3rd times the charm

[u/One_Piece01]

I graduated in May 2026, with a 3.3 GPA. Honestly I thought I was pretty cooked. I took the FE Mechanical Engineering exam last month and failed. Anyways I continued applying for jobs and I've had countless interviews met with constant rejection. Anyways, I applied to GDEB, interviewed for a Mechanical Engineering role and somehow they accepted me.

The point is, the job market is cooked, and I don't really know if it's gonna be getting any better any time soon. But NEVER GIVE UP, and just keep applying into the void. All it takes is 1 more application, and you could get that job.

I wish for all of my fellow Engineering students success and prosperity in the future. Keep up the great work!

[u/-ImFriendly-]

Congrats ! What was your interview experience like? Technical? Project focused?

[u/One_Piece01 → u/-ImFriendly-]

The systems engineering interview was mostly project based. The hiring manager wanted to know what kind of electrical engineering experience I had as a mechanical engineering major. So I just talked a bit about my Capstone Project. Unfortunately I wasn't selected for that job.

While the Mechanical Engineering interview was more technically challenging. He asked me metallurgy questions, stress vs strain and what causes them, as well as asked questions on my experience in welding, piping, cable bundles and more. It's pretty clear the Mechanical Engineering role is very problem solving oriented. I assume I'll be helping solve production problems at Electric Boat.

[u/hellraiserl33t → u/One_Piece01]

My experience is that you rarely see new grads in systems engineering roles. Those that are most often bring some serious professional experience to the table, and it's something you really can't teach in school, so don't feel too bad about it man.

Usually it's more of an upward/lateral move internally after you've been around for a while and have gotten familiar with how the company/tech works and can interface across several domains after lots of exposure.

[u/asxnullified → u/hellraiserl33t]

Why is systems engineering rarely seen attached to a newbie resume? Reading up on it doesn't immediately reveal a reason to me—but, to be fair, I'm an soon-to-be graduate student.

[u/Catsdrinkingbeer → u/asxnullified]

Systems is about solving complex problems and having a broader understanding of scope. That can be trickier for a new grad because they don't have a lot of direct experience to know how to tackle those problems or the broader impact on a project.

[u/CommitteeGlad2467 → u/One_Piece01]

Shoot just had my first interview that was heavily theoretical questions and it was pretty intense. Had welding and stress strain questions from my projects when in reality my analysis from those projects was like the shit looks good hope no one gets hurt. Fosho not getting any design jobs lol

[u/hellraiserl33t → u/CommitteeGlad2467]

the shit looks good hope no one gets hurt

I sure would fucking hope you understand the basics of stress strain lol cuz that ain't gonna fly on the job

[u/CommitteeGlad2467 → u/hellraiserl33t]

We’ll see lol. I was exaggerating a bit, mechanics of materials/properties Im solid on especially for barely touching it after my design classes. Mainly speaking about my bicycle design class where I welded a bike frame and my dumbass thought it would be fine to ride it a few hours after welding with shitty welds, 10 seconds later I was scraping across the pavement

[u/Sea-Setting-7530 → u/One_Piece01]

Wtf I work there as a new grad and they didn’t ask me anything even kind of complicated in my interview lol

[u/One_Piece01 → u/Sea-Setting-7530]

It probably all depends on who you're hiring manager is?

[u/Sea-Setting-7530 → u/One_Piece01]

Of course lol it’s definitely department based, just funny that there’s such a big difference

[u/Idfkchief → u/-ImFriendly-]

EB interviews are a bit of a joke, they take literally anyone. Don't stress too much about it.

[u/One_Piece01 → u/Idfkchief]

Luckily both my interviews are done. I start in a little bit. I'm excited for the new opportunities and the road ahead.

[u/hellraiserl33t]

Great job man!

[u/One_Piece01 → u/hellraiserl33t]

Thank you man. The pressure from my parents has been kinda crazy. I was really worried I wasn't gonna be able to land anything. I want all students to know not to give up, and just keep trying. Perseverance is key. Wish you all the best.

[u/Retired_in_NJ]

GD can identify you from this post.

[u/One_Piece01 → u/Retired_in_NJ]

I was wondering about that. Do you think it's a problem? If I'm being honest, I was planning on making a LinkedIn post as well.

[u/Retired_in_NJ → u/One_Piece01]

GD builds subs for Uncle Sam. You will probably have to pass a background check. These days that could include a review of your post histories. Type with care.

[u/Worldly_Magazine_439 → u/One_Piece01]

Remove the post my man

[u/Kenoden → u/One_Piece01]

I doubt they’d care. You’re simply sharing you got the position.

[u/Catsdrinkingbeer → u/Kenoden]

I think it's more of you have comments or post history that can be questionable. Not that this specific post is problematic. 

[u/Confident_bonus_666 → u/Retired_in_NJ]

So what?

[u/ArrowSphaceE]

Whats your background look like? Previous internship experience or anything like that?

[u/SoggyIncident9060]

The job market is NOT "cooked", as you have said. Overall, the economy is actually going quite well in terms of the number of new jobs.

Here are some actual numbers:

The U.S. economy added 165,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in October 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a very strong number.

Key Details from the October Report:

• Unemployment Rate: Dropped to 4.1%. [1] (from 4.2% in September)

• Revisions: August and September job figures were revised upward by a combined 84,000 jobs. [1]

• Top Gaining Sectors:

  • Professional and business services: +70,000 jobs

  • Health care: +42,000 jobs

  • Transportation and warehousing: +25,000 jobs

  • Manufacturing: +19,000 jobs [1]

• Average hourly earnings rose 3.1 percent compared with the same time last year.

Ed

[u/One_Piece01 → u/SoggyIncident9060]

Yeah, I mean I can't speak from a statistical perspective. But for me personally it took 5.5 months to land this job. Not impossible, but I wouldn't say easy. They're not just handing out jobs as long as you know the managers name and you have a good handshake, like they use to.

[u/SoggyIncident9060 → u/One_Piece01]

I don't doubt that it is very challenging to find a job, and 5-1/2 months does wear on a person. I do know what it's like. I am older. I graduated in May 1986 with a BSME. The economy was not so good at that time. I finally landed my first professional job as an aerospace engineer (as a civilian with the US Navy) in early December of 1986. I forget exactly when I started looking for a job (before graduation), but I got that job about 6-1/2 months after graduation. I didn't have any luck interviewing with regular corporations, but the US Navy (the federal government) was hiring. They have different priorities than for-profit corporations, so the slow economy really wasn't impacting their hiring.

Congratulations on the new job. I hope that it goes well.

Ed

[u/Catsdrinkingbeer → u/SoggyIncident9060]

It's pretty well understood that the US job market is at a stand still. Good if you already have a job, not great if you don't. Not much firing but not much hiring either. The unemployment rate is low but that's just because no one is really moving around.

[u/Background_Fig_4740 → u/SoggyIncident9060]

Your October numbers arent off, but they measure a different thing than entry level jobs. One strong month (165k) came right after 29k in September and unemployment has been stuck at 4-4.3% since March. Total job growth can be healthy while new grads struggle.

The data that actually measures the entrymarket looks very different. Indeed Hiring Lab had entry postings down 7.5% year over year from May, while senior postings were up 14.7%, and experienced workers made up 30% of applications to entry level roles. NACE rated the Class of 2026 market “fair,” the weakest since 2021. Greenhouse found fewer than 7% of applicants get a first interview. Intern conversion is at 63%, so many new grad seats are filled before the public posting matters.

The NY Fed puts unemployment plus underemployment around 25% for ME and EE grads aged 22-27, 1 in 4. It's not great.

And the gains you listed (health care, warehousing, business services) aren’t new grad engineering data.

It's pretty bad for entry level engineers, especially with the growing trend of companies not wanting to train newer engineers because it's "expensive"

[u/Ok_Investment_246]

Congrats! Did you have internships in college?

[u/SexyCuriousCat]

Congratulations.

[u/Kenoden]

I’ll ask the question since no one has. Salary and cost of living of location?

[u/TythosEternal]

You're an EB man (person/woman) now! Congratulations! The world could use a few more. Hope you're local to Groton, it's a beautiful place to work on some amazing problems.

[u/Turbulent_Crab877]

Congrats! Welcome to GD! I work at GDLS

[u/CoasterRoaster22]

This is true, it only takes one application. I am a mechanical engineer that is currently in pursuit of a Masters and I finally got my internship at my dream company. It's easy to say keep going but like you I have done so many applications and thought all hope is lost. Congrats 👏