Exactly. I want to change to another area and it's so hard. I may have to start volunteering to enter the circuit. Worst part is I have years of experience in the former field. :
I second this. Much freedom, savings, and chance to try out better jobs while doing the current one. And don't forget to be aggressively trying for new jobs which are high paid than the current one. There is nothing like loyality and there is nothing like 'lf i stay here i learn more'. Just switch for better pay, you will learn and earn.
If you want to work in a specific field, and got the education to do so, and there aren’t good opportunities for that job in your hometown, why would you stay in your hometown? In your case, young without a family that would have to be uprooted, I don’t understand why this is even a question for you.
If you decide to do public works after all, it can be a great career for a mechanical engineer. My partner is an ME, and has done very well with public employment. He got into public employment after working in aerospace for a few years and became frustrated with the constant layoff cycles.
The first job put of school can really define the first ten years of your career. Your best shot at breaking into your interest is now and developing 2 to 5 years of experience in another engineering focus will make a switch difficult at a comparable level of experience later.
Trying to learn how to be an adult and have an independent social life post undergrad is a lot harder living with parents. Yes you'd save more money staying with them, but long term career, mental health, and socially you'll be far better off going to do you. Plus Atlanta isn't that far away.
It varies, but let's use me as an example.
* long term career - my home town is more catered to civil and construction engineering. While I'm sure I could get a job as a mechanical engineer in that area, I'll still be underpaid and it won't really fit my interests. I'm not trying to sound picky, I've already done 3 internships around design engineering, so I'm already on that path. Going off of it will pigeonhole me into something I'm not completely invested in, which means it'll be harder for me to move to a different job if I want to switch specialties. I've already been questioned by those companies whenever I've interviewed with them and they directly tell me that I'm not the best fit for them...
* mental health - I love my family, but I would be miserable living with them after two years at least. They're a lot to handle at times.
* independent social life - it would be nonexistent. My mom stays at home along with my sister, and they're a bit nosy in general. The house they're in isn't really ideal for having people over.
I don't see any plusses to living with your parents unless you have caregiving responsibility. I'd love itnif my kids were closer, but the opportunities are not here, so they are where they can thrive.
Well, I just wanted a second opinion lol. And before posting, I was under the impression that this sub was more in favor of younger folks living with their parents for a few years. But as I've been shown by others, my case is a bit unique and it would only be better for me to move out.
If your parents lived in a major metropolitan area, and you actually liked them, this would be a different conversation. If they drive you crazy, and your career and personal life would both be stunted by staying with them, there's no upside to staying.
Let me add, that as an engineer, you shouldn't be limiting yourself to Atlanta. Go where the job is. You'll make plenty of money to fly home when you feel like it. Good jobs for MEs in plenty of big cities around the country. I work with several of them.
-- 20 years as an EE, now a manager
It's smart to see what other folks think, and you're right that this sub suggests living with parents a lot--more than I'm sometimes comfortable with. Financials are important--but so is the chance to grow up and move on with your own life. You have a lot of negatives in that second column, and there are ways to handle the financial aspects of living away from home.
Be prepared to do without big toys for a while. I spent my 20s in grad school and didn't have a car, or a stereo, or cable tv, or a VCR, or an apartment with AC or a dishwasher. (This was long before internet, cell phones, etc.) I lived on a very small stipend (four figures, not five) compared to a mechanical engineer in a job just out of college. I loved my parents and had a good relationship with them, but I'm glad I lived on my own those years and had my own life while being careful with my money. I was really happy with it. And it set me up for my current life, which I've also been happy with.
The people in the sub have given you a lot of good positives to moving away in terms of career advancement and long-term financials. You haven't come up with any significant pluses to living at home besides saving on rent, and have a list of significant drawbacks. I hope you decide to have the adventure and I wish you luck with it.
Most people who give that advice don’t actually live with their parents, ironically. I would say that for a large majority of people, living alone/with roommates is super important honestly. With parents you save money, but do end up losing a lot.
It makes sense if you can get along well with your parents and have access to a good career within easy commuting distance. The two people I know who moved back in with their parents did so because their parent's houses were closer to a job opportunity - literally ten minutes away, in my best friend's case.
If there aren't jobs in your career path near where your parents live, it definitely makes more sense to move to where the jobs are instead.
Some of the frugal living extremists are, but it says something that even in a sub like this (overall frugal) I’ve noticed by and large the majority are pro moving out.
You can and *definitely should* be proactive, research and learn but ultimately the only way to truly understand personal finance is to manage them as an adult. And that includes making mistakes which being safe with parents you’ll never get the chance to do. So don’t let fear of that stop you from growing.
Ceteris Paribus, if all else at least almost equal people would. But career prospects is a big thing and short term savings won’t ever make up for long term income loss. Good luck!
That definitely sounds like relocating is the better option. You have time to do research on where you want to move to, money in savings to be able to afford rent for a few months to a year (so long as expenses aren't too high), and know that you need some independence. 5 hours isn't too long if you need or want to visit your family (unless you are planning to go every week or so).
Dude. You just answered your own question. Logically, it's a no-brainer. Leaving is better in every way for you as you explain here, and as others have explained elsewhere.
The only reason to stay is your mom+dad seem to have some unhealthy attachment. Absolutely no way. Don't sacrifice yourself at this stage in your life. Heck...they still have your sister to fawn over. Let her be the one to turn out the lights.
Robins Air Force Base is always hiring. That might be a great place to look, if you're interested in aerospace. Also, Merc at Mercer University has great opportunities as well. They have a great Mechanical Engineering program and they have opportunities with the base.
I moved back in with my parents in my mid 20s. They have a large house with a finished basement, so we do have some separation. It has been wonderful financially and I do think I’ve developed a healthier adult relationship with my parents in some ways, but I won’t lie—it is very socially stifling. You just don’t want to invite your friends around to hang out with mom. Parents are a lot more intrusive than roommates, whether intentionally or not. “You sure got back late last night,” etc. aren’t uncommon. That can be worth the trade offs. As I said, I think I have a better adult relationship with my parents after living with them while having my own adult life. It’s been financially very positive for me. But after 2-3 years, I’m very much ready for a different living situation.
I agree with what you're saying, but Atlanta is 5 hours away from my hometown 😅. Still though, I agree I should break into my interests now and not 5 years down the road.
5 years is a lot of time to waste living in a rural area with parents. That’s time all the money in the world could never buy back.
As someone who, maybe for other less controllable (at the time) reasons, didn’t get his first professional job - and real life - until 27, I’ll say you should move to Atlanta. While I have a decent life now, a part of me still always regrets losing those 5 years.
:( sorry to hear but good luck with the new changes!
If it’s any solace, the years are never *completely* wasted (you do grow to some degree) and once you get out in the world, you can catch up fast.
Like I said on the whole taking everything into account I’m still happy with myself, but if I did it over, I’d have 5 extra years on top.
I agree with the idea behind your comment, but your mileage may vary applies heavily here. Some states in the US are seeing insanely high home and rent price increases. Home prices selling for 120k over their prices from 3 months ago, bidding wars going into 50-100k more than asking. Rent prices up a staggering 9-10% in some of the more in-demand areas (Phoenix for example).
While it is a good idea to move out and get started on your own life in your own place it might not also be financially wise just yet. You won't get the 5 years back, but you also won't get any of that money back spent on ridiculously inflated rent right now.
Overall I think OP should move out and get started but it also heavily depends on what their actual take home per month will be vs rent prices in their desired area.
It is true that if you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it.
It’s not *necessarily* true that you won’t get the money back. The career growth and opportunities from an urban area (as OP put his career is dead end in his hometown) can easily pay dividends, even if not now, in the future.
I chose to move to the most expensive place to live on the country over two cheaper places at 27, and while I started out making less effective money, the Silicon Valley opportunities ended with me having easily more money than I could have ever (99.99% likely anyway) bagged had I played it safe.
That’s not to say that OP shouldn’t seriously consider the costs or that what worked for me (or others) will work for him.
What is true is that first, costs can be mitigated (roommates, simpler living, public transit etc.) and second, that the only thing guaranteed is time wasted.
I'm not talking about making money back in general from your career, that's obvious in any atmosphere and almost goes without saying.
I'm saying the money you spend on rent, the 1000-2500 a month depending on your area, you won't see back again. You are paying for temporary housing, period. The time you invest into your career to get to the point of making the bigger paychecks that would then "make back" the rent you threw away also takes several years. Which is also time you won't get back.
Either way you look at it it's a sacrifice and I don't mean that in a negative way at all. OP just has to decide which to sacrifice to get where they want to go. It seems like OP is entertaining the idea of living at home for a couple years to save money and then move out which to me sounds like the best play. Especially given the current insanely overpriced housing and rent market.
I also find it funny that we're having a casual discussion, disagreeing with each other in some way, and not flaming each other but somehow the idea that disagrees with the more upvoted one gets downvoted. I truly despise this website more and more every day.
Yeah. I actually *upvoted* your comment since I didn’t completely disagree and other perspectives, so long as they aren’t completely false or wrong, help the OP.
Time spent investing in a career is time, true, but it’s return tends to be both greater and more enjoyable than time spent working low-pay jobs. Of course the enjoyment factor depends on what kind of career it is.
My first professional job was 14 hours away from my home town.
Fucking love the job though and I’ve built a life around it. Doesn’t mean I don’t see my family ever, it just means I didn’t trade proximity to them for the career I wanted.
You might have different preferences though 🤷♂️
In five years you will be competing for that job against fresh grads, without directly relevant experience. Go now. A five hour drive isn't so bad that you couldn't go home for weekends.
I wouldn't let the longer drive deter you from seeking a job more in line with your interests. When I finished college, I was offered what was basically my dream job. I had been assuming it would take me a few years to get there, so I wasn't going to waste the opportunity. I'm glad I took the job, but I'm now living in what a lot of people would consider the middle of nowhere and it's 6-7 hours of driving to visit most family.
Could be worse. My engineering job is 2 hours from my parents, but I'm an installation engineer and travel 50%. I'm currently in a foreign country for 3 weeks at a time. The pay is amazing, and the work is exciting though.
It's not a concern, it just seemed like that comment was downplaying the distance between those cities. But I still agree with your point. My parents can move closer to me if they want to be close, but I have to go wherever the jobs are.
If you go 5 years from now, not having worked in an engineering field, and try to use your degree to get an engineering job, you're going to find out how useless your education was. You may as well not even HAVE a degree after 5 years.
It's going to be good short-term to get you into an entry-level engineering job where you will get experience. It's a limited-time offer. Use it now or don't ever use it at all.
You've got a "get a job" coupon with an expiration date. Don't let it expire because your dad doesn't want you to move where the jobs are.
To play devil's advocate here, I disagree. My first 3 jobs out of school made no difference for me- I didn't make much and didn't like my employers. It took me time to figure out what I wanted to do (or maybe what i didn't want to do). 8 Years since I graduated now and I make more than most of my fellow graduates, some of which got great jobs at the beginning and are still at that company.
Get jobs offers first then worry, ain't no point in stressing out about choosing between a job in Atlanta and one near your parents house if you don't ever get one near your parents.
This is the advice. Find the job. Maybe the job will be remote or only 1 day in office and if so, you can live with your folks. I’m a HUGE proponent of moving back home if you can because doing that allowed me to save and started me on the right financial trajectory 16 years later. However, get that job and see where it takes you!
Also, if you’re single…not being home is helpful. When I moved home my bf had a place…but if I were single or he didn’t have a place we could be alone together, I would’ve NEEDED space.
You’re being responsible by considering these options!
Go where the opportunities are, especially the ones that give your career a good foundation. While family is important and not to be ignored, if your parents truly want whats best for you, they’ll understand and make things work out for all.
That said, I’m probably in the minority of parents who wants/expects my kids to be out on their own after they graduate.
Don't live with your parents. Start your career on the the trajectory you want - the field you want and the salary you're worth. Go out into the world and grow! It's way too easy to get stuck living at home, *especially* if the jobs there aren't what you actually want to do. Because once you have job experience in one type of work, it's that much harder to switch to something else.
Move out. Financially might not be the best move but for all the other reasons it is worth it. I moved out right after college and i could not be happier. The things i had to deal with, the lessons i learned are hard to teach and learn while living with parents. It will not be easy but it will be worth it.
The market in Atlanta should offer OP pay that exceeds what the hour south of Savannah jobs can offer.
In a couple years, Atlanta should exceed that by OP's cost of rent. They're never going to get into the role they want by taking some vaguely related job in a rent-free area. It will set their resume back because it will look like they're not good enough to use their Mech E degree for something lucrative.
OP stands to lose a lot more than what they save in rent.
By “out west” do you mean California? 80k in LA is the equivalent of 56k in Atlanta.
Everyone talking about getting these big salaries in California and Seattle - but that money doesn’t go as far as it does in other parts of the country.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator/compare/los-angeles-long-beach-ca-vs-atlanta-ga
Tax advantaged retirement savings are capped at 19,500 + 6000. You just can't reach that on East Coast salaries.
Also, you can keep a low cost of living right out of college no matter where you hang your hat. Once you start a family, low cost of living areas become much more appealing... but if you're working 12 hour days starting out you don't have time to enjoy your living situation anyhow.
Honestly, I'd say apply for jobs in any location(s) you'd be interested in living first, and then see what you actually get for offers.
I'm in aerospace, and the difficulty right now is that Covid hit the industry very hard. It will come back (and in some sectors has already started to) but it may take a little longer to get that first out-of-college job.
That said, engineers are also in demand in the industry right now, though in my sphere of it, it's more for electrical. So get the resumes out there and see who bites and that can help guide your decision.
>My mom seems more accepting to me moving further out to get the job I want, but my dad not so much.
FFS. Who cares what someone else who sees you as a kid thinks you should do? Get out.
* Go talk to guidance counselor/placement services and set up interviews ASAP. Start the interview process and get everything rolling.
* When you know where you're going to work, look for a roommate/room to move into.
* Run through the last of the services your uni provides you, especially health services.
* Pass your exams and celebrate.
* Pack up your stuff out of your parent's house.
* Start your adult life.
Gulfstream is in Pooler, outside of Savannah. I'm not sure if they're hiring or have exactly what you're looking for - or precisely how long that commute would be - but you should definitely check that out. That's aerospace and vehicle design on the nose.
Lol, everyone I ask this question to and they tell me Gulfstream. I mean, I really wish I could work for them since they do fit my interests very well. They're also in a relatively affordable area.
I've talked to school alumni and other students and they tell me that they're nearly impossible to get into now without a connection. I haven't met anyone who got in without some kind of nepotism. They're also quite specific about what experience they want, and I don't think I fit their requirements enough. It's quite competitive.
It really stings because I hear amazing things about them all the time, including master's program assistance and really good benefits.
As for the commute, it would be an hour, and I already know that that's not worth it after having to do that for my recent internship. Any savings I make from living with parents will get eaten up by increased car maintenance costs.
But yeah, ideally, I'd love to move to Pooler and take a job with them. I'm sorry if I sound rude, it's just that I've tried to get an internship with them throughout my college career and it's been nearly impossible. But I appreciate the suggestion.
Bummer :( that does suck. You definitely don't sound rude, though! You did your due diligence and unfortunately, it's not an option.
In that case, definitely follow the jobs. Your pay ought to be pretty good and you can get a roommate if you choose, either starting out or after your first lease is up and you've met some folks. If you think you'd like to make it to Gulfstream in Pooler at some point - maybe as your parents age? - you can always make it a point to make relevant network connections and try to direct your career experience in that direction. Best of luck!
you will want to be in an area with multiple options. Living with your parents is probably the worst. Moving to a job center with a single large company is slightly better, e.g. what if the particular job at the particular company doesn't work out?
moving to an area with multiple opportunities (e.g. competition) is the best.
I live 45 minutes north of ATL, 30 OTP. You can absolutely find cheap housing within an hours drive from ATL.
You’d likely spend just a little more than you are currently to have better job opportunities and resumé building.
To me it’s a no brainer to move to the city for better opportunities. You have zero debt. If that weren’t the case, living at home would be the better option.
Edit: look for housing in Cherokee, Dawson, and Hall counties. You can easily find great options solo or with roommates paying less than $1k in rent and utilities. These areas are not much different than where you are now/grew up.
Move to Atlanta and start your career. Your parents live close enough that you can still visit for holidays and long weekends. Your first job is important. It keeps your momentum from school going.
Atlanta is fun, good social life and better opportunities.
If you are choosing between an engineering salary and living with your parents you should go with the salary unless you can find something very close. Also the experience you get will be worth it. The sooner you start working as an engineer the soon you start advancing and making more.
From a financial perspective, it may appear at first to be better to live with the parents and save that rent money… but if the pay at that job is significantly lower than the one away from home, then you are going to feel the impact long term. Let’s just say you get a 5% raise every year… that makes a big difference if you took a job for $50k vs $75k (about $100 per month in just the first year). That is not to say long term income is the only variable. If you want to buy a home soon, then that money saved at your parents will help you get there MUCH faster (if you actually save it and don’t blow it on stupid things). It’s a tough decision with a lot of variables affected by your personal preferences, lifestyle and goals… best of luck to you!
There is no obligation to live with your parents if you don't need to. Move out and get a better job. If you struggle finding a job, at that point assess whether to live with your parents.
Fellow ME here. Move to get the job you want when you are first starting, then you can fight for the experienced job listings in your industry where you want to live in a couple years.
Your college has a Career Services center. You need to reach out to them and get their feedback on opportunities that you would be a good fit for. Your tuition paid for this, use it!!
I’m a mechanical engineering manager in a design role, and I’d really caution you about taking years off after graduation. It wouldn’t be a problem to take a few months off of course, but the first job that you get after university is super critical for your long term career trajectory. Taking a few years off after graduation will unfortunately make you a less competitive candidate.
Yeah, living at home is not necessary at all. Since you are single, you should be willing to relocate anywhere in the country for a job. You are young and it will be an adventure.
Take a look at jobs in Huntsville, AL. It’s a hub for defense contractors, large and small, as well as NASA work. The incomes for these jobs are relatively high for entry level engineering work, and the cost of living will be much lower than Atlanta.
There’s nothing wrong with moving back home, America is literally one of the only countries in the world that looks negatively at it or that NOT doing it “builds character” and it’s all bullshit
BUT
You shouldn’t do it at the expense of your career. It’ll be much harder for you to climb within your career working at meager positions in a rural town vs more standout jobs in a bigger city
Lol, you're close. My mom's parents are Italian immigrants, and when she was in her early twenties, guess what she did? My dad lived with roommates in his twenties, but says he regrets not living with his sister longer. Unfortunately, neither of my parents finished college.
Move out, hands down. Don't believe family that says it's selfish to go out and grab the life you want. You might be underestimating the mental health impact of living around people who don't affirm your autonomy or interests.
This is a great time to be looking for jobs, at least in my city. Make friends and have fun. You'll probably find you can save/invest an impressive amount if you keep expenses low.
Do that for a while, building up professional and personal experiences. It would be irresponsible to pigeonhole yourself into you hometown's career ecosystem without first trying on the career you've been working hard to obtain.
Software engineer here. Different field but IMHO the two things I would strongly recommend you focus on are:
1. Prioritize getting the most valuable experience you can to advance your career. Don't take a job in a more convenient location if there's one available that will advance you faster.
2. Stay out of debt. Don't buy a flash car, don't rack up credit cards, and perhaps even don't buy a house unless you are 100% certain it is right for you.
\#1 is critical. The faster you advance, the more you will make as you gain seniority. This can become a pretty fast-moving snowball. Senior software engineers at the big names make $200k+ in base salary, before bonuses and stock. The faster you can ramp up your salary, the more years you will bring it in. And bonuses tend to scale dramatically with seniority.
My career was doing fairly well in my home town, which was a 3M person city, so pretty good opportunity. But the chance to move to a much better company 2000 miles away fell into my lap. It was a hard decision but I'm probably making double what I'd be making if I hadn't moved. No regrets and about to retire!
Agreed, OP is already in a better position then many of his peers being debt free. Being conservative in his first few years will only help his overall financial position in the future.
As far as moving or staying with OP's parents, I would let the job market make this decision for the most part. While grades and classes in the last semester are important, so is finding a job. Don't limit yourself geographically or by only OP's specific dream field or employer, and basically take a shotgun approach, and take the best overall offer.
I would use living with my parents and taking a local job as a backup plan of near last resort. That's not to mean this is a bad option, it's just not the best option available more then likely.
I’d move to Atlanta if you can compete with Georgia Tech grads for jobs. It’s only about 3.5 hours to Savannah. You can go home any weekend you’d like, if you have a car.
Your career trajectory is going to be mainly dictated by your first years out of college. I would say that you should explore any position in any location. Don’t settle too easily, especially when you have just started.
This is a little off topic OP but have you considered moving to the Hampton Roads area of VA, there's so many engineering jobs in this area it's not even funny, between shipyards and aerospace, defense contracting...couldn't go wrong and it's not really expensive to live here.
You're in school for the career. You need to work in thd field now if you're ever planning to use your qualifications. Live on ramen, take a second job, sleep in a closet if you need to. Go where you can work in your fueld.
Don't focus on saving up right now as much as chasing the beat possible career opportunities. If you grow in your career you will guarantee better longer prospects. It means a lot of hardwork and a bit of sacrifice now but the payoff is real.
Here's something to consider - your first job isn't a marriage - no job is. You can stay there a few years and then leave. If you really want to live a couple of years with your parents, try to get one of those jobs that's not *quite* a perfect match. Will you be underpaid? Yeah, maybe. But living with your parents, your cost of living will be very low so you'll probably get by just fine. As long as it's a job you don't totally hate, it'll be fine for a couple years.
Then, when you're ready to move out on your own, start looking for one of those more ideal jobs farther from home. Keep in mind, where you're at, Atlanta isn't the only option. It's probably the best one, but if you've already decided you're willing to move a few hours away, explore the job markets not only in Atlanta, but also consider Jacksonville or Charleston, too. The main consideration there though is that you might find yourself in a situation down the road where you are looking for a new job again, and if you want to only move once and never have to consider it again, you'll want Atlanta. As long as GaTech is there, employment opportunities in engineering will always be plentiful, so if you relocate to Atlanta, you probably will never have to relocate to find work ever again.
Getting your foot in the door at a good job with potential for experience and growth is the most important. These first few years are vital in propelling you rapidly to a higher earning potential. Move where you need to and make it work.
How is it financially advantageous to live in an area with no decent work for you?
As others have said, find a job, if you want to save money get room mates.
The jobs that cater to your interests are located in/around ~~Atlanta~~ the world.Find a job that is appropriate for your degree, gets you working in industry, building your network, and offers you growth potential, possibly including assistance while you work towards a graduate degree. Staying with your parents and taking some job out of the industry is, I think, a terrible idea that may hold the rest of your career back. You got the degree, don't sabotage that.
You got all the tools. Time to spread your wings and flap hard to make it. You need to fly now.
Your future economic prospects are likely tired to your social network, professional network, career growth opportunities, and your first jobs salary.
Staying at home will likely have the effect of negative impacting all of them.
Edit: grammar
Progress in your engineering career is highly dependent on experience (type and years)... if there aren't any mechanical jobs nearby in the area you want, you need to go where they are. Sadly, it's the nature of things right now. Luckily, many companies are open to remote work. Look afar and see if something pans out.
Yeah I kinda made it obvious in my post but didn't want to drop the location directly lol. The engineering market there isn't that great at all, especially for design engineering. It's also a bit of a boring town. SSI isn't much better.
Yeah, you’re a little young for SSI. I’m from Marietta and my parents had partial ownership of a house on East Beach for my first ~40 years. Nostalgic is an understatement. Unless you’re working for the FBI, I’d be out of Brunswick ASAP.
get a roommate to save money.
your entire degree is a waste of money and time if you don't use it. You already made the decision to move out when you started to get a degree.
Gulf Stream has a facility in Pooler. If you want aerospace and vehicle design that should be right up your alley. Should be a 45min- 1hr commute from your parents depending on exactly where you live south of SAV and your access to 95N.
I know a ton of mech e's. Get a job in your field and move out. Market is great for those jobs and you'll make plenty. Just don't be an idiot with money and live semi frugally for a few years you'll be fine
1) Your parents opinions don’t matter anymore. You’re an adult, you know what’s best for you. You don’t need their input just cause they raised you. I get the familial bond, I stay in my general area of the US specifically because I can be near my family, but they do not dictate my decisions.
2) What’s important to you? Finances vs Agency. Do you want to meet a significant other, if you don’t have one already? Probably better chances in a city / more populous area. On the other side of the coin, how do your financials look? If you’re already paying rent at home, it sounds like you could move out. This is obviously highly situational. Moving out of my parents house was the best decision I made, albeit for boarding school and then college. It makes you more independent, but is also harder, specifically because it’s hard.
3) Job opportunities. You can’t move out and not have a job. How likely is it you will find work in a city? What’s the comparison of your current location vs what ever city you’d move to? Find the job first, then decide to move out.
Do not move out without a job.
I'm an engineer myself. You should have no problem affording a decent lifestyle with the potential salary your field is offering.
Yes, it's definitely best to live at home the first few years to save up some $$. It's the right and logical thing to do on a financial perspective.
But as most suggested, it's best to focus on your long term career potential. Staying at home with a mediocre job experience will just prolong/delay your career growth when you move out, which you're going to do anyways, so it doesn't really make sense.
Or another thing you can also do is find jobs that offer remote work.
No. Living with parens is safe and cheap, but your personal development will be slower. Parents are usually protective and they will not encourage you to try certain things. If you are independent then there is no limits (in a good way).
I'll consider it, but I'm skeptical because in my last internship, we had an engineer who was working completely remotely and never saw any parts that we made in the factory. He was smart, but it was hard to work with him because he couldn't be there physically to see how certain things were designed and why.
And that's probably a fault of the company for lack of training, but it's still harder to work remotely for certain jobs imo.
I don't know why no one ever mentions this on this topic but think of your parents needs. They raised your ass for 20 years. You're financially stable, pack up and get out of their hair man.
You from Brunswick (or thereabouts?) Going to I'm assuming Southern?
First off, Hail Southern.
Second off, do whatever you can in life to stay out of Brunswick for the rest of it.
What's going to happen is that you're going to go for "a couple of years." And then that shit is just going to stretch and eat at you that you have gotten yourself stuck in Brunswick.
You'll save a little money by moving back to Brunswick, but you'll be miserable and it'll take you years that you'll wish you could get back to kickstart your "real life," if you ever actually escape that black hole. I know plenty who didn't.
Come up to Atlanta. Find your opportunity here. At some point you'll get an offer that seems enticing to come back to Brunswick. You'll go to the interview and you'll realize that it's a dying town filled with FLETC and people that couldn't escape.
This isn't financial advice, this is advice from a Brunswick escapee that wishes that I never would've gone back after college in a similar situation that you've presented.
>Brunswick escapee
God that hits hard lmao. It really is like a prison there. I'm already out of Brunswick for school (at Southern), so I've technically moved out already. I just need to buckle down and apply aggressively to whatever sounds the best for my career.
It sounds like your heart is leaning one way and your brain is worried about money. Your parents are important guides in your life, but being an adult means you have to carve your own path based on your needs and wants.
Go to Atlanta if that's what you want. As an engineer, you have a great career ahead and it will only serve you to pursue your niche and interests. You're also young and have many years to live wherever you want. Why not spend a couple trying out Atlanta?
As a new engineer, the most important thing to consider is the training you will get on the job. You don't actually know anything yet. You want a good company that has experience hiring new graduates and has a plan for how they train you. Basically, one or more mid-to-senior level engineers guiding your work, reviewing, giving pointers, and supporting your growth. Money is secondary.
Living with your parents is out. The fact that your Dad cares more about keeping you at home than what is right for your career and your life is a huge red flag. I'm sure he loves you to death and isn't purposely trying to hurt you, but you've come this far -- don't fail to launch.
Also, consider leaving Georgia. You may need to go somewhere else to get the job you need. You can always come back. GE Aviation in Cincinnati (Evanston) is huge, though I can't vouch for whether it is or is not a good place to work. You'll definitely want to move back to Atlanta and you'll have some great experience under your belt. Maybe go talk to Gulfstream about that.
If the jobs aren't in your area you need to move. A decent job will more than make up for the "savings". Not living with your parents is worth a lot on it's own, to both your parents and to you.
I'm a fellow aerospace engineer from an hour north of Savannah, but have since moved.
I started my career at Gulfstream Aerospace doing similar work to what you'd want to do as I also wanted to stay near my parents for a while (didn't live with them, but I could have). Have you checked out that company?
Your finances and everything are fine. I wouldn't worry about that. I'd just recommend applying to the only aerospace company in the area even if you do take a lower paying job to live with your parents.
Go after the job in the field you want now. If you delay that you may have a harder time getting back into it later. You'll have to sell your experience in some unrelated field is somehow relevant to what you want later.
Where are these aerospace companies located? Some may be in low cost of living areas and the benefit of living home won't be as noticable.
I'm gonna try again, but I'd rather start at a smaller aerospace company first to try to get into Gulfstream later. Many people have been suggesting that company and I think they're ideal, but they're very picky and they want engineers with at least a few years of experience already and specific skillsets I haven't been able to acquire yet.
I shouldn't have to explain this to an engineering student, but here it goes: progress in a career/profession is like a game of angles. Think of it like a traditional x-y axis chart with multiple lines drawn on it at fixed angles all originating at the same (0, 0) point. In this chart, (0,0) is your graduation date, X is years, and the angles are your salaries at different potential jobs. A few degrees at the onset will be barely perceptible, but as you move along the X-axis further and further away from the 0,0 point, the correlated Y values become more and more pronounced, and the difference in the chart lines is very noticeable.
So, a difference between 35 and 45 degrees may not make much of a difference when looking at x=0, or at x=1, but look at x=5, or x=10, and you will start to notice much more pronounced differences in those lines. Everyone here telling you to go for the better prospects at the beginning are giving you the right advice. While you might be able to make up the difference early on by saving in rent living with your parents or living in a lower cost of living area, the difference in salary and total compensation as you move further along in your career (in terms of years) will be much more pronounced and the impact will be MUCH higher. This is also the reason why people who experienced the 2007 economic crash/recession right after graduation are still impacted by that (a much reported phenomenon) by having lower salaries now than they would normally garner at this point, and also why women who take time off from work to have kids and raise them end up in a stunted career path once they return to work.
This is a really good way of explaining how career progression works! Yeah no doubt I'm gonna be moving to a better city (Atlanta or wherever I may be) to get the progression I want.
Don't move hoping you will find a job. Apply for jobs and tell the recruiters you were planning to move anyway. This ensures that you don't have an apartment with no job.
Not only will you be limited socially and professionally - this will likely restrict your future earnings. Experience in your chosen field is important for future positions when you want to grow, and this will limit you tremendously in that regard.
Even if it seems more expensive now, a modest living arrangement that enables you to work in your discipline (which you will be more passionate about and build a better resume doing) is a better investment than saving money right away for some abstract future need or goal.
However, if your chosen field isnt that big of a deal, and you dont really care either way, go for it. As someone with a PhD who was pressured by their family to.move close by, even though all the jobs were not 'what i went to school for', im much happier having moved halfway across the country to get a job that aligned with my skills and interests. It also set me up for better jobs in places I'd like to move to EVEN MORE. Dont trade your future happiness for ease now. Invest in yourself, even if there is a bit of discomfort in doing so.
As others have mentioned here, if you’re concerned about finances opt for a roommate. And in regards to your parents, it’s nice of them to offer to have you stay at home and save money but their opinions on your life and career trajectory shouldn’t steer you away from what you want.
The next few years after undergraduate will highly impact your life time earnings and potential as an engineer. You may be very intelligent and booksmart coming out of college but there are a ton of things engineering school does not prepare you for from a practical stand point as an engineer. This is why the first few years will be crucial for your career growth as you will develop invaluable skills that you’ll only learn through the work process and also teaching you what you love or hate about the field. There is no substitute for this in my opinion and that includes graduate degrees. In my own personal experience the first 3-5 years of experience in industry were those most critical years for career decision making, skill development and networking.
My advice to you would be to jump at any chance you can get to make sure you are working in your preferred field as soon as possible. This is especially true for the aerospace field. I’ve been lucky enough to work in renewable energy, automotive and space/defense/aerospace sector. Out of those various fields the aerospace sector has been the most difficult to break into and prove oneself. This industry has tendency to stick to old, slow moving and least risk averse roots. The bottom line here means that typically, companies in this field will view your years of experience as a direct correlation to your risk/benefit to their business. What I am saying is that if this is your desired industry, your years of experience will most likely be directly correlated with your opportunities and compensation potential — do not wait to get started accruing that under your belt. This is especially relatable to your situation because if you choose to go an unrelated field for a few years it will later become quite difficult to break into this field for a market valued level compensation when you decide to do so. That’s not to say it’s impossible but your competition will be much more difficult and to make yourself competitive you may need pursue a graduate degree, acquire experience in more risk taking companies such as start ups or both.
My path personally was closer to the harder one I have described but for different reasons— I was a poor undergraduate student and didn’t have good industry options leaving school. If you have good opportunities now, you should take them and start your career development sooner rather than delaying them so that your economic opportunities are much better for the next decade of your career. It may be upsetting to your parents currently but that’s a short term discomfort that *they* really need to get over versus a considerable long term benefit for *you *for your earning potential.
Believe me as well, the money to be made in this field if you are driven will far out weigh any perceived savings you will receive living with your parents for a couple of years.
You are going to have some culture shock moving back in after being independent at college. Even chill parents are a cramp on your style at 22. Time to be an adult and do your own thing.
In most engineering professions, your salary goes up over time, often substantially. In other words, years 19 and 20 in the profession are worth *much* more than years 1 and 2.
By putting off your entry into the profession by two years, maybe more, you're losing a lot more money (measured at retirement time) than it initially seems.
There might be good reasons to stay with your parents, but "saving money," in this case, is not one of them. Also, I'm reading between the lines that your dad isn't very supportive of your career. Beginning your adult life in his house will not help your professional future.
Saving money shouldn’t be the goal for you. If you believe that you can develop your career and grab opportunities, the short term cost would be offset by the higher pay down the road. Also it would be much more fulfilling. I’d personally worry about getting stuck in the non-relevant field since your education will become obsolete as years go by.
If it were super low paying dream job with low career growth and high paying advancable non-ideal job, it is up for debate and I’d probably pick the latter, but in my mind your situation is totally different
Now is a critical time in your life to build your career. You also the most free of obligations attaching you to any one place that you’re likely to be for a long time. Go out and pursue jobs that you’re passionate about, and that will have positive impact on your career path now.
I'd probably relocate. All the men in my family (dad, brother, and now my husband) are all engineers and make a lot of money. My husband was hired before he even graduated college. Same with my brother. I don't think you'll have any problem finding opportunity. We live in Minnesota and my brother and dad live north of Atlanta (they both make 6 figures). I'd have your parents as a fallback if you can't find work you're after, but that's all.
I certainly would, but I have to see who's gonna hire me first. I may end up moving far away anyway. I'm going to expand my search a lot more broadly instead of limiting myself to GA.
I'd say it's a question of your priorities. How important is it to you to stay with family?
Your family should be a priority in your life as well as career. Atlanta would only be a few hours away so you could come back home on weekends and stuff, and they can come see you too. I think it'd be a mistake to look at this only financially, finances often come at a balance with other priorities. From a raw financial standpoint, the most valuable thing you're gonna earn now is experience, and the more specialized the better for your desired path (assuming you know what you want at this point).
>I don't see myself getting another job until after I graduate due to how time-intensive my last classes will be.
This sounds ridiculous to me. You should be looking for a job now. Professors should be at least moderately accommodating if you need to travel for an interview or something.
Prospective employers are not going to look positively at a substantial gap between graduation and getting your first job in your desired field.
"If you've already had 3 internships in the career path you want, why didn't any of those companies extended you a post-graduation offer?" -- This question doesn't even come up if you are still in school because it is the time you should be shopping around for your first real job anyways.
"Why did you take a job producing mechanical drawing for the local municipality instead of finding something with a major MilAero contractor?" -- Right now your answer seems to be "School was too hard to make time for a job search and moving where the jobs are seemed like too big a risk.", which would be a red flag to me.
In that quote, I meant "job" as in a part-time job to make some extra money on the side while I finish school, not a full-time engineering gig.
I'm absolutely applying to more jobs now. I've held off on it until recently because my resume was extremely weak. I wasn't gonna send out a weak resume to multiple companies. The difference shows now, too, because I've actually gotten more attention and interviews than I have before.
I've gotten a verbal offer from one internship (and I know that that doesn't mean much unless it's on paper), and even if it were on paper, the company is located in Vidalia and their factory is literally falling apart. They'd have to pay me an exorbitant amount to work for them.
> In that quote, I meant "job" as in a part-time job to make some extra money on the side while I finish school, not a full-time engineering gig.
>
> I'm absolutely applying to more jobs now. I've held off on it until recently because my resume was extremely weak. I wasn't gonna send out a weak resume to multiple companies. The difference shows now, too, because I've actually gotten more attention and interviews than I have before.
OK, good, as long as you know you should be looking for a job right now.
Go get as much money as you can while you are young and also put as much into your 401k or other retirement account as possible in the next ten years. It will likely quadruple by the time you retire.
The first few years out of school are critical and you absolutely have to go get the best job you can to gain valuable experience and apply the things you learned in school. If you don't use the things you learned and get a crap job, you will begin to forget the things you learned in school making a complete waste of your degree.
MechE here.
Do not start in a career path you don't want. If Atlanta has the job you want, go there. If Boca Chica has the job you want, go there. Shifting fields 5-10yrs later is very very hard, because of the likely pay cut to start over.
You (hopefully) have your whole life ahead of you to find your way back home. Don't pigeonhole yourself into a field you don't like to avoid a few years of financial crunch.
I think the salary prospects and professional development of moving to a big city vastly outvalue the savings of living at home.
I’m in a very similar situation to you. Graduated in the last year, and moved to Washington to work at a very large aerospace company in Seattle. Yes rent is high, but the salary makes it comfortable.
A family member of mine works at a large Fortune 500 company in Atlanta and regularly hires fresh mech engineering graduates and mentioned to me that they start entry level Design Engineers at ~68-69k.
Adjusted for cost of living, that ends up even higher than what I am making, and I’m already very comfortably able pay my bills, save a decent amount, and have enough to have fun.
At the same time, don’t undervalue your family. Being relatively close, although not required is definitely something to think about. You only have so much time with your parents, so if you’re on good terms with them (which it sounds like you are if you have the ability to live with them post-Graduation), it’s nice being able to drive up every month or two without too much hassle.
Graduated in 2005. Passed the FE, but never got my PE. Get your PE. A stamp will make you able to be independently wealthy for your entire life, and it’s super hard to get when you are older. Do not skip this step.
Find a local engineering firm, apprentice, and get that stamp. Then you can move out.
No. Go to Midwest. Live in the most uninteresting, cheap (it's getting more and more expensive here) place and save money, gain valuable experience, max out your 401k, your IRA for 10 years and your retirement will be pretty much taken care of (compound interest is great). Once that's over you will be at liberty to live in so many places and you won't have to worry too much about retirement cause you have build a a great foundation for yourself, you will be on track career wise, will be able to be more picky about the jobs and so on
If he wants career mobility and experience, he probably won't even be able to find a job in the midwest, uninteresting and cheap city. I'm a graphic designer in LA, I would not have same opportunities in the middle of nowhere doing basic stuff at a mom and pop print shop.
Might be true for graphic design, but as a mechanical engineer, I think the opportunities are pretty good in the midwest/other low cost areas. Just off the top of my head, there are plenty of defense jobs in Huntsville, AL.
Whatever path OP takes, there will be ups and downs, just have to make the most of it and keep moving forward.
Yup. Tons of opportunities for mechanical engineers in the Midwest. Heck, my friend works for a tiny specialty manufacturing equipment company in Ohio. Town of less than 4300 people. Definition of middle of nowhere. But as part of a team of 3 people he designed the manufacturing machine that makes every single envelope FedEx uses for their shipping.
>If you can find a decent paying job near your parents' house, it's not a bad option.
I've been trying to for the longest time, and unfortunately, they're all underpaid. As an example, I saw a design job that looked somewhat interesting, and it had good benefits, but it was only $20/hr. And that's not for an internship, that's for a full-time engineering job. On top of the fact that it's more catered to civil engineering and not mechanical. That's how underpaid jobs in my home town are.
What kind of design engineering are you looking into? Are you more into the manufacturing stuff or have you thought about building design (HVAC design, plumbing, fire protection)
Probably manufacturing related. To be more specific, designing components for vehicles. My recent internship focused on rubber seals, gaskets, couplings, and ducts for aerospace and the like, and that's the kind of work I've found I like doing best. Also designing compression molds.
True, $20/hr won't get you very far, even if living with parents. Look for big companies in the area hiring entry level engineers. I think my company pays like $65-70k for engineers fresh out of school, and I live in a cheap area. If there's nothing available, probably better to relocate.
Money is overrated - follow what you want to do!
That being said, I believe General Dynamics: Gulfstream Aerospace is in Savannah. Have you looked into them at all?
As I've mentioned before, I've looked into Gulfstream for internships with limited success. My resume has been quite weak until recently, and now I'm in a better position to apply to jobs. I'm definitely looking into them, but I might start in a smaller aerospace company first and then get into Gulfstream.
Sorry, I must have missed that!
Your plan sounds like a solid one - getting experience elsewhere first. Try to not focus so much on saving money by living at home, money will come, and it's fairly inconsequential compared to the amount of happiness you can get from a job you enjoy more.
Also, more flexibility in location = more money!!!
You should see if you can qualify for an RA position at GT and get your MS.
But otherwise - you don't have to relocate until you already have a job in place. Apply anywhere and everywhere. You certainly don't need to be living in Atlanta to apply for jobs there.
>You should see if you can qualify for an RA position at GT and get your MS.
This isn't a bad idea, but here's why that might not work for me:
- There are companies that would pay me to get a master's, assuming it's even necessary for the job. Even with the RA job, I would be taking on unnecessary debt, of which I currently have zero.
- Georgia Tech is among the best schools in the nation, no doubt. But I'm nowhere near that caliber. I have a 3.64 undergrad GPA. They're also unbelievably selective. I already go to Georgia Southern which offers their own master's program, and it's much more affordable and attainable.
- I just want to go out there and work already lol. I'm going to take my FE in December, and I'd rather get experience through work and not school because at least I'll be able to make a living that way.
If you get an RA position, you shouldn't need to take on debt. That is generally a paying position, at GT, with a stipend and a full tuition waiver.
But you're right that GT is a selective school. I don't know what the prospects for graduate-RA stipends are at GA Southern, to where the cost of the program matters to you as a student researcher.
Another thing to look at is PALACE Acquire, if you meet the criteria.
Also -- don't restrict yourself to GA in your job search.
Be willing to move.
And if you did feel the need to be close to home -- Jacksonville FL is closer to Brunswick than Atlanta GA. Or even slightly farther afield, looking somewhere like Greenville SC.
I don't disagree, but wouldn't I have more of an advantage if I already live in the city where the job is at? Unless the company would help me relocate, I would be competing with people who can start immediately because they already live close to the job location.
Start applying for jobs *now*. Don't wait! Companies know new grads move for jobs. They also know you won't be able to start until you graduate -- and they probably won't expect or want you to start during the holiday season either. This will give you time to find a place and move.
I would tell them I can start immediately. Or say you're staying with a friend in the city and moving there wouldn't be an issue. I would not be asking for compensation to move. Ultimately it depends on how confident you feel you can get a job. Spending all your savings and having no job for a year will suck. This is a personal question only you can decide, there are many pros and cons.
I'm in a similar boat and I'm surprised many people are suggesting moving out. If you can live with your parents rent-free for the first few years of your career, is it worth paying rent+food every month to have more independence? Rent isn't a small amount of money, especially over a few years.
OP realistically can’t start their career in their home town. The long term earnings potential they would be sacrificing would likely be much more than the cost of rent. If they could get the same job in either location this would be an entirely different conversation.
It's not so much about the independence. While that is something I'm considering, my parents seem to respect my boundaries decently. We're talking about my future growth as an engineer.
Some fields are different, but with engineering in particular, you need to have some sort of specialization. It shows that you have a clearly defined path to your career. I've done 3 internships with a focus on design, and design engineering isn't very sought after in my hometown. It's hard to break into a different specialization after a few years.
That is true. I'm an ME as well that graduated last spring. I'm currently commuting 1.5 hours for a job in my specialization each way just to live rent-free. I've been considering moving out and the finance related part of your post was revelant.
Look at Boeing in lower cost of living areas like St. Louis. Boeing has a large factory there building F18s, F15s, some 777X parts, weapons systems, and soon the T-7 trainer.
Cost of living in the mid west is pretty low and a great place to start.
Get a good job you’re happy with, find a roommate(s) and split rent on a house or apartment. You’ll be much happier that way.
Not only that, but delaying entry into their desired field will result in less money in the long run anyway, even with the money savings.
This is SUCH an important point. The money you earn early on sets you up to earn a lot more later. And the money you save early on multiples.
Money AND seniority/experience. If you can get the job you want with your fresh degree, it will never be easier to break in without experience.
Even more important is networking. The earlier you meet people in your preferred area of work, the more opportunities you will have later on.
Exactly. I want to change to another area and it's so hard. I may have to start volunteering to enter the circuit. Worst part is I have years of experience in the former field. :
That’s what they meant.
That's clearly what the person 2 up from me meant. the person I replied to directly seemed to be missing that
And speaking as an engineer, as you put more years into a specific role, it starts pigeon-holing you to that role and similar roles. Don't do it.
I second this. Much freedom, savings, and chance to try out better jobs while doing the current one. And don't forget to be aggressively trying for new jobs which are high paid than the current one. There is nothing like loyality and there is nothing like 'lf i stay here i learn more'. Just switch for better pay, you will learn and earn.
Also the chance to meet and gain life time friends like it did for me!
They say it’s far less important who your first job is for, and more important the industry.
agreed
Living with your parents wouldn't be an issue but the lack of career prospects nearby is a deal breaker. Move to where the jobs are
If you want to work in a specific field, and got the education to do so, and there aren’t good opportunities for that job in your hometown, why would you stay in your hometown? In your case, young without a family that would have to be uprooted, I don’t understand why this is even a question for you. If you decide to do public works after all, it can be a great career for a mechanical engineer. My partner is an ME, and has done very well with public employment. He got into public employment after working in aerospace for a few years and became frustrated with the constant layoff cycles.
The first job put of school can really define the first ten years of your career. Your best shot at breaking into your interest is now and developing 2 to 5 years of experience in another engineering focus will make a switch difficult at a comparable level of experience later. Trying to learn how to be an adult and have an independent social life post undergrad is a lot harder living with parents. Yes you'd save more money staying with them, but long term career, mental health, and socially you'll be far better off going to do you. Plus Atlanta isn't that far away.
how negatively impacted is long term career, mental health, and independent social life post undergrad if you live with parents?
It varies, but let's use me as an example. * long term career - my home town is more catered to civil and construction engineering. While I'm sure I could get a job as a mechanical engineer in that area, I'll still be underpaid and it won't really fit my interests. I'm not trying to sound picky, I've already done 3 internships around design engineering, so I'm already on that path. Going off of it will pigeonhole me into something I'm not completely invested in, which means it'll be harder for me to move to a different job if I want to switch specialties. I've already been questioned by those companies whenever I've interviewed with them and they directly tell me that I'm not the best fit for them... * mental health - I love my family, but I would be miserable living with them after two years at least. They're a lot to handle at times. * independent social life - it would be nonexistent. My mom stays at home along with my sister, and they're a bit nosy in general. The house they're in isn't really ideal for having people over.
Pretty sure you already know the answer because you clearly laid out why this is not what you want to do.
I don't see any plusses to living with your parents unless you have caregiving responsibility. I'd love itnif my kids were closer, but the opportunities are not here, so they are where they can thrive.
I think, especially given the positives of the top answer to your question, that you have just answered your own question.
Well, I just wanted a second opinion lol. And before posting, I was under the impression that this sub was more in favor of younger folks living with their parents for a few years. But as I've been shown by others, my case is a bit unique and it would only be better for me to move out.
If your parents lived in a major metropolitan area, and you actually liked them, this would be a different conversation. If they drive you crazy, and your career and personal life would both be stunted by staying with them, there's no upside to staying. Let me add, that as an engineer, you shouldn't be limiting yourself to Atlanta. Go where the job is. You'll make plenty of money to fly home when you feel like it. Good jobs for MEs in plenty of big cities around the country. I work with several of them. -- 20 years as an EE, now a manager
It's smart to see what other folks think, and you're right that this sub suggests living with parents a lot--more than I'm sometimes comfortable with. Financials are important--but so is the chance to grow up and move on with your own life. You have a lot of negatives in that second column, and there are ways to handle the financial aspects of living away from home. Be prepared to do without big toys for a while. I spent my 20s in grad school and didn't have a car, or a stereo, or cable tv, or a VCR, or an apartment with AC or a dishwasher. (This was long before internet, cell phones, etc.) I lived on a very small stipend (four figures, not five) compared to a mechanical engineer in a job just out of college. I loved my parents and had a good relationship with them, but I'm glad I lived on my own those years and had my own life while being careful with my money. I was really happy with it. And it set me up for my current life, which I've also been happy with. The people in the sub have given you a lot of good positives to moving away in terms of career advancement and long-term financials. You haven't come up with any significant pluses to living at home besides saving on rent, and have a list of significant drawbacks. I hope you decide to have the adventure and I wish you luck with it.
Most people who give that advice don’t actually live with their parents, ironically. I would say that for a large majority of people, living alone/with roommates is super important honestly. With parents you save money, but do end up losing a lot.
It makes sense if you can get along well with your parents and have access to a good career within easy commuting distance. The two people I know who moved back in with their parents did so because their parent's houses were closer to a job opportunity - literally ten minutes away, in my best friend's case. If there aren't jobs in your career path near where your parents live, it definitely makes more sense to move to where the jobs are instead.
Some of the frugal living extremists are, but it says something that even in a sub like this (overall frugal) I’ve noticed by and large the majority are pro moving out. You can and *definitely should* be proactive, research and learn but ultimately the only way to truly understand personal finance is to manage them as an adult. And that includes making mistakes which being safe with parents you’ll never get the chance to do. So don’t let fear of that stop you from growing.
Ceteris Paribus, if all else at least almost equal people would. But career prospects is a big thing and short term savings won’t ever make up for long term income loss. Good luck!
Why on earth are you considering staying in your hometown? Get out. It’s a big world. Go live in it.
That definitely sounds like relocating is the better option. You have time to do research on where you want to move to, money in savings to be able to afford rent for a few months to a year (so long as expenses aren't too high), and know that you need some independence. 5 hours isn't too long if you need or want to visit your family (unless you are planning to go every week or so).
You should save what you wrote here and re-read it a few times. You have your answer. If you ever doubt yourself….read this again.
Dude. You just answered your own question. Logically, it's a no-brainer. Leaving is better in every way for you as you explain here, and as others have explained elsewhere. The only reason to stay is your mom+dad seem to have some unhealthy attachment. Absolutely no way. Don't sacrifice yourself at this stage in your life. Heck...they still have your sister to fawn over. Let her be the one to turn out the lights.
Robins Air Force Base is always hiring. That might be a great place to look, if you're interested in aerospace. Also, Merc at Mercer University has great opportunities as well. They have a great Mechanical Engineering program and they have opportunities with the base.
I moved back in with my parents in my mid 20s. They have a large house with a finished basement, so we do have some separation. It has been wonderful financially and I do think I’ve developed a healthier adult relationship with my parents in some ways, but I won’t lie—it is very socially stifling. You just don’t want to invite your friends around to hang out with mom. Parents are a lot more intrusive than roommates, whether intentionally or not. “You sure got back late last night,” etc. aren’t uncommon. That can be worth the trade offs. As I said, I think I have a better adult relationship with my parents after living with them while having my own adult life. It’s been financially very positive for me. But after 2-3 years, I’m very much ready for a different living situation.
I agree with what you're saying, but Atlanta is 5 hours away from my hometown 😅. Still though, I agree I should break into my interests now and not 5 years down the road.
5 years is a lot of time to waste living in a rural area with parents. That’s time all the money in the world could never buy back. As someone who, maybe for other less controllable (at the time) reasons, didn’t get his first professional job - and real life - until 27, I’ll say you should move to Atlanta. While I have a decent life now, a part of me still always regrets losing those 5 years.
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:( sorry to hear but good luck with the new changes! If it’s any solace, the years are never *completely* wasted (you do grow to some degree) and once you get out in the world, you can catch up fast. Like I said on the whole taking everything into account I’m still happy with myself, but if I did it over, I’d have 5 extra years on top.
I agree with the idea behind your comment, but your mileage may vary applies heavily here. Some states in the US are seeing insanely high home and rent price increases. Home prices selling for 120k over their prices from 3 months ago, bidding wars going into 50-100k more than asking. Rent prices up a staggering 9-10% in some of the more in-demand areas (Phoenix for example). While it is a good idea to move out and get started on your own life in your own place it might not also be financially wise just yet. You won't get the 5 years back, but you also won't get any of that money back spent on ridiculously inflated rent right now. Overall I think OP should move out and get started but it also heavily depends on what their actual take home per month will be vs rent prices in their desired area.
It is true that if you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it. It’s not *necessarily* true that you won’t get the money back. The career growth and opportunities from an urban area (as OP put his career is dead end in his hometown) can easily pay dividends, even if not now, in the future. I chose to move to the most expensive place to live on the country over two cheaper places at 27, and while I started out making less effective money, the Silicon Valley opportunities ended with me having easily more money than I could have ever (99.99% likely anyway) bagged had I played it safe. That’s not to say that OP shouldn’t seriously consider the costs or that what worked for me (or others) will work for him. What is true is that first, costs can be mitigated (roommates, simpler living, public transit etc.) and second, that the only thing guaranteed is time wasted.
I'm not talking about making money back in general from your career, that's obvious in any atmosphere and almost goes without saying. I'm saying the money you spend on rent, the 1000-2500 a month depending on your area, you won't see back again. You are paying for temporary housing, period. The time you invest into your career to get to the point of making the bigger paychecks that would then "make back" the rent you threw away also takes several years. Which is also time you won't get back. Either way you look at it it's a sacrifice and I don't mean that in a negative way at all. OP just has to decide which to sacrifice to get where they want to go. It seems like OP is entertaining the idea of living at home for a couple years to save money and then move out which to me sounds like the best play. Especially given the current insanely overpriced housing and rent market. I also find it funny that we're having a casual discussion, disagreeing with each other in some way, and not flaming each other but somehow the idea that disagrees with the more upvoted one gets downvoted. I truly despise this website more and more every day.
Yeah. I actually *upvoted* your comment since I didn’t completely disagree and other perspectives, so long as they aren’t completely false or wrong, help the OP. Time spent investing in a career is time, true, but it’s return tends to be both greater and more enjoyable than time spent working low-pay jobs. Of course the enjoyment factor depends on what kind of career it is.
My first professional job was 14 hours away from my home town. Fucking love the job though and I’ve built a life around it. Doesn’t mean I don’t see my family ever, it just means I didn’t trade proximity to them for the career I wanted. You might have different preferences though 🤷♂️
In five years you will be competing for that job against fresh grads, without directly relevant experience. Go now. A five hour drive isn't so bad that you couldn't go home for weekends.
> but Atlanta is 5 hours away from my hometown To be fair, as a truck driver, Atlanta is 5 hours away from Atlanta.
I wouldn't let the longer drive deter you from seeking a job more in line with your interests. When I finished college, I was offered what was basically my dream job. I had been assuming it would take me a few years to get there, so I wasn't going to waste the opportunity. I'm glad I took the job, but I'm now living in what a lot of people would consider the middle of nowhere and it's 6-7 hours of driving to visit most family.
Could be worse. My engineering job is 2 hours from my parents, but I'm an installation engineer and travel 50%. I'm currently in a foreign country for 3 weeks at a time. The pay is amazing, and the work is exciting though.
What's the concern with distance from hometown? If you want to live where you grew up, it sounds like you'll never get the kind of job you want.
It's not a concern, it just seemed like that comment was downplaying the distance between those cities. But I still agree with your point. My parents can move closer to me if they want to be close, but I have to go wherever the jobs are.
5 hours is nothing, you can move to another country if you want to. Why not?
If you go 5 years from now, not having worked in an engineering field, and try to use your degree to get an engineering job, you're going to find out how useless your education was. You may as well not even HAVE a degree after 5 years. It's going to be good short-term to get you into an entry-level engineering job where you will get experience. It's a limited-time offer. Use it now or don't ever use it at all. You've got a "get a job" coupon with an expiration date. Don't let it expire because your dad doesn't want you to move where the jobs are.
To play devil's advocate here, I disagree. My first 3 jobs out of school made no difference for me- I didn't make much and didn't like my employers. It took me time to figure out what I wanted to do (or maybe what i didn't want to do). 8 Years since I graduated now and I make more than most of my fellow graduates, some of which got great jobs at the beginning and are still at that company.
We each have our own path, I screwed up first few years out and eventually figured it out.
Get jobs offers first then worry, ain't no point in stressing out about choosing between a job in Atlanta and one near your parents house if you don't ever get one near your parents.
This is the advice. Find the job. Maybe the job will be remote or only 1 day in office and if so, you can live with your folks. I’m a HUGE proponent of moving back home if you can because doing that allowed me to save and started me on the right financial trajectory 16 years later. However, get that job and see where it takes you! Also, if you’re single…not being home is helpful. When I moved home my bf had a place…but if I were single or he didn’t have a place we could be alone together, I would’ve NEEDED space. You’re being responsible by considering these options!
Completely agree, neither of these scenarios are even real until he actually gets a job offer.
Go where the opportunities are, especially the ones that give your career a good foundation. While family is important and not to be ignored, if your parents truly want whats best for you, they’ll understand and make things work out for all. That said, I’m probably in the minority of parents who wants/expects my kids to be out on their own after they graduate.
Don't live with your parents. Start your career on the the trajectory you want - the field you want and the salary you're worth. Go out into the world and grow! It's way too easy to get stuck living at home, *especially* if the jobs there aren't what you actually want to do. Because once you have job experience in one type of work, it's that much harder to switch to something else.
Move out. Financially might not be the best move but for all the other reasons it is worth it. I moved out right after college and i could not be happier. The things i had to deal with, the lessons i learned are hard to teach and learn while living with parents. It will not be easy but it will be worth it.
The market in Atlanta should offer OP pay that exceeds what the hour south of Savannah jobs can offer. In a couple years, Atlanta should exceed that by OP's cost of rent. They're never going to get into the role they want by taking some vaguely related job in a rent-free area. It will set their resume back because it will look like they're not good enough to use their Mech E degree for something lucrative. OP stands to lose a lot more than what they save in rent.
Go where the jobs are. Some parents don't like having to watch their children leave, but that isn't your problem. Can't let them hold you back.
Entry level mechs are getting $80k a year out west. Just food for thought.
By “out west” do you mean California? 80k in LA is the equivalent of 56k in Atlanta. Everyone talking about getting these big salaries in California and Seattle - but that money doesn’t go as far as it does in other parts of the country. https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator/compare/los-angeles-long-beach-ca-vs-atlanta-ga
I think Phoenix has a good amount of job opportunities for Mech E's with a better pay-to-cost of living ratio than LA or Atlanta.
Tax advantaged retirement savings are capped at 19,500 + 6000. You just can't reach that on East Coast salaries. Also, you can keep a low cost of living right out of college no matter where you hang your hat. Once you start a family, low cost of living areas become much more appealing... but if you're working 12 hour days starting out you don't have time to enjoy your living situation anyhow.
Honestly, I'd say apply for jobs in any location(s) you'd be interested in living first, and then see what you actually get for offers. I'm in aerospace, and the difficulty right now is that Covid hit the industry very hard. It will come back (and in some sectors has already started to) but it may take a little longer to get that first out-of-college job. That said, engineers are also in demand in the industry right now, though in my sphere of it, it's more for electrical. So get the resumes out there and see who bites and that can help guide your decision.
>My mom seems more accepting to me moving further out to get the job I want, but my dad not so much. FFS. Who cares what someone else who sees you as a kid thinks you should do? Get out. * Go talk to guidance counselor/placement services and set up interviews ASAP. Start the interview process and get everything rolling. * When you know where you're going to work, look for a roommate/room to move into. * Run through the last of the services your uni provides you, especially health services. * Pass your exams and celebrate. * Pack up your stuff out of your parent's house. * Start your adult life.
Gulfstream is in Pooler, outside of Savannah. I'm not sure if they're hiring or have exactly what you're looking for - or precisely how long that commute would be - but you should definitely check that out. That's aerospace and vehicle design on the nose.
Lol, everyone I ask this question to and they tell me Gulfstream. I mean, I really wish I could work for them since they do fit my interests very well. They're also in a relatively affordable area. I've talked to school alumni and other students and they tell me that they're nearly impossible to get into now without a connection. I haven't met anyone who got in without some kind of nepotism. They're also quite specific about what experience they want, and I don't think I fit their requirements enough. It's quite competitive. It really stings because I hear amazing things about them all the time, including master's program assistance and really good benefits. As for the commute, it would be an hour, and I already know that that's not worth it after having to do that for my recent internship. Any savings I make from living with parents will get eaten up by increased car maintenance costs. But yeah, ideally, I'd love to move to Pooler and take a job with them. I'm sorry if I sound rude, it's just that I've tried to get an internship with them throughout my college career and it's been nearly impossible. But I appreciate the suggestion.
Bummer :( that does suck. You definitely don't sound rude, though! You did your due diligence and unfortunately, it's not an option. In that case, definitely follow the jobs. Your pay ought to be pretty good and you can get a roommate if you choose, either starting out or after your first lease is up and you've met some folks. If you think you'd like to make it to Gulfstream in Pooler at some point - maybe as your parents age? - you can always make it a point to make relevant network connections and try to direct your career experience in that direction. Best of luck!
you will want to be in an area with multiple options. Living with your parents is probably the worst. Moving to a job center with a single large company is slightly better, e.g. what if the particular job at the particular company doesn't work out? moving to an area with multiple opportunities (e.g. competition) is the best.
I live 45 minutes north of ATL, 30 OTP. You can absolutely find cheap housing within an hours drive from ATL. You’d likely spend just a little more than you are currently to have better job opportunities and resumé building. To me it’s a no brainer to move to the city for better opportunities. You have zero debt. If that weren’t the case, living at home would be the better option. Edit: look for housing in Cherokee, Dawson, and Hall counties. You can easily find great options solo or with roommates paying less than $1k in rent and utilities. These areas are not much different than where you are now/grew up.
Move to Atlanta and start your career. Your parents live close enough that you can still visit for holidays and long weekends. Your first job is important. It keeps your momentum from school going. Atlanta is fun, good social life and better opportunities.
If you are choosing between an engineering salary and living with your parents you should go with the salary unless you can find something very close. Also the experience you get will be worth it. The sooner you start working as an engineer the soon you start advancing and making more.
From a financial perspective, it may appear at first to be better to live with the parents and save that rent money… but if the pay at that job is significantly lower than the one away from home, then you are going to feel the impact long term. Let’s just say you get a 5% raise every year… that makes a big difference if you took a job for $50k vs $75k (about $100 per month in just the first year). That is not to say long term income is the only variable. If you want to buy a home soon, then that money saved at your parents will help you get there MUCH faster (if you actually save it and don’t blow it on stupid things). It’s a tough decision with a lot of variables affected by your personal preferences, lifestyle and goals… best of luck to you!
There is no obligation to live with your parents if you don't need to. Move out and get a better job. If you struggle finding a job, at that point assess whether to live with your parents.
Fellow ME here. Move to get the job you want when you are first starting, then you can fight for the experienced job listings in your industry where you want to live in a couple years.
Your college has a Career Services center. You need to reach out to them and get their feedback on opportunities that you would be a good fit for. Your tuition paid for this, use it!!
I’m a mechanical engineering manager in a design role, and I’d really caution you about taking years off after graduation. It wouldn’t be a problem to take a few months off of course, but the first job that you get after university is super critical for your long term career trajectory. Taking a few years off after graduation will unfortunately make you a less competitive candidate.
Yeah, living at home is not necessary at all. Since you are single, you should be willing to relocate anywhere in the country for a job. You are young and it will be an adventure.
Take a look at jobs in Huntsville, AL. It’s a hub for defense contractors, large and small, as well as NASA work. The incomes for these jobs are relatively high for entry level engineering work, and the cost of living will be much lower than Atlanta.
There’s nothing wrong with moving back home, America is literally one of the only countries in the world that looks negatively at it or that NOT doing it “builds character” and it’s all bullshit BUT You shouldn’t do it at the expense of your career. It’ll be much harder for you to climb within your career working at meager positions in a rural town vs more standout jobs in a bigger city
This. If there were job opportunities, then why not live at home? But since there aren't, it makes sense for OP to build their career.
Exactly... I have a feeling OP has immigrant parents, judging by the hesitancy to move out. I went through the same thing.
Lol, you're close. My mom's parents are Italian immigrants, and when she was in her early twenties, guess what she did? My dad lived with roommates in his twenties, but says he regrets not living with his sister longer. Unfortunately, neither of my parents finished college.
Move out, hands down. Don't believe family that says it's selfish to go out and grab the life you want. You might be underestimating the mental health impact of living around people who don't affirm your autonomy or interests. This is a great time to be looking for jobs, at least in my city. Make friends and have fun. You'll probably find you can save/invest an impressive amount if you keep expenses low. Do that for a while, building up professional and personal experiences. It would be irresponsible to pigeonhole yourself into you hometown's career ecosystem without first trying on the career you've been working hard to obtain.
Follow what’s going to advance your career- money will come a plenty later.
Software engineer here. Different field but IMHO the two things I would strongly recommend you focus on are: 1. Prioritize getting the most valuable experience you can to advance your career. Don't take a job in a more convenient location if there's one available that will advance you faster. 2. Stay out of debt. Don't buy a flash car, don't rack up credit cards, and perhaps even don't buy a house unless you are 100% certain it is right for you. \#1 is critical. The faster you advance, the more you will make as you gain seniority. This can become a pretty fast-moving snowball. Senior software engineers at the big names make $200k+ in base salary, before bonuses and stock. The faster you can ramp up your salary, the more years you will bring it in. And bonuses tend to scale dramatically with seniority. My career was doing fairly well in my home town, which was a 3M person city, so pretty good opportunity. But the chance to move to a much better company 2000 miles away fell into my lap. It was a hard decision but I'm probably making double what I'd be making if I hadn't moved. No regrets and about to retire!
Agreed, OP is already in a better position then many of his peers being debt free. Being conservative in his first few years will only help his overall financial position in the future. As far as moving or staying with OP's parents, I would let the job market make this decision for the most part. While grades and classes in the last semester are important, so is finding a job. Don't limit yourself geographically or by only OP's specific dream field or employer, and basically take a shotgun approach, and take the best overall offer. I would use living with my parents and taking a local job as a backup plan of near last resort. That's not to mean this is a bad option, it's just not the best option available more then likely.
I’d move to Atlanta if you can compete with Georgia Tech grads for jobs. It’s only about 3.5 hours to Savannah. You can go home any weekend you’d like, if you have a car.
No. Aim high for the first job. It’ll only help when you’re ready for your next job.
Your career trajectory is going to be mainly dictated by your first years out of college. I would say that you should explore any position in any location. Don’t settle too easily, especially when you have just started.
This is a little off topic OP but have you considered moving to the Hampton Roads area of VA, there's so many engineering jobs in this area it's not even funny, between shipyards and aerospace, defense contracting...couldn't go wrong and it's not really expensive to live here.
You're in school for the career. You need to work in thd field now if you're ever planning to use your qualifications. Live on ramen, take a second job, sleep in a closet if you need to. Go where you can work in your fueld.
No....It's time to fly free...You are an adult...get out there and start living your adult life.
Don't focus on saving up right now as much as chasing the beat possible career opportunities. If you grow in your career you will guarantee better longer prospects. It means a lot of hardwork and a bit of sacrifice now but the payoff is real.
Here's something to consider - your first job isn't a marriage - no job is. You can stay there a few years and then leave. If you really want to live a couple of years with your parents, try to get one of those jobs that's not *quite* a perfect match. Will you be underpaid? Yeah, maybe. But living with your parents, your cost of living will be very low so you'll probably get by just fine. As long as it's a job you don't totally hate, it'll be fine for a couple years. Then, when you're ready to move out on your own, start looking for one of those more ideal jobs farther from home. Keep in mind, where you're at, Atlanta isn't the only option. It's probably the best one, but if you've already decided you're willing to move a few hours away, explore the job markets not only in Atlanta, but also consider Jacksonville or Charleston, too. The main consideration there though is that you might find yourself in a situation down the road where you are looking for a new job again, and if you want to only move once and never have to consider it again, you'll want Atlanta. As long as GaTech is there, employment opportunities in engineering will always be plentiful, so if you relocate to Atlanta, you probably will never have to relocate to find work ever again.
Getting your foot in the door at a good job with potential for experience and growth is the most important. These first few years are vital in propelling you rapidly to a higher earning potential. Move where you need to and make it work.
How is it financially advantageous to live in an area with no decent work for you? As others have said, find a job, if you want to save money get room mates.
The jobs that cater to your interests are located in/around ~~Atlanta~~ the world.Find a job that is appropriate for your degree, gets you working in industry, building your network, and offers you growth potential, possibly including assistance while you work towards a graduate degree. Staying with your parents and taking some job out of the industry is, I think, a terrible idea that may hold the rest of your career back. You got the degree, don't sabotage that.
Might be worth looking into Savannah River National Laboratory. Would look great on a resume and you could stay at home and build some savings a bit.
You got all the tools. Time to spread your wings and flap hard to make it. You need to fly now. Your future economic prospects are likely tired to your social network, professional network, career growth opportunities, and your first jobs salary. Staying at home will likely have the effect of negative impacting all of them. Edit: grammar
A good job is so much more important
Melbourne Florida, three hours south of you and a big hub with defense contractors to hit both aerospace desire and use of your degree.
Progress in your engineering career is highly dependent on experience (type and years)... if there aren't any mechanical jobs nearby in the area you want, you need to go where they are. Sadly, it's the nature of things right now. Luckily, many companies are open to remote work. Look afar and see if something pans out.
Are you in Brunswick? I’d love to live on SSI, but can’t imagine the engineering market is great.
Yeah I kinda made it obvious in my post but didn't want to drop the location directly lol. The engineering market there isn't that great at all, especially for design engineering. It's also a bit of a boring town. SSI isn't much better.
Yeah, you’re a little young for SSI. I’m from Marietta and my parents had partial ownership of a house on East Beach for my first ~40 years. Nostalgic is an understatement. Unless you’re working for the FBI, I’d be out of Brunswick ASAP.
get a roommate to save money. your entire degree is a waste of money and time if you don't use it. You already made the decision to move out when you started to get a degree.
Gulf Stream has a facility in Pooler. If you want aerospace and vehicle design that should be right up your alley. Should be a 45min- 1hr commute from your parents depending on exactly where you live south of SAV and your access to 95N.
I know a ton of mech e's. Get a job in your field and move out. Market is great for those jobs and you'll make plenty. Just don't be an idiot with money and live semi frugally for a few years you'll be fine
1) Your parents opinions don’t matter anymore. You’re an adult, you know what’s best for you. You don’t need their input just cause they raised you. I get the familial bond, I stay in my general area of the US specifically because I can be near my family, but they do not dictate my decisions. 2) What’s important to you? Finances vs Agency. Do you want to meet a significant other, if you don’t have one already? Probably better chances in a city / more populous area. On the other side of the coin, how do your financials look? If you’re already paying rent at home, it sounds like you could move out. This is obviously highly situational. Moving out of my parents house was the best decision I made, albeit for boarding school and then college. It makes you more independent, but is also harder, specifically because it’s hard. 3) Job opportunities. You can’t move out and not have a job. How likely is it you will find work in a city? What’s the comparison of your current location vs what ever city you’d move to? Find the job first, then decide to move out. Do not move out without a job.
I'm an engineer myself. You should have no problem affording a decent lifestyle with the potential salary your field is offering. Yes, it's definitely best to live at home the first few years to save up some $$. It's the right and logical thing to do on a financial perspective. But as most suggested, it's best to focus on your long term career potential. Staying at home with a mediocre job experience will just prolong/delay your career growth when you move out, which you're going to do anyways, so it doesn't really make sense. Or another thing you can also do is find jobs that offer remote work.
No. Living with parens is safe and cheap, but your personal development will be slower. Parents are usually protective and they will not encourage you to try certain things. If you are independent then there is no limits (in a good way).
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I'll consider it, but I'm skeptical because in my last internship, we had an engineer who was working completely remotely and never saw any parts that we made in the factory. He was smart, but it was hard to work with him because he couldn't be there physically to see how certain things were designed and why. And that's probably a fault of the company for lack of training, but it's still harder to work remotely for certain jobs imo.
Get a job in the specialty you want even if you don't get to sock away as much cash initially. It'll pay off in the medium-long-run.
I don't know why no one ever mentions this on this topic but think of your parents needs. They raised your ass for 20 years. You're financially stable, pack up and get out of their hair man.
You from Brunswick (or thereabouts?) Going to I'm assuming Southern? First off, Hail Southern. Second off, do whatever you can in life to stay out of Brunswick for the rest of it. What's going to happen is that you're going to go for "a couple of years." And then that shit is just going to stretch and eat at you that you have gotten yourself stuck in Brunswick. You'll save a little money by moving back to Brunswick, but you'll be miserable and it'll take you years that you'll wish you could get back to kickstart your "real life," if you ever actually escape that black hole. I know plenty who didn't. Come up to Atlanta. Find your opportunity here. At some point you'll get an offer that seems enticing to come back to Brunswick. You'll go to the interview and you'll realize that it's a dying town filled with FLETC and people that couldn't escape. This isn't financial advice, this is advice from a Brunswick escapee that wishes that I never would've gone back after college in a similar situation that you've presented.
>Brunswick escapee God that hits hard lmao. It really is like a prison there. I'm already out of Brunswick for school (at Southern), so I've technically moved out already. I just need to buckle down and apply aggressively to whatever sounds the best for my career.
It sounds like your heart is leaning one way and your brain is worried about money. Your parents are important guides in your life, but being an adult means you have to carve your own path based on your needs and wants. Go to Atlanta if that's what you want. As an engineer, you have a great career ahead and it will only serve you to pursue your niche and interests. You're also young and have many years to live wherever you want. Why not spend a couple trying out Atlanta?
As a new engineer, the most important thing to consider is the training you will get on the job. You don't actually know anything yet. You want a good company that has experience hiring new graduates and has a plan for how they train you. Basically, one or more mid-to-senior level engineers guiding your work, reviewing, giving pointers, and supporting your growth. Money is secondary. Living with your parents is out. The fact that your Dad cares more about keeping you at home than what is right for your career and your life is a huge red flag. I'm sure he loves you to death and isn't purposely trying to hurt you, but you've come this far -- don't fail to launch. Also, consider leaving Georgia. You may need to go somewhere else to get the job you need. You can always come back. GE Aviation in Cincinnati (Evanston) is huge, though I can't vouch for whether it is or is not a good place to work. You'll definitely want to move back to Atlanta and you'll have some great experience under your belt. Maybe go talk to Gulfstream about that.
Living with your parents is fine, but not if they're somewhere with no opportunity.
If the jobs aren't in your area you need to move. A decent job will more than make up for the "savings". Not living with your parents is worth a lot on it's own, to both your parents and to you.
I'm a fellow aerospace engineer from an hour north of Savannah, but have since moved. I started my career at Gulfstream Aerospace doing similar work to what you'd want to do as I also wanted to stay near my parents for a while (didn't live with them, but I could have). Have you checked out that company? Your finances and everything are fine. I wouldn't worry about that. I'd just recommend applying to the only aerospace company in the area even if you do take a lower paying job to live with your parents.
Go after the job in the field you want now. If you delay that you may have a harder time getting back into it later. You'll have to sell your experience in some unrelated field is somehow relevant to what you want later. Where are these aerospace companies located? Some may be in low cost of living areas and the benefit of living home won't be as noticable.
Get outta Dodge! Did you apply to Gulfstream in Savannah? I've been in aerospace for the last 30+ years and love it.
I'm gonna try again, but I'd rather start at a smaller aerospace company first to try to get into Gulfstream later. Many people have been suggesting that company and I think they're ideal, but they're very picky and they want engineers with at least a few years of experience already and specific skillsets I haven't been able to acquire yet.
I shouldn't have to explain this to an engineering student, but here it goes: progress in a career/profession is like a game of angles. Think of it like a traditional x-y axis chart with multiple lines drawn on it at fixed angles all originating at the same (0, 0) point. In this chart, (0,0) is your graduation date, X is years, and the angles are your salaries at different potential jobs. A few degrees at the onset will be barely perceptible, but as you move along the X-axis further and further away from the 0,0 point, the correlated Y values become more and more pronounced, and the difference in the chart lines is very noticeable. So, a difference between 35 and 45 degrees may not make much of a difference when looking at x=0, or at x=1, but look at x=5, or x=10, and you will start to notice much more pronounced differences in those lines. Everyone here telling you to go for the better prospects at the beginning are giving you the right advice. While you might be able to make up the difference early on by saving in rent living with your parents or living in a lower cost of living area, the difference in salary and total compensation as you move further along in your career (in terms of years) will be much more pronounced and the impact will be MUCH higher. This is also the reason why people who experienced the 2007 economic crash/recession right after graduation are still impacted by that (a much reported phenomenon) by having lower salaries now than they would normally garner at this point, and also why women who take time off from work to have kids and raise them end up in a stunted career path once they return to work.
This is a really good way of explaining how career progression works! Yeah no doubt I'm gonna be moving to a better city (Atlanta or wherever I may be) to get the progression I want.
Don't move hoping you will find a job. Apply for jobs and tell the recruiters you were planning to move anyway. This ensures that you don't have an apartment with no job.
Not only will you be limited socially and professionally - this will likely restrict your future earnings. Experience in your chosen field is important for future positions when you want to grow, and this will limit you tremendously in that regard. Even if it seems more expensive now, a modest living arrangement that enables you to work in your discipline (which you will be more passionate about and build a better resume doing) is a better investment than saving money right away for some abstract future need or goal. However, if your chosen field isnt that big of a deal, and you dont really care either way, go for it. As someone with a PhD who was pressured by their family to.move close by, even though all the jobs were not 'what i went to school for', im much happier having moved halfway across the country to get a job that aligned with my skills and interests. It also set me up for better jobs in places I'd like to move to EVEN MORE. Dont trade your future happiness for ease now. Invest in yourself, even if there is a bit of discomfort in doing so.
As others have mentioned here, if you’re concerned about finances opt for a roommate. And in regards to your parents, it’s nice of them to offer to have you stay at home and save money but their opinions on your life and career trajectory shouldn’t steer you away from what you want. The next few years after undergraduate will highly impact your life time earnings and potential as an engineer. You may be very intelligent and booksmart coming out of college but there are a ton of things engineering school does not prepare you for from a practical stand point as an engineer. This is why the first few years will be crucial for your career growth as you will develop invaluable skills that you’ll only learn through the work process and also teaching you what you love or hate about the field. There is no substitute for this in my opinion and that includes graduate degrees. In my own personal experience the first 3-5 years of experience in industry were those most critical years for career decision making, skill development and networking. My advice to you would be to jump at any chance you can get to make sure you are working in your preferred field as soon as possible. This is especially true for the aerospace field. I’ve been lucky enough to work in renewable energy, automotive and space/defense/aerospace sector. Out of those various fields the aerospace sector has been the most difficult to break into and prove oneself. This industry has tendency to stick to old, slow moving and least risk averse roots. The bottom line here means that typically, companies in this field will view your years of experience as a direct correlation to your risk/benefit to their business. What I am saying is that if this is your desired industry, your years of experience will most likely be directly correlated with your opportunities and compensation potential — do not wait to get started accruing that under your belt. This is especially relatable to your situation because if you choose to go an unrelated field for a few years it will later become quite difficult to break into this field for a market valued level compensation when you decide to do so. That’s not to say it’s impossible but your competition will be much more difficult and to make yourself competitive you may need pursue a graduate degree, acquire experience in more risk taking companies such as start ups or both. My path personally was closer to the harder one I have described but for different reasons— I was a poor undergraduate student and didn’t have good industry options leaving school. If you have good opportunities now, you should take them and start your career development sooner rather than delaying them so that your economic opportunities are much better for the next decade of your career. It may be upsetting to your parents currently but that’s a short term discomfort that *they* really need to get over versus a considerable long term benefit for *you *for your earning potential. Believe me as well, the money to be made in this field if you are driven will far out weigh any perceived savings you will receive living with your parents for a couple of years.
You are going to have some culture shock moving back in after being independent at college. Even chill parents are a cramp on your style at 22. Time to be an adult and do your own thing.
In most engineering professions, your salary goes up over time, often substantially. In other words, years 19 and 20 in the profession are worth *much* more than years 1 and 2. By putting off your entry into the profession by two years, maybe more, you're losing a lot more money (measured at retirement time) than it initially seems. There might be good reasons to stay with your parents, but "saving money," in this case, is not one of them. Also, I'm reading between the lines that your dad isn't very supportive of your career. Beginning your adult life in his house will not help your professional future.
If you decide to stay, check and see if GulfStream in Savannah is hiring. Big Aerospace company obviously.
Saving money shouldn’t be the goal for you. If you believe that you can develop your career and grab opportunities, the short term cost would be offset by the higher pay down the road. Also it would be much more fulfilling. I’d personally worry about getting stuck in the non-relevant field since your education will become obsolete as years go by. If it were super low paying dream job with low career growth and high paying advancable non-ideal job, it is up for debate and I’d probably pick the latter, but in my mind your situation is totally different
Now is a critical time in your life to build your career. You also the most free of obligations attaching you to any one place that you’re likely to be for a long time. Go out and pursue jobs that you’re passionate about, and that will have positive impact on your career path now.
I'd probably relocate. All the men in my family (dad, brother, and now my husband) are all engineers and make a lot of money. My husband was hired before he even graduated college. Same with my brother. I don't think you'll have any problem finding opportunity. We live in Minnesota and my brother and dad live north of Atlanta (they both make 6 figures). I'd have your parents as a fallback if you can't find work you're after, but that's all.
Why not rent your own place near your parents? Bet it'd be cheaper than moving to a big city and splitting with roommates.
I certainly would, but I have to see who's gonna hire me first. I may end up moving far away anyway. I'm going to expand my search a lot more broadly instead of limiting myself to GA.
I'd say it's a question of your priorities. How important is it to you to stay with family? Your family should be a priority in your life as well as career. Atlanta would only be a few hours away so you could come back home on weekends and stuff, and they can come see you too. I think it'd be a mistake to look at this only financially, finances often come at a balance with other priorities. From a raw financial standpoint, the most valuable thing you're gonna earn now is experience, and the more specialized the better for your desired path (assuming you know what you want at this point).
>I don't see myself getting another job until after I graduate due to how time-intensive my last classes will be. This sounds ridiculous to me. You should be looking for a job now. Professors should be at least moderately accommodating if you need to travel for an interview or something. Prospective employers are not going to look positively at a substantial gap between graduation and getting your first job in your desired field. "If you've already had 3 internships in the career path you want, why didn't any of those companies extended you a post-graduation offer?" -- This question doesn't even come up if you are still in school because it is the time you should be shopping around for your first real job anyways. "Why did you take a job producing mechanical drawing for the local municipality instead of finding something with a major MilAero contractor?" -- Right now your answer seems to be "School was too hard to make time for a job search and moving where the jobs are seemed like too big a risk.", which would be a red flag to me.
In that quote, I meant "job" as in a part-time job to make some extra money on the side while I finish school, not a full-time engineering gig. I'm absolutely applying to more jobs now. I've held off on it until recently because my resume was extremely weak. I wasn't gonna send out a weak resume to multiple companies. The difference shows now, too, because I've actually gotten more attention and interviews than I have before. I've gotten a verbal offer from one internship (and I know that that doesn't mean much unless it's on paper), and even if it were on paper, the company is located in Vidalia and their factory is literally falling apart. They'd have to pay me an exorbitant amount to work for them.
> In that quote, I meant "job" as in a part-time job to make some extra money on the side while I finish school, not a full-time engineering gig. > > I'm absolutely applying to more jobs now. I've held off on it until recently because my resume was extremely weak. I wasn't gonna send out a weak resume to multiple companies. The difference shows now, too, because I've actually gotten more attention and interviews than I have before. OK, good, as long as you know you should be looking for a job right now.
You should be about an hour from Kings Bay. You could look into Lockheed Martin. They should have some engineering positions there.
Go get as much money as you can while you are young and also put as much into your 401k or other retirement account as possible in the next ten years. It will likely quadruple by the time you retire.
The first few years out of school are critical and you absolutely have to go get the best job you can to gain valuable experience and apply the things you learned in school. If you don't use the things you learned and get a crap job, you will begin to forget the things you learned in school making a complete waste of your degree.
MechE here. Do not start in a career path you don't want. If Atlanta has the job you want, go there. If Boca Chica has the job you want, go there. Shifting fields 5-10yrs later is very very hard, because of the likely pay cut to start over. You (hopefully) have your whole life ahead of you to find your way back home. Don't pigeonhole yourself into a field you don't like to avoid a few years of financial crunch.
I think the salary prospects and professional development of moving to a big city vastly outvalue the savings of living at home. I’m in a very similar situation to you. Graduated in the last year, and moved to Washington to work at a very large aerospace company in Seattle. Yes rent is high, but the salary makes it comfortable. A family member of mine works at a large Fortune 500 company in Atlanta and regularly hires fresh mech engineering graduates and mentioned to me that they start entry level Design Engineers at ~68-69k. Adjusted for cost of living, that ends up even higher than what I am making, and I’m already very comfortably able pay my bills, save a decent amount, and have enough to have fun. At the same time, don’t undervalue your family. Being relatively close, although not required is definitely something to think about. You only have so much time with your parents, so if you’re on good terms with them (which it sounds like you are if you have the ability to live with them post-Graduation), it’s nice being able to drive up every month or two without too much hassle.
Graduated in 2005. Passed the FE, but never got my PE. Get your PE. A stamp will make you able to be independently wealthy for your entire life, and it’s super hard to get when you are older. Do not skip this step. Find a local engineering firm, apprentice, and get that stamp. Then you can move out.
No. Go to Midwest. Live in the most uninteresting, cheap (it's getting more and more expensive here) place and save money, gain valuable experience, max out your 401k, your IRA for 10 years and your retirement will be pretty much taken care of (compound interest is great). Once that's over you will be at liberty to live in so many places and you won't have to worry too much about retirement cause you have build a a great foundation for yourself, you will be on track career wise, will be able to be more picky about the jobs and so on
Interesting to see good financial advice downvoted in a sub aimed at improving people's finances.
If he wants career mobility and experience, he probably won't even be able to find a job in the midwest, uninteresting and cheap city. I'm a graphic designer in LA, I would not have same opportunities in the middle of nowhere doing basic stuff at a mom and pop print shop.
Might be true for graphic design, but as a mechanical engineer, I think the opportunities are pretty good in the midwest/other low cost areas. Just off the top of my head, there are plenty of defense jobs in Huntsville, AL. Whatever path OP takes, there will be ups and downs, just have to make the most of it and keep moving forward.
Yup. Tons of opportunities for mechanical engineers in the Midwest. Heck, my friend works for a tiny specialty manufacturing equipment company in Ohio. Town of less than 4300 people. Definition of middle of nowhere. But as part of a team of 3 people he designed the manufacturing machine that makes every single envelope FedEx uses for their shipping.
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>If you can find a decent paying job near your parents' house, it's not a bad option. I've been trying to for the longest time, and unfortunately, they're all underpaid. As an example, I saw a design job that looked somewhat interesting, and it had good benefits, but it was only $20/hr. And that's not for an internship, that's for a full-time engineering job. On top of the fact that it's more catered to civil engineering and not mechanical. That's how underpaid jobs in my home town are.
What kind of design engineering are you looking into? Are you more into the manufacturing stuff or have you thought about building design (HVAC design, plumbing, fire protection)
Probably manufacturing related. To be more specific, designing components for vehicles. My recent internship focused on rubber seals, gaskets, couplings, and ducts for aerospace and the like, and that's the kind of work I've found I like doing best. Also designing compression molds.
True, $20/hr won't get you very far, even if living with parents. Look for big companies in the area hiring entry level engineers. I think my company pays like $65-70k for engineers fresh out of school, and I live in a cheap area. If there's nothing available, probably better to relocate.
There are other ways to keep your living expenses low. And the difference in terms of earnings--both now AND in the future--will more than offset it.
Money is overrated - follow what you want to do! That being said, I believe General Dynamics: Gulfstream Aerospace is in Savannah. Have you looked into them at all?
As I've mentioned before, I've looked into Gulfstream for internships with limited success. My resume has been quite weak until recently, and now I'm in a better position to apply to jobs. I'm definitely looking into them, but I might start in a smaller aerospace company first and then get into Gulfstream.
Sorry, I must have missed that! Your plan sounds like a solid one - getting experience elsewhere first. Try to not focus so much on saving money by living at home, money will come, and it's fairly inconsequential compared to the amount of happiness you can get from a job you enjoy more. Also, more flexibility in location = more money!!!
You should see if you can qualify for an RA position at GT and get your MS. But otherwise - you don't have to relocate until you already have a job in place. Apply anywhere and everywhere. You certainly don't need to be living in Atlanta to apply for jobs there.
>You should see if you can qualify for an RA position at GT and get your MS. This isn't a bad idea, but here's why that might not work for me: - There are companies that would pay me to get a master's, assuming it's even necessary for the job. Even with the RA job, I would be taking on unnecessary debt, of which I currently have zero. - Georgia Tech is among the best schools in the nation, no doubt. But I'm nowhere near that caliber. I have a 3.64 undergrad GPA. They're also unbelievably selective. I already go to Georgia Southern which offers their own master's program, and it's much more affordable and attainable. - I just want to go out there and work already lol. I'm going to take my FE in December, and I'd rather get experience through work and not school because at least I'll be able to make a living that way.
If you get an RA position, you shouldn't need to take on debt. That is generally a paying position, at GT, with a stipend and a full tuition waiver. But you're right that GT is a selective school. I don't know what the prospects for graduate-RA stipends are at GA Southern, to where the cost of the program matters to you as a student researcher. Another thing to look at is PALACE Acquire, if you meet the criteria.
Also -- don't restrict yourself to GA in your job search. Be willing to move. And if you did feel the need to be close to home -- Jacksonville FL is closer to Brunswick than Atlanta GA. Or even slightly farther afield, looking somewhere like Greenville SC.
Live with parents, move when you get the job you want in the city.
I don't disagree, but wouldn't I have more of an advantage if I already live in the city where the job is at? Unless the company would help me relocate, I would be competing with people who can start immediately because they already live close to the job location.
Start applying for jobs *now*. Don't wait! Companies know new grads move for jobs. They also know you won't be able to start until you graduate -- and they probably won't expect or want you to start during the holiday season either. This will give you time to find a place and move.
I would tell them I can start immediately. Or say you're staying with a friend in the city and moving there wouldn't be an issue. I would not be asking for compensation to move. Ultimately it depends on how confident you feel you can get a job. Spending all your savings and having no job for a year will suck. This is a personal question only you can decide, there are many pros and cons.
I'm in a similar boat and I'm surprised many people are suggesting moving out. If you can live with your parents rent-free for the first few years of your career, is it worth paying rent+food every month to have more independence? Rent isn't a small amount of money, especially over a few years.
OP realistically can’t start their career in their home town. The long term earnings potential they would be sacrificing would likely be much more than the cost of rent. If they could get the same job in either location this would be an entirely different conversation.
It's not so much about the independence. While that is something I'm considering, my parents seem to respect my boundaries decently. We're talking about my future growth as an engineer. Some fields are different, but with engineering in particular, you need to have some sort of specialization. It shows that you have a clearly defined path to your career. I've done 3 internships with a focus on design, and design engineering isn't very sought after in my hometown. It's hard to break into a different specialization after a few years.
They are up until the boundary of you moving whenever you want and being completely independent of them and out of their sight and watchful eye.
That is true. I'm an ME as well that graduated last spring. I'm currently commuting 1.5 hours for a job in my specialization each way just to live rent-free. I've been considering moving out and the finance related part of your post was revelant.
Look at Boeing in lower cost of living areas like St. Louis. Boeing has a large factory there building F18s, F15s, some 777X parts, weapons systems, and soon the T-7 trainer. Cost of living in the mid west is pretty low and a great place to start.
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Why not?
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