YAJT

[Kirby]

I have been offered two Co-op positions by Intergraph and the US Army Aviation & Missile Research, Development, & Engineering Center and I'm having trouble choosing.

Intergraph is the largest/most profitable software in Alabama, but AMRDEC seems to do more interesting work. I've toured both, and Intergraph reminds me of Office Space, while AMRDEC had missiles and control systems on the tables. The thing I worry about AMRDEC is government cuts in the future. They're both located in Huntsville, which I like. Does anyone have any experience working in both commercial and government jobs? Advantages, disadvantages?

 

[Kirby]

Evening bump.

 

[Fenixgoon]

government work might offer less pay, but may give insanely awesome experience. i went with a govt job, and despite the relatively low pay (some of my friends on co-op are making close to $25/hr, wtf :Q) the experience is great and i've actually used stuff i learned in class! :Q

 

[CanOWorms]

Government cuts? Won't you get cut at Intergraph too? I grew up in Huntsville when they cut back business big time. Maybe things have changed...

 

[tfinch2]

The thing about a government job is that for the first 1-2 months you'll be sitting there waiting for something to do while your background check goes through.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Government cuts? Won't you get cut at Intergraph too? I grew up in Huntsville when they cut back business big time. Maybe things have changed...

I'm just guessing. I really have no idea. Last time I looked they employed about 1500 people.

Originally posted by: tfinch2
The thing about a government job is that for the first 1-2 months you'll be sitting there waiting for something to do while your background check goes through.

I guess. I have to get Secret security clearance, although I'll only be there a semester at a time, I would hope they would find me something to do. The job starts in the fall though, so maybe they can get it done by then.

 

[Fenixgoon]

^ if either job gives you a clearance, that's a HUGE plus. that will make you *very* valuable to any employer who has a job requiring a clearance.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
^ if either job gives you a clearance, that's a HUGE plus. that will make you *very* valuable to any employer who has a job requiring a clearance.

Excellent. I got past the first round of interviews for the NSA (require top secret), but I really didn't want to fill out all the paperwork or live in Maryland.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
^ if either job gives you a clearance, that's a HUGE plus. that will make you *very* valuable to any employer who has a job requiring a clearance.

Excellent. I got past the first round of interviews for the NSA (require top secret), but I really didn't want to fill out all the paperwork or live in Maryland.

the paperwork is a PITA. i filled the forms out god knows how many times.. and i *STILL* have to get it done again (ok, well that one is my fault ). you'll probably get finger printed about 50,000 times as well.

where in MD, by the way? it's a pretty crappy state.. but it's not an absolute hellhole.. unless you're in DC/Baltimore.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
^ if either job gives you a clearance, that's a HUGE plus. that will make you *very* valuable to any employer who has a job requiring a clearance.

Excellent. I got past the first round of interviews for the NSA (require top secret), but I really didn't want to fill out all the paperwork or live in Maryland.

the paperwork is a PITA. i filled the forms out god knows how many times.. and i *STILL* have to get it done again (ok, well that one is my fault ). you'll probably get finger printed about 50,000 times as well.

where in MD, by the way? it's a pretty crappy state.. but it's not an absolute hellhole.. unless you're in DC/Baltimore.

Fort Meade.

 

[KillerCharlie]

With the exception of NASA (only in certain cases), government/military engineering interns/coop can be very poorly put together. On the other hand, some companies have really polished programs. They both could be really good or really bad experiences. I would try to understand how well both of their programs are set up.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
^ if either job gives you a clearance, that's a HUGE plus. that will make you *very* valuable to any employer who has a job requiring a clearance.

Excellent. I got past the first round of interviews for the NSA (require top secret), but I really didn't want to fill out all the paperwork or live in Maryland.

the paperwork is a PITA. i filled the forms out god knows how many times.. and i *STILL* have to get it done again (ok, well that one is my fault ). you'll probably get finger printed about 50,000 times as well.

where in MD, by the way? it's a pretty crappy state.. but it's not an absolute hellhole.. unless you're in DC/Baltimore.

Fort Meade.

i think my sister worked at fort meade for a little. appears to be right between b'more and DC. not too far from me as well, heh (co-op in aberdeen, md)

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
With the exception of NASA (only in certain cases), government/military engineering interns/coop can be very poorly put together. On the other hand, some companies have really polished programs. They both could be really good or really bad experiences. I would try to understand how well both of their programs are set up.

I don't think Intergraph has been doing co-op for a very long time, but I met some past co-op guys at AMRDEC who seemed to like their job. Although who's going to tell a prospective employee that their job sucks and to avoid if all possible?

 

[kranky]

My guess is you'd have more challenging and interesting assignments at Intergraph compared to a government job.

While at a prior job, I used to visit Intergraph a couple times a year. They have some really smart people there. Heh, now that got me thinking of the restaurant I used to go to next to the Hilton and the VBCC, since demolished. Can't remember the name, but they had great eats. Had a railroad motif.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I was in the Huntsville area last year.

With the new BRAC, more work is moving into that area.

I would take the government job - and use it to make connections within the civilian contractor world.

A government co-op will give you as much as you request from it. You can sit around and waste time being a gofer or you can hook up with a group that will let you test you skills.

 

[Codewiz]

I am not sure we will see government spending decrease anytime soon so why are you worried about the stability of that job? Traditionally gov't jobs are some of the most secure.

 

[tidehigh]

AMRDEC - no doubt. do you go to school here in Huntsville?

 

[tidehigh]

BTW my entire company split from Intergraph because of how much they disliked upper management. This was nearly 20 years ago though.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
^ if either job gives you a clearance, that's a HUGE plus. that will make you *very* valuable to any employer who has a job requiring a clearance.

Excellent. I got past the first round of interviews for the NSA (require top secret), but I really didn't want to fill out all the paperwork or live in Maryland.

you're missing out big as far as future employment goes if you turn down getting a TS. TS opened a lot of doors for me doing govt work.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: tidehigh
BTW my entire company split from Intergraph because of how much they disliked upper management. This was nearly 20 years ago though.

No, I'm in Tuscaloosa. So far it's been split half and half about which one to take.