I know this is kind of a loungish post... but i know you guys dont frequent the lounge much.

to put it short and sweet: What is your job, and how did you get there? Meaning, what kind of classes did you take in college, what was your major, etc.

Basically, im 18, just started college, and im unsure what i want to do. I know I want to work for GM in one way or another, especially being that my hometown isnt that far away from the motor city Right now my major is engineering, but im not 100% sure about it. Math is by no means my strong point. Right now, all my friends (also engineering majors) are all a year ahead of me because of their math situation, and they are already machining stuff in the first week of school. (they would also like to work for the big 3 if im not mistaken). What i find ironic, is that i easily know twice as much, if not 3 times as much about cars as any of them.

I used to be big into computers, got a+ certified and everything, but ive kinda lost interest in that. being that i used to be a co-op for a public school... it was hard work, payed little, and i ended up getting layed off due to budget cuts (seems to be the trend in a lot of computer jobs around here, with outsourcing and everything).

Im in a weird situation right now... i just barely didnt make it into calculus... so im stuck in this really really easy algebra class which is like hs freshman algebra. this also puts me a year behind in everything else because you have to be taking calc to be ahead in all my other classes The good thing though, is that i pretty much have a year to figure out what i wanna do for sure.

any guidance would be much appreciated

 

I'm not a career counselor. I do have a little knowledge of GM and the folks they look for.

With over 325,000 employees, there's room for folks other than just engineering disciplines. Engineering education will never hurt, but there's opportunities in other areas as well. Best advice I could give would be very good at what you do while being well rounded. Wanting to be the best and willing to do more than talk rhetoric is the path I suggest.

MBA is not a bad path either, particularly when it is based on not only business as a science, but automotive business as a science as well as a healthy dose of people sense.

Maybe look into Kettering University. It was formerly GMI, the GM meaning General Motors... It has been a path for many of the GM folks I know.

It certainly isn't the only school GM pulls from. I can tell you a good number of upper management folks at GM went to GMI or what later became Kettering University.

As you are in Michigan, be where automotive folks will be. Hone your talent. Keep in mind how it applies to making GM more successful.

The next time Woodward Dream Cruise comes around? Find the GM folks. Introduce yourself. Ask questions. Show your passion and persistance. SHow that you will do what it takes and WILL make a difference if given the chance.

You can get what you want if you choose to make it your focus.

It isn't necessary that you be a math whiz. Look in the mirror. Build on your true talents. Whatever your path, keep in mind what folks think is important, necessary, or exciting.

In the final analysis, having some understanding of what people will spend their hard earned dollars on is VERY important.

 

I was actually far behind in math... really far, actually. But I really wanted to do engineering and I stuck it out and actually ended up quite good at it in the end.

I sent GM countless resumes packed with automotive experience (Engineering, Hybrid Car creation, racing, car restoration, etc.) and every time they sent me a little cardboard corvette. I kept posting them on my dorm room wall. Lol, it was like they didn't want anyone who knew about cars. The capper was when they called one girl in my graduating class out of nowhere and offered her an engineering job in a racing program. Boy, was everyone annoyed with that one. She just bumbled along "I don't know anything about cars and I didn't even send them a resume." She was not a stellar student, either. But hey, what are you gonna do.

So I ended up working for Ford. Then Visteon. Now I work for a Japanese automaker. At any rate, I wouldn't just focus on GM, even if it is your first choice. There are lots of neat opportunities out there.

 

Boooooooooo! J/K

 

What exactly did you do here?

 

I worked on a team in college that built a series hybrid out of a dodge intrepid and a parallel hybrid out of a suburban (graduated before they finished that one).

 

The Intrepid hybrid wouldn't have happened to have been part of the Supercar Project, would it?

 

Actually, it was called "FutureCar" but I think that some of the funding may have come from the feds Supercar program.

 

This thread is actually a question I've been wondering about myself. I just finished up my Bachelors in Computer Science and my one year M.B.A., I'm working for Citigroup Financial and working with a buddy in trying to get a small performance business going past its home-garage stage, anything to stay busy and get experiences. But I'm 22 and I want to make the right steps at trying to get into GM if I can, I'd rather be ahead of the game than behind. I had been figuring the engineering degree was going to have to be my next step, although I'd like to get it anyway eventually.

 

well...as 1FastDog said...there are a lot of disciplines.

MBA is the price of entry to most corporations these days. (not that I agree with it...but it's a fact of life.....)

Anyone interested in working for GM: I encourage you to go onto www.gm.com and click on careers.....there's a whole website devoted to careers....some background in most areas..and you can submit a resume. You'd be surprised at the myriad of job disciplines.......contrary to popular belief, most people working for any car company are NOT car people per se. Now...that doesn't sound right, but when you consider that there are many areas in terms of finance, communications, research, etc....you quickly realize that it takes all kinds of people and all kinds of personalities to make a car (or truck) successful.

Right now, we, like all companies are downsizing...that said, we also are hiring in certain areas.........esp, I believe, in engineering.....specific positions....don't know exact specifics...but with the number of products in the pipeline.......

If you're young, it's important to set goals.......and work toward them.

Something else to consider......some of our employees start their careers with our vendors and suppliers...and then move into GM.

Good luck!

 

Absolutely!

 

so i should stick to my engineering major? Also, does GM offer college students co-op opportunities? Im 99% sure I am required to co-op to get my bachelors degree. I'll probably find out today... my first intro to engineering class is at 2:00.

thanks for the input guys!

 

Most schools do require you to co-op to graduate, however usually its not until your senior year. I'd hate to say it, but if math isn't your strong point, you are going to struggle. Most engineering class require knowledge in algebra, trigonometry and calculus. Don't give up though, I've been out of school for 15+ years now and the most math I use these days is basic arithmetic and at most algebra. Keep in mind though I am now in Project Management and my discipline is Civil Engineering.

Best of luck!

 

No Scott that didnt sound right lol, But there are guys in that company that are like you, CAR NUTZ.

I went to the website the night we left you in Seattle & saw that there wasnt much with my back ground, But I havent let that get in my way. I am starting from the bottom & wanting to move up. I have turned in two Apps. At two differant dealerships for Parts Department. Then saving up money then going after my Business Managment Degree & hopfully turning in to a Manager of something at the dealership

 

That is trademark, I mean TRADEMARK GM.

To tell you a no-B.S., no "suger-coated" opinion, it's been my experience that GM favors hiring minority and women engineers.

I am a senior in mechanical engineering and will be graduating in December. I remember back to when I was looking for a co-op job. The school sponsored one of those job-fairs with various company tables and free stale and pre-fingered cookies. Amongst the tables was the auto giant GM. Of course, many students (myself included) were in the long line to try and get their chance at being the next Corvette chief engineer. A lot of cardboard corvettes were handed out that day.

Several weeks later, I over-heard two black guys in my organic chemistry class talking about their recent hiring into GM's engineering co-op program. "Hmmm" I thought to myself. I've never known these two guys to be the best students, but since GM had hired them, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. My GPA was a 3.6, and I had made the Dean's List every semester. I certainly don't remember those two guys on the Dean's List, but hey, who am I to judge? Maybe they were more qualified in other areas besides academics.

Several weeks after that, I over-heard the same two guys talking. This time they were discussing how to best talk to the teacher in order to have their grade on the last test raised. Both of them were in fear of actually failing the class. I had busted my *** in the class (as I always do), and had an A- at the time. It was no surprise to me that the two black guys were not doing well in the class, as they often skipped or did not complete homework assignments.

Then, I heard of another story similar to the one you have told, and I began to realize what was going on.

So I said "Screw it" and looked for employment elsewhere. I ended up working at Intier Automotive, which is a Tier 1 auto supplier. The pay was great, and it was a comfortable work environment. I was quite pleased.