Project ideas and rambling thoughts

[MacLaddy]

As a newly graduated mechanical engineer, I am searching for employment opportunities in my hometown region of the Pacific Northwest. However, as this area becomes more of a trendy hotspot, more & more people are moving here as an alternative to the high-priced lifestyle in California. Unfortunately for me, they are also bringing their Ph.D.'s, Master degrees, and years of experience along with them. They are saturating the market, and it leaves little room for entry level opportunities.

In my mind, the solution for this is only to advance myself further. Not in education, as I am already "too old" to continue with that (at least for now), but with projects that I can showcase. So my questions that I present to the wisdom of Physics Forums is twofold.

First: What types of projects can help me in my endeavors. I own a small FDM 3D Printer, but I don't think presenting a gimmicky-gadget would be very useful. I have considered building a small single seater sandrail from the ground up, but my resources are fairly limited. I've also thought about building a small robot. Something simple, but with considerable automation.

Second: How useful is a project when all I'm really doing is following along with what has already been done? Take, for example, the video below. I want to build this robot, but is there really any value to it? I feel like I need to break new ground for it to be of any use. Not just follow along with what someone else has done. The problem is that I don't really know how to break new ground...not yet, anyway.

Thoughts? Opinions? I am employed with a good job and I know that an opportunity will eventually arise with my continued persistence...but I'm getting bored. Figure I might as well be doing something interesting.

Mac

 

[Evanish]

I don't know if this is helpful, or at all what you're looking for, but here is a random project idea. I've seen videos on YouTube where people use styrofoam for metal casting. Here is one example.

One interesting project you might do is come up with a way to 3D print a replacement for the styrofaom in the above process.

 

[tygerdawg]

Don't sell yourself short. Companies may be quite willing to hire an entry-level person because they are less expensive. AND they usually don't bring toxic baggage and high expectations that more seasoned candidates sometimes (most of the time?) do. So the entry-level person can be more easily "trained" and "adapted" into the particular company's needs and culture.

You also should recognize that an engineering degree is very transportable because you have become a TPS...a Trained Problem Solver. Lucky for you, there are lots of companies with lots of problems to be solved. Go see the world and gain experience while you do it. You might discover that the Universe does not rotate around the Pacific Northwest. You can always return.

The last comment: innovation & unique ideas are really cool, fun, thrilling, challenging. I've been chasing those things also over the last 30 years. But I think the odds are the same for the population of high school basketball players reaching the NBA. What I have found is that the person who figures out a way to do the common, mundane tasks better than everyone else is the person who will be successful because the orders will keep flowing in. There are plenty of case histories of blue-collar millionaires doing mundane, unglamorous things and making a fortune from it.

 

[Mech_Engineer]

In my mind, the solution for this is only to advance myself further.

It kind of goes unsaid in your post, but have you considered relocating for your first engineering job? Limiting your geographical search to your "hometown region of the Pacific Northwest" also limits the opportunities...

 

[MacLaddy]

I don't know if this is helpful, or at all what you're looking for, but here is a random project idea. I've seen videos on YouTube where people use styrofoam for metal casting. Here is one example.
One interesting project you might do is come up with a way to 3D print a replacement for the styrofaom in the above process.

That's a fun idea, and one that I've considered doing. I believe I could do a method called "Lost PLA," where you allow the plastic to melt out of the mold before casting. My concern is that I live in a condo complex. I don't think they like fire very much.

 

[MacLaddy]

Don't sell yourself short. Companies may be quite willing to hire an entry-level person because they are less expensive. AND they usually don't bring toxic baggage and high expectations that more seasoned candidates sometimes (most of the time?) do. So the entry-level person can be more easily "trained" and "adapted" into the particular company's needs and culture.

You also should recognize that an engineering degree is very transportable because you have become a TPS...a Trained Problem Solver. Lucky for you, there are lots of companies with lots of problems to be solved. Go see the world and gain experience while you do it. You might discover that the Universe does not rotate around the Pacific Northwest. You can always return.

The last comment: innovation & unique ideas are really cool, fun, thrilling, challenging. I've been chasing those things also over the last 30 years. But I think the odds are the same for the population of high school basketball players reaching the NBA. What I have found is that the person who figures out a way to do the common, mundane tasks better than everyone else is the person who will be successful because the orders will keep flowing in. There are plenty of case histories of blue-collar millionaires doing mundane, unglamorous things and making a fortune from it.

Honestly, I think you hit the nail on the head with your post and I think it perfectly describes my situation. While I am an entry-level mechanical engineer, I am not an entry level employee. At 39, I graduated a bit later in life than most, plus I have years of facilities maintenance and management experience. I've found that this experience actually hurts me in many capacities more than it helps, and I suspect it is because of the "baggage" concept you discussed.

I like your NBA analogy, although it is a bit disheartening. I think most of us become an engineer to be a part of the next big thing, but reality quickly settles in.

It kind of goes unsaid in your post, but have you considered relocating for your first engineering job? Limiting your geographical search to your "hometown region of the Pacific Northwest" also limits the opportunities...

I've considered it, but it isn't quite as simple as just relocating. As I mentioned above, I am a bit of an old-fogie for a graduate. I would have to relocate my family as well, including pulling my kids out of school. I'm actually from the Salt Lake City area and I relocated up here to finish my degree, so this isn't my original hometown.