I have a serious question; How to start a career in electronic hardware design ?
A few facts about me; I'm 40 I started learning electronics at the age of 10. I have experience and knack for troubleshooting (technical electronics).
3 years ago got a BS in Computer Systems Engineering, which is, in short, a computer science - flavored electrical engineering program.I've worked at a few jobs in the 3 years since I graduated, but find it so difficult to secure any position involving 'serious' engineering (actually employing advanced devices and principles ), that I've essentially given up that I will ever work in embedded hardware development unless I flip burgers until I can afford to buy development tools and do it on my own, because clearly no company hires anyone without 5-8 years of ''experience''. I'm sure I would fit well in any role employing any mix of analog design / digital design / computer interface / computer programming, but there are no companies willing to hire someone without xx years of experience.
So how the heck does a 'smarter' person with the technical knack ever get a career started when no one will hire someone who hasn't already logged years at another company ?
I've 240 earned college credits, in technical electronics (AS), and engineering (BS) .. and a general sense of futility that I'll ever get a shot at the things I think I'll be best at, engineering, hardware design.
How the heck does ANYONE get started in this field ??
With $ 30,000 in student loans that I can't touch, and no means of getting even to the dentist, I'd like to have a shot at my career.. and no shot can be had since no one hires 'newbies' ( remember, electronics since age 12).
I give up, literally, I'm leaving metro Boston in two weeks (because I can't afford to live here, and what's the point - no company recognizes talent or knack, just 'experience' .. it bears repeating; How the heck does ANYONE get started in this field ??
I look forward to your response and appreciate it.
regards- moi