Anonymous wrote:Skills which the Fed labs and systems centers nearly always desire for an ECE in the 854 or 855 series include: C or C++ programming, UNIX/Linux application programming, Python, UNIX/Linux kernel programming, assembly programming (x86 or ARM), Matlab programming, Mathematica, R programming, GIT or SVN experience, GCC or LLVM compiler experience, circuit design, signal processing, familiarity with Radio/ RF modulation & coding/ RF technology, logic design with VHDL/Verilog for FPGAs, ability to write/documents in clear language, familiarity with various test equipment (oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, etc.). No one candidate will have all of these. Even just 1 or 2 might be enough to get the foot in the door, although more us obviously better.

If a resume lists relevant engineering skills, and has relevant key words describing courses / tools / experience, describing school projects and such, then the GPA matters less. A 1 or 2 page resume is fine for a new grad, provided there is relevant content on every page.

List all work experience from the college years, particularly if one was doing work during the semester (which by itself can lower the GPA for lack of time to study).

Btw, I am looking for most of those skills when I look at resumes for my commercial world job. Always always explicitly indicate US Citizen.

Thank you engineering hiring manager--you are kind! Copied over your text and will share with DC over a break. Thank you. OP.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry if this is a stupid question but can't he just pad his GPA with easy classes? Or are they only looking at major classes? Or is taking easy classes not an option?

At UVa SEAS, way back when, there was only 1 unrestricted elective in 4 years. All others had to come from an approved list, which was neither a long list nor loaded with easier classes. They deliberately created E School rules that locked out most easy classes.

Anonymous wrote:I should specify, electrical/computer engineering type of major

In ECE at many engineering schools, the median undergrad GPA is curved to a 3.0. So about half of the class has a GPA below 3.0 at those schools.

Many non STEM fields curve grades so that the median grade is 3.3 or even 3.5. There really is no comparison.

Separately, in my engineering math courses, getting 50% correct was an A, getting maybe 40% correct was a B, and getting maybe 35% correct was a C. Engineering courses can have some pretty tough grading curves.

It is a completely different world in an E School compared with many other fields. Focus on supporting any DC who are in Engineering school, emotionally and otherwise. Visit them. Provide moral support. Make sure their mental health is ok. E School students work much longer hours at college, after one factors in labs and higher
Course loads. They have much less spare time to relax.

Skills which the Fed labs and systems centers nearly always desire for an ECE in the 854 or 855 series include: C or C++ programming, UNIX/Linux application programming, Python, UNIX/Linux kernel programming, assembly programming (x86 or ARM), Matlab programming, Mathematica, R programming, GIT or SVN experience, GCC or LLVM compiler experience, circuit design, signal processing, familiarity with Radio/ RF modulation & coding/ RF technology, logic design with VHDL/Verilog for FPGAs, ability to write/documents in clear language, familiarity with various test equipment (oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, etc.). No one candidate will have all of these. Even just 1 or 2 might be enough to get the foot in the door, although more us obviously better.

If a resume lists relevant engineering skills, and has relevant key words describing courses / tools / experience, describing school projects and such, then the GPA matters less. A 1 or 2 page resume is fine for a new grad, provided there is relevant content on every page.

List all work experience from the college years, particularly if one was doing work during the semester (which by itself can lower the GPA for lack of time to study).

Btw, I am looking for most of those skills when I look at resumes for my commercial world job. Always always explicitly indicate US Citizen.

I am a hiring manager who posted before. I work in the commercial technology sector, ot Federal, and have worked for various technology companies with names familiar to all. I just happen to have colleagues who are Feds. In my experience, many big name commercial technology companies are about skills and do not obsess about engineering GPA - which clearly is a different experience from someone else who said they only look at high GPA candidates.

In metro DC, for civil service EE jobs (GS 850 series) relating to construction: Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, and USAF equivalents.

Same, but for ECE degree in electronics, radio, logic, software, computers, and such (GS-854 and GS-855 series jobs): NIST in Gaithersburg, Army Research Lab in Adelphi, Naval Sea Systems Command or Naval Research Lab both in DC, NSWC at Carderock, NSWC at Indian Head, NSWC at Dahlgren VA, Naval Air Systems Command at Pax River in MD.

Look at USAjobs.gov and have a profile with resume there, and apply to job openings from there, but also reach out to the HR people at the above places and ask how you can submit your resume.

Always always list "US Citizen" on the resume if one is actually a US citizen. It is legally problematic to ask about an applicant's citizenship, but most civil service positions will absolutely require US citizenship.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't hire someone fresh out of college with a GPA below 3.0. I'm a hiring manager in an engineering field. Others may feel differently.

Different engineering hiring manager. I have had consistently good success with ignoring GPA and focusing instead on skills.

Federal engineering jobs usually will start pay at GS-7 if GPA > 3.0 and start pay at GS-5 otherwise.

OP here. Thank you all for your comments. It helped me ground my thoughts. As I mentioned, we don't monitor his grades and were happy he landed a good internship. But we don't want him (and us) to live in a la-la land too. There can be a zone between bringing awareness of the real world and putting mental pressure.

But engineering hiring manager, if you are still following this thread, where do you look for federal engineering jobs? Dept of transportations? Thank you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:hi engineering parents, DC goes to a T20 selective engineering program and we stopped monitoring his grades because it just leads to stress and angst. found that that GPA is very sub-par, just a tad below 3. so worried now. did get an internship for summer. said that gpa does not matter that much. but we are so worried. is this true?

Is there a reason they are not considering switching their major to something they might be more interested in and might be better at?

No need to assume that a sub-3.0 engineering major isn't sufficiently good at, or interested in, engineering.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:hi engineering parents, DC goes to a T20 selective engineering program and we stopped monitoring his grades because it just leads to stress and angst. found that that GPA is very sub-par, just a tad below 3. so worried now. did get an internship for summer. said that gpa does not matter that much. but we are so worried. is this true?

Is there a reason they are not considering switching their major to something they might be more interested in and might be better at?

I think it might not be changing a major the issue here. Do students with GPA 2.5-3 get overlooked from any college regardless of top program? Do students with lower GPA from any school get at least interview? Just curious regardless of engineering major.

Anonymous wrote:hi engineering parents, DC goes to a T20 selective engineering program and we stopped monitoring his grades because it just leads to stress and angst. found that that GPA is very sub-par, just a tad below 3. so worried now. did get an internship for summer. said that gpa does not matter that much. but we are so worried. is this true?

Is there a reason they are not considering switching their major to something they might be more interested in and might be better at?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the school matter? Is 3 GPA from top engineering college the same from any other college? Plus how do hiring managers measure students soft skills it can't be only grades.

The soft skills get measured during the interview. But... getting the interview requires some minimum requirements for a new hire, like a 3.0 GPA for an engineering student. And frankly, for non-engineers I expect closer to a 3.5. I hire for both technical engineering and policy positions, and am an engineer myself (3.7 coming out of undergrad).

What type of company is this? What types of firms should a 2.9 engineering student be looking for?

I should specify, electrical/computer engineering type of major

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the school matter? Is 3 GPA from top engineering college the same from any other college? Plus how do hiring managers measure students soft skills it can't be only grades.

The soft skills get measured during the interview. But... getting the interview requires some minimum requirements for a new hire, like a 3.0 GPA for an engineering student. And frankly, for non-engineers I expect closer to a 3.5. I hire for both technical engineering and policy positions, and am an engineer myself (3.7 coming out of undergrad).

What type of company is this? What types of firms should a 2.9 engineering student be looking for?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the school matter? Is 3 GPA from top engineering college the same from any other college? Plus how do hiring managers measure students soft skills it can't be only grades.

The soft skills get measured during the interview. But... getting the interview requires some minimum requirements for a new hire, like a 3.0 GPA for an engineering student. And frankly, for non-engineers I expect closer to a 3.5. I hire for both technical engineering and policy positions, and am an engineer myself (3.7 coming out of undergrad).

Thank you for sharing. So instead of going to highly competitive school with low GPA, managers will prefer higher GPA from lower ranking school even to interview students. It appears lower GPA students might not get a chance for interview to show case other skills they might bring to the table.

Anonymous wrote:Does the school matter? Is 3 GPA from top engineering college the same from any other college? Plus how do hiring managers measure students soft skills it can't be only grades.

The soft skills get measured during the interview. But... getting the interview requires some minimum requirements for a new hire, like a 3.0 GPA for an engineering student. And frankly, for non-engineers I expect closer to a 3.5. I hire for both technical engineering and policy positions, and am an engineer myself (3.7 coming out of undergrad).

Anonymous wrote:Our kid had a 3.6 from UMD Engineering and never got a summer internship. He was gainfully employed in an engineering position upon graduation and loves his job. I would say his gpa helped him get his job post graduation.

Was this by choice on the summer internship?

Anonymous wrote:Our kid had a 3.6 from UMD Engineering and never got a summer internship. He was gainfully employed in an engineering position upon graduation and loves his job. I would say his gpa helped him get his job post graduation.

What was the GPA after freshman year?