I have to agree,

Company's would call me in when the processes or equipment wasn't performing. And I'm getting too old for that. And started a job search to tie into a company then retire.

Resumes I sent, I received a 80% response, and out of that about 50% turned into offers.

Interesting note, about 5 years ago, if you didn't have a Bachelors degree, you were passed over.

Now most require Associates degrees with experience. I asked the company's about that. Their response was:

In their experience, they preferred proven practical experience over education.

I also agree,

I'm getting cold calls from recruiters, contacts from LinkedIn.. and it's all good. Last years raise was almost 7%, and my boss said it was because they wanted to keep me.

wow, 7%.

Good for you.

its nice to be appreciated.

I could not disagree more. If engineers are in high demand then medical device engineers should be through the roof! This could not be more untrue in the Northeast where medical device companies are in abundance.

My company has not issued a raise in 4 YEARS. Not even cost of living adjustments. Now, this is based on official company announcements, so it isn't like everyone else but me are getting raises. Not only that, healthcare costs are escallating rapidly and the employees are shouldering all the burden while the company contributions are remaining the same.

If engineers are needed badly, let me know so I can get out of this dead end job.

Does it look greener on the other side of the fence?

I have been looking for over a year. Only have had 2 in person interviews that felt like I was a close second or third.

Granted I'm working at the same time, so it's hard to put in the time, but it's certainly not an "abundance".

I've worked at one place for 5 years since college. Got stuck in IT, now looking to get my career back on track. Maybe I just don't have the experience yet to have employers clamoring to hire me?

Or perhaps the fact that my wife and I aren't willing to move out of the bay area, CA. Seems like all the engineering jobs around here are for silicon.

Interesting, SmithEng says jobs in the medical device field is down also or pays poorly. And in my area in the last few years, I saw an increase in that feild. In my location Wisconsin and the east coast. I would have thought otherwise.

And I would have thought IT was the same. especially in healthcare. Maybe because I have seen just an increase in Project Management.