Graduated with a 3.7 GPA. Looking for advice/help
Hey everyone, I wanted to make this post because I’m honestly starting to feel stuck and figured this subreddit might have some people who’ve been through something similar or know what I might be doing wrong.
I graduated from River Parishes Community College in Gonzales, Louisiana in July of 2025 with an associate degree in Instrumentation and Electrical Technology. I finished with a 3.7 GPA and genuinely took the program seriously.
Since graduating, I’ve been applying to jobs related to:
- Instrumentation Technician
- I&E Technician
- Electrical Technician
- Industrial Maintenance Technician
- Controls/Automation-related entry positions
- Plant operator positions that value instrumentation backgrounds
I’ve applied to contractors, plants, refineries, chemical companies, and industrial employers throughout Louisiana, especially around the Baton Rouge and River Parishes area. Unfortunately, I keep running into the same issue:
- either getting outright rejected,
- never hearing back,
- or being told they went with someone with more experience.
What’s frustrating is that a lot of these places say they’re desperate for skilled workers or new technicians, but it feels incredibly difficult to actually break into the field without already having years of experience.
I’m not expecting to immediately walk into a six-figure position or anything like that. I’m willing to learn, willing to work, willing to travel within reason, willing to start at the bottom, and genuinely want to build a long-term career in instrumentation/electrical work. I just need someone to give me a chance to get real industry experience.
So I wanted to ask:
- Is the current job market just rough right now for entry-level instrumentation techs?
- Should I focus more on contractors first instead of direct plant hires?
- Are there specific companies in Louisiana that are known for actually taking on newer techs?
- Is there something employers specifically look for that I may be missing?
- Are there job fairs, networking events, or recruiting pipelines I should know about?
Any advice, resume tips, company recommendations, or general guidance would seriously mean a lot right now. I’ve worked hard to get this degree and I genuinely want to make this career path work. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this.