<p>I am a Canadian high school graduate who was forced to take a gap year because I wanted to change my major electrical engineering. Unfortunately, since my deferral, I have been unable to find a job or close volunteer positions. Ideally I aimed for internships with an electrical grid company but, of the 12 applications I’ve sent to, none have replied. Because I’m unable to find a meaningful job I believe that it’s more valuable to spend time on volunteer work. However I cannot seem to find any opportunities that will help me become more orientated as an electrical engineer. What else should I try to make the most of this year?</p>
<p>Can you go to a local college starting in January and take a few classes that will transfer to your future university?</p>
<p>It is unlikely that a recent high school senior would find temporary jobs closely related to the field of electrical engineering. Regarding volunteering, you could broaden your sights and find volunteer work tutoring students in math.</p>
<p>One of the conditions of a guaranteed spot in my university’s program is that I take no post-secondary courses unfortunately. Additionally, due to this sudden decision, no universities or colleges have a spot for me either. I have already tutored students in the past and am frankly tired of doing it all the time. </p>
<p>Attend a Maker Faire and get ideas for independent projects. Do things hands-on. Learn to use an oscilloscope and what capacitors, resistors, and inductors look like and how they behave. See if you can volunteer for a professor in a lob in the university you will be attending, or for an NRC. Do projects- look for DIY things to try to make. Engineering students often come in without hands-on experience and it can be very useful to have made some things. Look on the internet to find Arduino or Raspberry Pi projects, and do one. Learn to code in Python. Do something fun, engaging, and enlightening. Go here for more ideas: <a href=“Energy Archives | Engineering For Change”>https://www.engineeringforchange.org/topic/view/energy</a></p>
<p>@ bouders
construction is no go as my parents don’t want me to go into dangerous work. However I would like to be able to find training in hardware.</p>
<p>@ ItsJustSchool
I’ve been attempting to learn about DIY but I lack the inspiration and guidance. But I will attend a Maker Faire and see how it will work for me. </p>
<p>Put together a list of electricians in your area and figure out how you want to contact them. If would work better if you or your parents had some personal connections that you could make use of. Do any of your neighbors work in the construction business?<br>
Did you give up on the tutoring idea? Any local after school programs need help with Lego League?</p>
<p>I have attempted to talk to nearby electrician companies but none want to send the time or resources to train me. However I do not know if there are any electricians in my neighborhood. Me and my family are very isolated since we hardly get involved with others and the consequences are starting to raise. I have been given an offer for tutoring but I have yet to hear from them for an interview position yet. Also my near by schools do not have Lego League actually. I tried to make a club like this at my school but it failed due to a lack of participants.</p>
<p>Do you live in a city? Is there a university in town? Is there a research university in town? Is there a NRC in town? Are there government organizations in town? Are there any Crown Corporations in town? Any NGOs?</p>
<p>Where are you and what resources do you have available to you?</p>
<p>I live in the Richmond Hill area where there’s no universities though the University of Toronto is reachable in an hour bus/subway ride. Near me are a gathering of restaurants and small businesses instead. The only resource I have available to me is the Toronto youth employment center which, unfortunately, was not much help at all. I attempted to call back multiple times and I’ve always failed to speak to them. Though I have no idea how successful these kinds of organizations are so I might have just been unlucky. I also have a YMCA near me if those can help me as well. Currently I managed to get a job through my friend’s recommendation as a part time worker at McDonalds. Should I further continue for another job or settle for this?</p>
<p>You may be able to volunteer through the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada at the David Dunlop Observatory, but it is closing in on colder weather and I imagine there may be less activity there. If you could get involved in the off-season maintenance, or train as a volunteer, there may be things to learn about the control and operation of the Telescope. But, yes, you are in suburbia.</p>
<p>I may opt for the hour ride. There is so much going on- NRC (CIFAR, for example, or cancer research) would be a great place to intern. There is so much in Toronto, that you are lucky in some respects to be only an hour away.</p>
<p>I emailed RASC but it seems that they don’t want my assistance as they haven’t replied in 2 days. Do technician companies and labs accept volunteers without connections, skills, or education? Or am I best off looking for volunteer opportunities in charity shops and fundraising, away from the electrical engineering field?</p>