Is there any other options if I wanna work for Ford that DOESN'T involve science?? And I'm not talking about the salesman part. Not that that's a bad thing. But for all I know it could involve science, who knows. I mean, it is possible for me to learn / teach myself phyiscs. Which I should start getting around to, like, right now. Yes I procrastinate

 

You could work in the front office in anything from typewriter management to President... what I'm referring to is the business side of Ford.

The good thing about a comapny with the stature of Ford is that you can get a position doing just about anything that you can go to college for... science to business.... they have someone doing EVERYTHING.

RP

 

Of course there are. I understand that FoMoCo is already searching for qualified candidates for what is proving to be a very tricky install of the left front wheel on the the 2008 F-150. Assembly line work is very satisfying.

You are currently looking down the barrel of one of the toughest choices of your life. I understand that you really want to be a body designer for Ford. It is a job for which many are called, but few are chosen. Even if you managed to get on a design team you will probably spend many years designing cupholders and ashtrays, not big appearance or performance components.

If you are truly committed to this career, talk to Ford engineers, visit the plant and website. Research what schools they draw on to get their engineers (Don't think for one minute that Ford doesn't have a school(s) where they draw most of their design staff from in an effort to get people that know what they want them to; they have Billions of $s riding on this). Talk to current and former employees, look into internships and part-time jobs. See if there is some kind of program that "grooms" people for jobs with the company. See if you already know someone who does this for a living, or know someone who knows someone. Ask family, friends, teachers, enemies, anyone for a way in. If you want to live the dream, chase it every minute of the day.

 

Excellent advice flafonman...

 

Well, 01 I am always torn when asked to give advice on "What should I be when I grow up?'"

My brother-in-law asked me to talk to his son who was having trouble deciding on a Major in college. Dad wanted him to be a Lawyer, Son wanted to "work with computers". I cleared the issue up by asking ,"What are you good at?" He is a whiz with numbers, really talented, so I suggested Accounting. He's now in his second year and loving it, and Mom and Dad are pleased too.

I don't possess the wisdom of Solomon, I just learned that what you want to do and what you are actually good at are often two different things. Sometimes you have to decide to do what you are good at to pay the bills, and spend your weekends on a hobby that you love. I think if you live your life that way you'll probably be happier as well. Maybe young Ford Lariat should do some "soul searching" to find out what he is good at first. He may find that selling life insurance is his perfect career and building a killer F100 on the weekends a better match.

 

ROFLMAO!!!

 

Well I'm a mechanical engineer. I thought I would give you some pointers if you HAVE to be an engineer at ford.

First, your not going to start off doing what you want to at ford and you may never end up doing exactly what you want. You have to work your way up the ranks and prove yourself before you get the fun jobs.

Second. Engineering is hard. It will probably take a min. of five years of college and quite possibly more depending on if you plan on going to a community college first and the course load you can handle. Its hard but not impossible. I just graduated from UF with honors and I'm far from brilliant.

Last. If you are really set on this here is your best shot at working at ford. Find a school that has a SAE program where the work on the formula one project (thats what they called it here not sure if its the official title). It is extra curricular so you dont get anything for it but it is a lot of fun, you get to build a race car (its small, uses a motorcycle engine, but does 0 to 60 in about 3.8 sec) and ford loves to hire people that are highly involved in the program. I know ford likes UF, I think two years ago they hired 6 people which isnt too bad from one graduating class from one school.

Hope this may help in some way...

http://www.mae.ufl.edu/
http://www.gatormotorsports.com/gms/index.html

 

SAE formula vehicle, placed 11th out of 125 cars, 3rd in engine management for this past year. 04 cars are in production.



and mini baja

 

Thanks so much Hm... UFL doesn't sound bad... it's not too far from here. What does SAE stand for? It would be so cool to go to UMI...that's where my mind was headed, but I'll check out UFL. Do you know if the HOPE scholarship covers UFL?

Ask anyone I am close to (or anyone on this board perhaps) and they will tell you "She's nuts about Ford" LOL And I'm damn proud of it too. Hm... I am good at drawing...do drawing skills come in handy @ FoMoCo or is it all computers?

BTW, I am a lady

 

Ford Lariat, My take is a little different than what has been written in some of the posts. You mentioned body engineering in the original post. Do you mean designing the body style (called styling) or the physicals of how the body parts work?

If you like styling then the engineering degree would not be required. The type of person who gets a job in this field is the type who constantly doodles in books, on note pads, on desks. These days you will need a strong knowledge of computer design. In my opinion, the people who do this for a living are very artistic oriented.

If you really are talking about body engineering, then you will have to be an engineer. These are the people who determine how thick the sheetmetal needs to be, design the hinges, window openings, door mechanics, seals, locks, etc...

I disagree with one of the above posters, you can come in to Ford and do what you want. You have to know what it is you want to do.

 

Ford Lariat -

Go here, enter the following options in the select boxes, and you will see a list of current openings in body/chassis design at Ford.

Ford's Career Page

Click "View Today's Jobs"

In Career Area, Select "Engineering/Manufacturing"

In Specialty Area, Select "Body Design/Development"

In Experience Level, Select "Internship"

Leave the rest as is and click Next. A decent list of jobs will appear after a few seconds.

It is up to you to determine what an "Internship" requires of the individual. I doubt you will ever see an "Entry-Level" position for the type of design you are interested in. There are too many qualified people already "in the loop" for you to walk in with nothing more than a education.

A big-time interest in something does not necessarily mean you will like doing it for a living or that you will earn a decent living doing it.

I make a pretty nice living, but I'd be lying if I told you it had anything to do with what I really enjoy most in life.

Good luck and don't let up. You'll get what you want if you work towards the goal hard enough.

By the way, SAE stands for "Society of Automotive Engineers".

SAE's Web Site

 

Thanks.

Simoli,
'Styling' sounds like what I was aiming for. Even if you draw the vehicles, would you still have to know physics? Like.... would the drawing have to be drawn to scale, are they that picky? J/w. I feel called to be w/ Ford... oh yes... gonna get maaarrried... OK NEVERMIND about the married part, lol, but yes, I could picture myself w/ Ford one day. What degree would you need for Styling?