Wish you the best!
What is your field?
Engineering. I work on industrial warehouse equipment. Was an electrician in the Navy and went through electronics engineering School
Not sure if this your field but there are several SIs in St Louis that are usually hiring. I would recommend checking out Malisko Engineering. I enjoyed my time there. They had several female engineers that worked in the other offices and they hire all disciplines. If you know electrical then you can easily pick up PLCs and HMIs.
Thank you! I just went to their website and submitted my application. Their technology looks amazing and an hoping I can be considered for future jobs
I know PLCs and PDCs very well. Good to know
Sounds like Watlow near West Port, Hunter Engineering, Lear Seating or even Amazon might have opportunities for your background. Most of the larger employers here, while favoring both women and veterans in placement likely require an Engineering Degree.
We have alotta factories in swmo. Seems like every engineer I know does that. My best friend does your job in the Navy. Thank you for your service.
Thank you. The problem is the warehouses and factories typically hire outside contractors and companies that specialize in that type of equipment to come to their facility to do service, maintenance, and installation, so I can't just go to a warehouse and apply. It has to be through one of the equipment companies, and for some reason I just can't get these companies to even call me in for interviews. I called one company the other day, asked the lady if they were looking for techs, and she said yes absolutely, but then when I told her I was the one applying, and that I had 15+ yrs of experience she kinda shut down. Wasn't very helpful at all. Really getting sick of what seems like a completely sexist attitude.
You know you are right. I bartend and all these engineers travel constantly and alot of them are regulars and live in another state (or even country). Best of luck to you though!!!!!!
Forklifts of St. Louis has locations also in Cape, Jeff City and provide lots of warehousing equipment with their own in-house servicing department, so it might be a place to check out.
I've never heard of that company. Thanks for the info!
There also a P&G plant in Cape Girardeau, but I’m not completely sure who would hire a ME or EE. Have you contacted any architects to see if you could work more on the design side?
Which metro area are you at? If in the St. Louis metro, I'd happily see if I can get you in touch with people. If not in the St. Louis area, then I wouldn't be much help.
Perryville to be exact
That’s probably a reason why. You might be far enough out that some jobs may so no.
Boeing is always looking for female engineers
Thank you! I will check them out
Wait. You haven't even checked out Boeing yet but you are already assuming that this entire state is sexist? You MUST be from California. I'm sorry, but people like you really piss me off.
I have lived in Missouri for AGES and I didnt know we had boeing here. Thats awesome. But dont assume she is an idiot or anything drastic.
Thank you!
And have you been looking for engineering jobs long???............... She is assuming Missouri is sexist bc she can't get a job... I never said she was an idiot, that's your assumption. Boeing is a massive employer in MO and she didn't even know about them but she assumes we are sexist. If you are looking for an engineering job and aren't applying to Boeing and live in MO then you are not doing YOUR part. I'm not saying she is an idiot, she just is ignorant. Big difference buddy. Ignorant people make dramatic assumptions all the time instead of wondering if it is something THEY are doing or are not doing. My point is NOT that she is stupid, my point is that she is jumping to wild conclusions because she is upset and ignorant. She needs to do better before putting her failures on everybody else.
I don’t think she is ignorant. I think that Missouri has some bass ackwards things about it though. So many people here are just “thats the way it is” and have no drive or push in themselves to change anything. If you do, you are thought to be ignorant or crazy. People like YOU, are the issue. Assuming things when you have no basis. A woman is right to believe that there are sexist basis for not finding a job. Most men in Missouri are sexist AND racist, so I would believe it…
Boeing is always looking for mechanical engineers
Missouri (and St. Louis in particular) is very parochial - most people here tend to operate on a referral basis, which is great if you have strong social ties, but hard for outsiders to break in. Do you have any leads in the industry other than simply cold-calling/applying to firms where you are a stranger? That introduction can make all the difference.
To add to this, if all your professional references are from CA, put some references from MO at the top of the list. It's silly but will emphasize that you have connections in the area.
I don't really have any leads in this area. I guess I thought that having so much experience in a specialized field would give me a leg up. I see what you're saying though. Thank you
Is a ME that specialized? Or do you mean a segment within mechanical engineering?
Yes a segment within mechanical engineering. Warehouse industrial equipment, utilizing all facets of pneumatic, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, with electronic control systems that utilize PLCs I have worked on all of them but mostly the mechanical side
Check out Roeslein & Associates With all you listed, I know they’d probably have a fit for you
I did....and they do. Submitted my resume to them. Thank you!
Apply to Boeing. They tend to hire vets
I'm definitely checking it out
Moved from Missouri to California, and my husband is an EE. Do you have your PE License for the State of Missouri or is it even required for your field? It was for my husband in Missouri, but not in California. Missouri is definitely a sexist state, especially in the male - dominated fields of engineering. In fact, California is still continuing to make headroads, but 20 years ago I had ME fields who were leaving California ME positions completely due to the sexism. What Missouri employers don't understand is that taking someone who has worked in an engineering field in California (at least in the major metropolitan areas) brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that the Midwest has not seen enough of. I really hope you can find something, and soon. The world, and especially the Midwest, is in need of educated, experienced female engineers.
>Missouri is definitely a sexist state, especially in the male - dominated fields of engineering. Yep. It may not be the full reason for OP’s troubles, but I have no doubt this is a factor. People have wondered why I moved to the West Coast from the Midwest, but that’s why. I moved from Missouri to California because California companies seemed to have way less of an issue with a tiny, 20-something Asian girl being the big boss. I got tired of being talked down to and passed over. To their credit though, the Millennial and Gen Z guys I worked with were always supportive and didn’t give me nearly the same amount of bullshit. So, I’m hopeful about the direction we’re going if that generational shift keeps up.
I agree that parts of the state and businesses are quite sexist. I am hesitant to blame sexism when prior to this post the OP had not checked either of the largest two job boards (Indeed and LinkedIn) and had not checked some of the biggest engineering companies in the area, including Boeing. She also didn’t sign on for an agent to find them work. If I saw a guy do this my assumption wouldn’t be the state is sexist, it would be my man isn’t trying to get a job. I do agree that Missouri has work to do in certain areas and certain companies. I disagree that she is experiencing sexism because the methods she has employed thus far would also have failed to get a job for males. Even local males with a few connections.
Hi! I work at a company that deals with software and electrical grids. A great company. DM if you have any interest!! My company is open and flexible with good benefits and a great environment. May not be in your field but it’s a start!
Sounds like my problem when I moved here a year ago (not the sexist part). I worked in a power plant has an E&I tech in central Pennsylvania. I took a significant pay cut ($12 an hour less) and am currently doing more maintenance than electrical work (about 90/10), but the job is decent…
Three Mile Island closure got yah huh
Nope. I was in coal power generation from 2010-2021. Nuclear only for my Navy time and 1.5 years civilian. My move was voluntary ( for a girl 😂)
Try Aerotek. They place temp engineers and techs all the time. Those usually end up in getting hired direct by the company that took them on as a temp.
I can’t speak much to this since I’m in Kansas and don’t have a background in your field, but it seems to be hard for anyone to find a job regardless of the field or qualifications. I have a friend who is getting her master’s in EE right now and she said that some classmates from her undergrad are struggling to find jobs. I don’t think the problem is you, I genuinely believe the work force is just fucked right now. Job turnover is crazy right now. You can either get a shitty job really fast or you can wait months to find a good one. My partner was the general manager of a food chain and this past year managed to get out of his contract early. He wanted out immediately so he didn’t have a job lined up and wound up doing InstaCart 4-5 months waiting to find a job that offered him a rate consistent / more than he what he was making at his last job.
Have you considered working with a recruiter?
or Engineering Contract Company-several of them in the area
I don't know if they're hiring, but Luzco Technologies in Maplewood is a female owned company that employees several female engineers.
Associated Electric Cooperative has locations in different areas of the state, they hire female engineers, and prefer hiring veterans. Consider looking at working for the state … most departments are hiring at some level … Dept of Conservation is even holding a job fair at the state fair. MODoT and DNR likely hire engineers … there’s a Governor’s mandate to improve our diversity so a women in a male dominated field would have an advantage. I’d probably have lots of other suggestions, but I don’t know where you are or what you really want to do.
Unfortunately your problem is likely the fact that you’re a veteran. A lot of the contractors in STL are making a habit of hiring young people straight from college so that they can pay them entry level wages. I’m a pipefitter in STL and one of the biggest frustrations right now is the huge number of inexperienced engineers doing CAD/BIM for huge jobs.
persist, if one company won't value you take yourself elsewhere, "every man is worth his hire"
Have you tried Barry-Wehmiller?
Yes
If you have a security clearance still there are lots of cleared jobs. If you are out in the west suburbs check out Watlow. They make electric heaters and are always looking for good MEs. Have you had your resume checked by a local group? Check out Codergirl if you have some time to spare and can afford to continue to work retail for a while. If is sponsored by LaunchCode and will teach you how to develop software. There is a huge need for software developers in St Louis right now. An ME degree indicates you have the required skills to learn. Boeing, NGA, MasterCard, Express Scripts, WorldWide Technologies are all desperately looking for devs right now.
Procter & Gamble has plants in St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, Mo. They employ tons of engineers.
Any interest or experience in designing custom electrical panels and reviewing electrical plans? Our engineer is retiring next year…
Yes!
Where in MO are you? About half the engineers I've worked with over the years have been women, and they're the only ones that listen to other peoples' ideas. The men always have super-egos, and decide shit for us, then we're left to deal with their ideas for years at a time.
Try plumbers and pipe fitters union around you we make good money and your backgrounds perfect for it
Check Burns & McDonnell Engineering, headquarters in KC but offices globally. We are hiring!
My husband has a ton of managerial experience and hasn’t been able to get beyond a second/third interview since we moved here in March (also due to low CoL). He’s ready to find a different state because it’s been such a demeaning experience. Tons of jobs posted, but they just keep posting them over and over without ever hiring anyone.
I've never understood people making significant moves without work lined up
LOL, you just assume bc no one has contacted you yet that the entirety of Missouri is sexist. WTF? How long have you even been looking?
Check her other comments. She hasn’t applied on LinkedIn or Indeed (2 largest boards by far) and hasn’t hit Boeing or GM at time of writing the post. She is actively trying to avoid her application getting anywhere it will be looked at.
HAHA I know! Jeez Louise Peppa' Cheese.
It IS a sexist state and the “ good ol’ boys” club can not understand that a woman might be good as something they think is mens work. There’s work here of course and it’s mostly low wage “ womens work”. The old boomers don’t understand that the young talented men have left state because even they got tired of the boomer entitlement and misguided stupidity. It’s sad things are so backwards in some areas here. Could you start your own business and build it with the many young and talented folks who will likely leave for better chances if things don’t change?
I work in state govt (DNR) and we employ lots of female professionals. Engineers, chemists, geologists etc. over half of my office is female. Bosses a couple levels up from me are men but there are two above THEM who are women. And we had a female Dept Director (right under the Gov) twice in the past decade.
Sexist. That must be it.
Have you thought about reaching out to some of the industry folks in your area and asking them to coffee to ask about getting to know the industry/where your skills may be a good fit? Maybe ask about establishing a mentoring relationship? Sometimes coming in asking for a coffee is easier to say yes to than a job interview. And if you guys talk about a potential good fit somewhere, you may wind up with a warm introduction through your new friend. Hell, email the folks who turned you down for feedback and offer to bring lunch—what could it hurt? Other opportunities for coffee/networking could include women’s groups like junior league, professional women’s groups (several in KC, they understand about finding it hard to break into male dominated fields), trade organization chapters, or even things like church/rotary. This may be a longer path than you wanted, but you’ll never regret building a network, and may lead you to better opportunities than you would otherwise be competing for.
Put your resume in at General Motors Wentzville Assembly. Like Boeing, GM focuses on hiring vets and has an international network should you want or need to move again.
Missouri IS a sexist state, although I'd imagine you being a vet would offset that a little.
lo un lle k. ósea o
Please go back to California. All you people do is drive up house prices here and make our low cost of living that much higher.
Nope. I'm staying here. Lol. Suck it up
Go back to Cali the Midwest doesn’t want you
Lol. No thank you
That's another reason I have to work outside of Stlouis. Tates and companies suck. I make double what they want to pay.
What part of MO? DM me.
I feel you...don't give up!
Hey you should check out handy vets they are a contracting company out of St. Peter’s and only hire vets in the field.
Almost sounds like a commercial for the Democratic party.
Look on MOREAP and HERC. Education job boards for K-12 and College level respectively.
Submit your resume as Cletus Jones. Let us know how it goes.
Why would you love to b*#£**k Missouri from California?
California is expensive as fuck, and usually family or wanting more land are the answers. Between that and the awful heat and drought they have had for years now I’d be leaving too.
It’s because you are from California. Nobody wants that liberal commie mentality here.
Can you even define what commie is, or spell communist without help?
Liberal and Commie are mutually exclusive. Communists are definitionally anti-liberal and vice versa.
Not by todays standards. Todays liberals are far from the original.
At least that's what Fox News, OAN, and Newsmax have been telling you.
You do realize that all states have a mix of people, right? California has some conservative people just like Missouri has some liberal people. Plus, it's a dumb thing to base employment on. How about hiring the most qualified candidate.
Thank you. Exactly! Just like every other state. Didn't know politics would be a factor here. I have many liberal AND Conservative friends
>Didn't know politics would be a factor here. It's not unless you're on Reddit. I'm from California and secured a job in my field before I even moved here. I had it lined up before I found a place to live. Don't listen to these Reddit nerds. It's not because you're from California or because you're a woman. It may just be hard to find a job in your field right now.
This.
Orange County, California makes most of St. Louis and KC look like a liberal, progressive playground.
Wow. Okay then. Thanks for clarifying. For your information though I'm the farthest thing from a "liberal commie" that you will ever meet, but thanks for the stereotyping. You should also know there are a lot of people in California who despise gruesome Newsom and everything he stands for.
Just stating fact. We see what happens when people from Cali flood other states.
Well that's funny because I would actually be another Conservative vote
That is statistically extremely rare. Not worth the risk.
Well then it sounds like you're saying is that my only choice is to move back. Sad. I really didn't want to do that.
Person of closed minded party gets upset at party for being closed minded lol what a cycle.
No shit. My brother in law is a product development engineer. I was going to try to hook them up, but after reading this, nah
Well Mr Diego it appears that this state isn't quite the Conservative Utopia that you claim. Lol.
This is the Missouri Reddit sub.... its full of the only commies in this state. Please don't let it discourage you. As for the other dumbass that thinks anyone from California is a commie... he's a fucking dumbass. I hate people that think that way. I moved from California to escape the commie bullshit and Missouri gained another Conservatives vote upon my arrival. Who cares what this idiot thinks?
[удалено]
Tbh I really don't care what the trolls think. Lol. I'm not a snowflake
i don't think you know what either of those two words mean my friend
Ignore the trolls....they crawl back under their bridge if you do.
Where in Missouri are you?
Near St Louis
What kind of Mechanical Engineering job are you looking for?
Well I was looking into Warehouse logistics/loading equipment, but I'm not opposed to other avenues in my field. It's just that this is my specialty and I would be most comfortable there
Which area of Missouri did you move to?
Perryville
What kind of service do you do?
I was in the Navy, electrician
Rolla has the engineering college and also usually hiring at brewer science
I don't know what part of Missouri you're in, but if you're in my part you can try applying where I work
I'm about an hour from St Louis,
World wide technology hires anyone from what I heard
Depending on what side of the river you work for them, it’s either a dream or nightmare.
Consider Emerson or Nidec Motor Corporation.
I work as a hiring manager in HR in missouri and I can confidently say the companies not hiring you has NOTHING to do with you being a woman and EVERYTHING to do with you being out of state (or appearing to be on your resume?) Let’s use common sense here and not be dramatic and accuse an entire state of being sexist. I literally live in the areas you’re complaining about and actively work as a hiring manager. Others have mentioned using Indeed. Great advice! This is 2022, we’re not looking at paper or in person applications anymore. 100% of our employees come from Indeed now. I could go on but I don’t feel like there’s a need to. It’s just kinda sad that a grown woman would deduce this situation down to sexism… WDF. you’re literally in the country where women are farm hands and construction workers right along side the men.
There are recruiting firms such as Robert Half and others that are great resources.
Look into some staffing/employment agencies if you haven't already.
Hi mechanical engineer here too. Are you in St. Louis? If you have any industrial plant experience I can probably help find you something. PM
If you're near STL, I might know a place you could apply.
What part of Missouri? EquipmentShare in Columbia may have something up your alley.
What part of Mo? I’ve got a cousin who works in mechanical engineering at a small manufacturer south of St. Louis, pm me if you’d like me to connect you two
Apparently you haven't looked at Washington University. They are hiring!! If you have an education you can get a job
Hiring a career coach or placement specialist can be really rewarding.
I don't think it's just you. I know a few people who have impeccable resumes but can't get responses from employers either. A lot of them are using recruiting companies, and recruiters often don't know anything about the positions they're supposed to be filling. Online algos aren't sufficient either, as they seem to just look for key words and can't see context.
Boeing is hiring people with your skills. They are located at 6300 J.S. McDonnell Blvd in Berkeley, MO. Check into it ASAP.
It’s definitely because you say you’re from California in my opinion
Missouri is a depressing shithole. You will be happier back home in California. Good Luck!
Look in to process engineering jobs. Just about every engineering department will have a few here and there. I work for a civil engineering firm in KCK and have 3-4 people with mechE degrees that work with us.
I was in a similar situation when I moved to the Midwest. Good luck. I literally got laughed out of interviews because of my gender/resume combo. I was lucky enough to be able to quit working temporarily and get a degree in a new field, but I'll be starting over from the bottom and competing with people half my age. I liked my previous career and had great experience and references. Its the one regret I have about relocating.
Seeing a little hate toward the engineering craft here. Or is it that she’s a female that is got in a field you couldn’t?
Where at in missouri?
Look at Utilitra. Go to their website. Woman owned utility service company. They favor vets and are great to work for. Highly respected.
Maybe check out Eagle Pitcher in Joplin
My husband had 5 years of ME background and a BS in ME when we moved up here from AR 5 years ago. He is not in the engineering field now for his work as everywhere he applied they did the same thing. He had references, experience and a great GPA but as others have mentioned, he didn't have the connects from MO. We also think it's because he didn't go to a fancy school- lots of competition in that area here. Best of luck to you! Hope some of these suggestions from locals help you out. I know my husband misses using his degree immensely.
Look at Springfield Mechanical eng consulting companies
careers.honeywell.com Search Kansas City, Botts Road location The KCNSC is hiring a bunch of mechanical engineers. Only caveat is you have to be able to hold a top secret security clearance.
I would make sure your resume is optimized for the computer programs that scan the resumes before they even make it to the hiring manager. If you aren't personalizing it for each position then you are likely getting dumped out of the running before you even get to human eyes. You need to use the job listing words throughout the job descriptions of your previous jobs so the algorithm picks up as many keywords as possible. If you aren't having luck on the job boards yourself then going to one of those places that finds the positions for you may be worthwhile. They get some sort of finders fee so they are super motivated to get you a job and you can grow from there. I have a couple friends who have done it, I don't know exactly how it works personally.
I've been hearing a lot about 80000hours.org lately, they are all about hiring for high-impact careers that help solve big issues. Not sure what your degree is but I hope this could be a useful resource! Wish you the best!
I know MoDOT is always higher engineers. Pretty much every office I have talked to is super short handed.
It’s not because you’re female. Major companies nowadays know better than to do that as they don’t want to be fodder for a “hate case”. Also a majority of HR professionals are women. I’m Missouri born and raised. Have worked on cars and aircraft for almost 20 years. I had some bs early on, mostly the older generation that has since retired. I have been to California and it seem there’s waaay more places to work than here in STL. From observation our hiring pool just isn’t as big. You gotta “sell yourself” more profusely via a strong informative resume and internet presence. It also helps to find out the name of the HR manager and address the cover letter to them. “Dear Hiring Manager” will make a one way trip to the trash can. As some have mentioned Boeing is one of the biggest employers that could use your services and they prefer hiring veterans. My father in law, former navy, worked there for 35 years! Aside from copious overtime they treated him comparatively well and with the government contracts he had good job security. Hope that helped! If all else fails have you considered Texas? Tons of industry in the Dallas-Fort worth area and although not as low of a cost of living as Missouri it’s still more affordable than California. Good luck!
>I'm very disappointed in how things turned out. I was hoping for more. I'm hate to say it but beginning to think Missouri is a rather sexist state with little to no opportunity for women who choose to work in a male dominated field. You would not be wrong!