eevBLAB #78 - Engineering Student Job Advice

[@EEVblog]

Playlist of Job Interview tips: kzbin.info/aero/PLCF57EF884076F6B2 How to get around Human Resources HR droids: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoXOYmaDns-Iars

[@thebeginnerelectronicattac8320]

How do you stand out for college for an ee degree

[@Vardhango0]

I need 10k USA dollars can u help me please I am in problem please help me sir

[@DonaldSleightholme]

solar panel a coin hopper and a mobile phone charger 🤔🙆‍♂️😂

[@flyboy5736]

@@DonaldSleightholme I don’t know where Dave studied but I’m guessing at his age the education used to be free!!

[@mikepettengill2706]

What you said here Dave is so true in any industry. In animation if you didn't complete some kind of student film you are a total gamble to hire even in the jobs where you need a lot of people like assistant animation (clean up drawings). If you do complete a student film then you have likely done every job that is needed to complete a project of that scope. In completing such a project you will have collaborated with voice actors and music and color stylists and the like and you will have kept to a schedule and met a deadline. On a short, one to two minute film, you would touch on every aspect of the industry and having that knowledge of the broader concepts of production informs your work no matter what job you take in the industry. I believe the same applies to any branch of engineering though I am not an engineer at all. You guys are like us, you work alone in a collaborative environment. If you haven't "done" anything I know nothing about what 'know how' you have.

[@flymypg]

All that Dave said, plus: 1. NO UNPAID INTERNSHIPS! These things still sneak in once in a while, and should be avoided like the plague. 2. Take all the lab classes you can, then turn them around for work as a technician. Many technician jobs pay better than internships and also yield excellent engineering experience. 3. Work your network. Join professional organizations like IEEE and ACM, and become known to the industrial sponsors. Shamelessly nag friends, parents of friends, professors, neighbors, everyone. A referral is worth everything. Pure gold. 4. STUDY for every interview. Learn all there is to know about the company, their products, their markets, their customers, and, of course, the details of the specific internships. In particular, if they mention using specific tools, at least work through some tutorials. Never walk in cold. Do at least as much research as you would to pass a midterm exam. 5. Aim high. Be fearless. Never undersell or pigeonhole yourself. Be honest, never egotistical, but also be open for anything, ready to adapt on the fly. Three times in my career I walked into an interview for one job, and got an offer for a completely different (and better!) one. My current job is one of those jobs! 6. ASK QUESTIONS! Nobody likes interviewing a wet dishrag, especially a newbie wet dishrag. If you can't say much about yourself, show interest in your interviewers and the jobs they do. This means coming in with the goal that you are there to start learning your new job right then, not just to beg for one. Take some ownership in the interview process, and you'll already be far ahead of the crowd. Be ready to interview the interviewer! 7. You may get an offer that doesn't feel right, as if it had nothing to do with your interview. Or you may fail to get an expected offer or call-back after a great interview. Don't get worried either way, at least not right away. Be persistent. Ask for a followup interview. Sometimes your interview lands on the day before a big deadline, everyone is distracted, and nobody remembered to reschedule your interview. Ask me how I know this. 8. It's not "only an internship". It's a real job in a professional environment, and an important step in your career. Treat it like one. Until this year, nearly half of the engineering staff at my current employer were prior interns. We believe this was because we treated them just like we treat ourselves, integrated them into our teams, and gave them real work. Those we extended offers to at graduation not only got outstanding offers compared to their classmates, but were also zero-risk bargains for us. Unfortunately, we no longer have so many prior interns on our team because, dammit, last summer a bunch of them got poached by Amazon, Google and Apple. We're not tiny, but we can't begin to complete against those companies for top talent. Never any hard feelings: In fact, we're always proud of their work for us, how they've grown, and where they've landed. We do miss them. That's why we love interns: We know we have to home-grow our best talent. It's a key facet of our business plan. 9. Don't be afraid of smaller companies: They may offer your best chances for real experience, professional growth, and rapid advancement. Good luck!

[@Abhi-lm1mz]

This text is the gold mine for starters and young graduates. Do you have a blog or a website?

[@asht7788]

Thanks, really needed tips like these

[@q4h4r26]

This is pure gold! i'd add one thing, invest in relationships in your school, your class mate can be good insiders and you'll get the information before their employer posts about the jobs.

[@toufumai4037]

Ask questions is the gold in interview or in work!

[@lsjmartin6220]

Thanks

[@lahirupamodya6188]

It really did worked for me. I am now a 4th year EE student. We had our internship which is a compulsary part of the cource, in the third year (an year ago). Being fan of of the EEVBlog, I watched all your previous job interview tips and decided to bring my own stuff to the interview while all my friends were busy doing online cources. I think my resume did stand out with all my side projucts but zero online cources, because i got called for an interview on the first try. I took some of my projects with me to the interview. it was not nuch. Some pcbs I designed for university mini projects, a dummy load i made following Daves tutorial. Some were prinouts of schematics. The interview panal was very curious that i brought those stuff with me. They closely examined them and even point me some things that i could have done to furter improve them. They offered me the internship on the very next day. 😊

[@curiosity551]

Nice to hear that brother !

[@bfapple]

I’d be interested to hear a brief description about your dummy load 🙂

[@xtasy2k7]

Dave, i took my senior design project to an interview based on your recommendation in a previous video . It got me the job. Thanks mate ! 👍👍

[@scottwilliams8539]

Build stuff, bring stuff. I got my graduate job at Intellidesign in Brisbane, one of Australia's largest in-house design & manufacturing companies, on the spot because I brought about 20 PCBs to my interview. They didn't even have to ask any questions - I just talked them through every single part of every single design, and they were blown away (not complicated stuff by any means - some op-amps, switchmode power supplies, 8-Bit microcontroller, LCD screen, etc. - Jaycar level stuff).

[@EEVblog]

And the other good thing about bring stuff is that you have something to talk about, and something that you know about. Instead of sitting there with nothing and answering trick questions you may not know how to answer. It changes the entire direction of the interview, and in your favour.

[@Nicholas.T]

LloydBonafide1 - “ Where did you get the materials to build it? “ From the Russians, of course !!

[@tomgeorge3726]

At my workplace, our now apprentice bought in some of his home made projects, for his interview. Mostly microcontroller, and some analog. It showed his soldering technique and ability to R&D a project. Made a big difference in the decision to employ him.

[@stevewilson2772]

Try telling the kids of today that - and they won't believe you! (well done Scott)

[@hippie-io7225]

Dave, you are so right! After a 50+ year career in electronics/firmware engineering, I was only asked ONCE if I had a degree! And this was AFTER they hired me!! Ya gotta do actual projects, no if ands or big butts.

[@p_mouse8676]

Unfortunately nowadays you will be surprised who formal some companies are about this. Even with a track record of 15 years of experience. There is even a word for it: disrespectful

[@sdrc92126]

same here

[@ciarfah]

@@p_mouse8676 "Yes you are perfect for the job, but you're not qualified"

[@flyboy5736]

If you don’t have a degree I guess you aren’t an engineer but a technician. Doesn’t mean you aren’t capable though.

[@michaelg9334]

Going into my 5th year of undergrad with no internships. Wish freshman me would've seen all of this. I'm doing my own projects now, but three or four years too late.

[@m93sek]

Join a University group. At my Uni we got a FSAE Racing Team, a sailplane group that develops and builds their own aircraft and a rocket group, just to name a few. I was in the racing team and now got an internship at Porsche. In the interview, they asked a fair bit about my work in the team and I was able to show my practical knowledge and experience

[@elenacornick7057]

It's the same is the physics field, my side projects have been the only things interviewers cared about

[@l3p3]

I am a software engineer, it was the same for me. In several interviews, they wanted to see my software, not listen to my school stories.

[@dania6128]

What side projects did you do?

[@p3astar378]

Dave's rant in one line: Engineering is a vocation - show that you have got it! We select for attitude, we train for skills (within reason)

[@p_mouse8676]

Best advice: show you have a lot of practical experience in all kinds of related stuff, show your hobby stuff and all the odd jobs you have done. When I look at resumes/CV's that's the ONLY thing I look at. I don't even bother looking if people have a degree anymore. Work experience, having the right attitude and practical knowledge is worth so much more!

[@bbreeuwer4577]

Same here. Actually it almost feels like the level of knowledge and experience is getting worse? I have seen people with some fancy PhD Master degree, who were not even able to solder the most basic stuff or understand some simple basics. Yet they keep rambling own for hours with totally useless concepts that only will work in theory.

[@tomgeorge3726]

Many years ago, my then employer was happy for me to convert my Diploma to Degree in Electronics. This I saw as an update on skills and technology as well. The Course was THREE YEARS, too small. I was given first year exemption due to prior knowledge and the Dip. My first lesson was 2year Electronics. I sat down, the lecturer who I knew, looked at me and said to stay, but he will give me an exemption. He then proceeded to teach 2nd year Engineers, the joy of OHMS law. He had warned me of the low standard of some parts of the course. It seems they spend most of the first year bringing students up to speed in maths and physics. I couldn't finish the course due to family health problems, but it disturbed me on the lower standard being forced apon lecturers because of entrance standards and at that time the reliance on overseas students.

[@p_mouse8676]

@@tomgeorge3726 i don't think it has to do with entrance standards, but by the fact that there is way to much focus on the wrong things. Instead of focusing really on the things that are important, you waste most of the time on things that no one is ever going to use. Quite often also taught by people with very obviously ZERO practical and professional experience in the field. Even on the scientific courses waste just time focusing on the wrong details. Maths is a very good example of this. By itself it's important, but doing manual exercises till Christmas is just plain stupid. So basically in the end it's just one big social workplace where everyone wastes their time, money and motivation.

[@jonathanwright2990]

Thank you Dave you’ve genuinely just given me that extra boost That I needed. I’m ready for them now 👍🏻

[@soulrobotics]

Hey Dave, thank for this video! I have recently been fired from my German vision company at Alsbach. Just after I have solved a bug in a FIFO library that causes the blocking of the whole PLC with its kernel for sale. After 12 years specialized in the company products I've now learned that others PLC were evolved and I have to invest a little time on re-study those PLCs. I hope I can find a job, but with 59 years old is like impossible.So, I've mounted, again, a lab in my office with a lot of new products, micros and instruments. I am trying to be creative with my electronics experience and technicians culture knowledge (25 countries) that i have collected from colleagues over all this years. If someone is in the same train as I am, don't feel alone. re-invent your self.

[@RonWandersOff]

This video is important for so many industries, not just engineering. Good job mate!

[@k7iq]

This is exactly what I like to see when interviewing for an engineering or electronics technician job. Publications not so much as showing a passion and showing that you design and build things at home as well as work. Samples are really important ! It's just not so common these days. Maybe they're all retired now ? Covid-19 has been somewhat good for hiring for us though. Degree is secondary

[@seinfan9]

Here's another kicker to showing off what you've done: even if your specific experience isn't exactly related to the job, clearly demonstrating what you know and having a positive attitude will win over hiring managers. We just interviewed some semiconductor fab engineer for a discrete analog and mixed signals position. Practically an automatic hire for most of us because of how well he articulated what he's done at his job. It just says he will put in the effort to understand his work assignments no matter what job he lands.

[@ecospider5]

Get published. What a fantastic suggestion. Very few people are going to take the time to actually get that done.

[@falexandru1803]

Dave, I miss your simple education videos like the one you explain the zener diode or bench power supply series.. I have learned from you a lot. thank you 😊

[@hubaswift7640]

7:29 made me laugh with an immediate contradiction "it's so easy to stand out, yea it's gonna require effort, it's not easy". But seriously, great video. Makes me want to get off my ass and resume working on one of my many unfinished projects.

[@EEVblog]

LOL, yeah. I really meant it's easy to stand out because most people are slack arses who don't bother. So the competition is almost non-existent *if* you make the effort.

[@Zilk271]

Thought exactly the same. Got so lazy the past months, really need to change that and work on my goals.

[@craigmyers4191]

I heard that too. lol

[@RobertFeranec]

@@EEVblog I completely agree.

[@LifeofanElectronicEngineer]

I couldn't agree more with taking things to an interview. I've done it for everyone I've gone, and they're not amazing crazy projects. For example, when I interviewed for European Space Agency, I took with me a buck converter I designed, with STM32 controller and LCD, a 3 phase inverter I designed and built, my log book (very important to show documentation and problem solving, and super easy to pick up and refer to in the interview when they ask "how have you solved problems before"), and a photo I took of the sun. The photo of the sun I took with my own camera, and a 3D printed solar filter I designed. It wasn't electronic (I was interviewing for a power electronics role for a young graduate trainee) but they loved it! PS, I was successful!

[@paulmichaud3230]

My experience in an interview. I told them I had, and currently taking, some online courses. Literally, the interviewer said, "I don't care." However, if you have a project you can demo and explain, that goes a long way.

[@jitulex]

I myself am a electronics engineering student and just started creating content on youtube and i feel a lot better after seeing this video thank you sir..

[@rhbob]

Couldn't agree more and the same applies to every engineering discipline, i.e., IT, geophysics, civil, mechanical, chemical, etc...

[@km5405]

if its anything like it in other parts of the world - engineers are highly sought after. i think ive stood out because of my enthusiasm and i definitely think talking about a electronics hobby project *really* helped my interview out at the last company i did a internship. that was a great internship, my first internship building a REAL circuit board using real parts n components with the design starting from scratch.

[@Orbis92]

I just got a new job :) I wrote them some cliche mail telling them the skills I have, that I'm interested in EE and doing my own projects since I can hold a solder iron. They invited me and I brought with me a few schematics, PCB designs, CAD renders and a couple of PCBs. I was nervous as f... until I gave them the folder and they where quite impressed, even those weren't that impressive projects: "Its more than most can show..." was probably the most important thing to get that job :)

[@ElectricBlakeGames]

Heya Dave, been watching you for ages, I've used alot of what I've learned from your channel to fix ECM's in cars Considered a Mechanical Engineering degree many times Better decide before I'm 30 lol Keep up the good videos

[@samfedorka5629]

Lots of good advice here that I've also given to my fellow students. One other thing to say to students: put your most impressive project first. In my 6 interviews (for one internship position) I was asked about the first project (of three), 4/6 of the time, 1/6 of the time I was asked about the second project, and 1/6 of the time I was not asked about a project and only answered technical questions. I put the project most related to the job first. I got the internship. The only time they asked about my coursework was to decide what tech questions they could ask. I didn't think unpaid internships were a thing anymore. At least for Engineers. Of the 60 or so companies that were looking for interns at the job fair, I only found one that paid under $20/hr. If a company wants decent candidates they need to pay their interns a competitive wage. In my area that's $23-28/hr depending mainly on how far along you are in your degree.

[@johnsonlam]

Really love Dave's advise, no bullshit down to the earth feet on the ground things, nice. I'm studying literature and history but now I'm in I.T. field.

[@maheshpadmanabh6564]

That a very fresh perspective Dave, I have a lot of finished self-made projects which I think I should use during interviews. Engineering is about how you solve real world problems. These simulations and mathematical models are not gonna help you for long.

[@elfakyn]

Can confirm nobody ever asked me about the classes I took. But all those projects I did on the side were instant conversation starters. Also a good engineering school will have TONS of opportunities for self-directed projects as part of a course or just by themselves, for credit. My college gave me the chance to build about half a dozen medium-sized projects and one ginormous capstone project just as part of coursework. All with physical parts or photos/schematics/diagrams/videos that I could show off

[@peerappel2012]

I got a side job at an engineering company before even starting my engineering study at age 16. Just by being very enthusiastic and bringing stuff I made as an hobbiest. There wasn't really a vacancy at the company, I just applied by calling and then sending an email. Stil working there 2+ years later... (next to my EE study off course) :-)

[@DedmenMiller]

Same thing from the side of a Programmer, being able to show that you're doing stuff is gold. I showed off my github, and noone even asked for school certificates or any education proof, cuz they saw that I already do so much and know my stuff.

[@_ATHONOR]

I really apprecoate videos like this Dave. Just finished my degree and hoping the you know what doesn't get in the way of my Electronics design job!

[@Walsh2571]

I like this video format

[@HyperIonMake]

Just graduated from Cornell Eletrical engineer. I have had two positions offered and then revoked because of covid, and only know one person who hasn't had their position revoked/couldn't get one in the first place. We are in a unique time for students and new grads.

[@keithcress1335]

Dave I love your advice and couldn't agree more! I'd built a large dense wirewrap board to control a wafer saw at Example: I worked at Signetics for 16 months out of college with a small team implementing a tough automation project that automated the entire backend of the semiconductor manufacturing process. Wafer dicing to packaged testing - no human hands. Our team was notified that our reward for on-time and fully demonstrated results was that our group was to be dissolved and the results stored..... Cripes! One of the things I'd built was a large wire-wrap board that was Z80 based and literally pushed all the buttons on a complex wafer saw via communications from the control computer. On the news I took a day off and carried that wire-wrap board to small scrappy company across Silicon Valley from Signetics. They had an ad somewhere I'd seen. I showed up, said I was driving by (on the way home) and interested in talking about their opening. I was asked what I had in my hand. "A project I just completed". That got me right in to the president of the small company. I was asked a truckload of questions, about half were about the board. I was offered a job on the spot written on the back of the president's business card. That show & tell got me that job! It was a fabulous job too. I got assigned insanely fun jobs. Ever get picked up by a helicopter in the company parking lot and flown to a high Sierras Power plant to help commission it? (Helms) Designed the first self modifying code microprocessor product. (was an 8049). After that job I was told to manage the building of a Generator Feedwater Controller for Texaco. (4) 2,500hp pumps pumping 1000F water into the San Ardo oil fields for extraction. Many other things too. Working on a refrigerated rail car in a snow storm in Pocatello and another in Florida. 15 years of fun.

[@nite1154]

Thanks for the great advice, gonna pass this advice on to my grandkids. I saw that you walked by MSA company, they make great safety electronics gear for industrial safety such as gas detection and powered respirator equipment.

[@SpaghettiEnterprises]

Thanks Dave, I needed this. I've been in a bit of a coma since I graduated last month. (I think I must've worked myself to exhaustion learning VHDL in a vacuum during the pandemic, d'oh!) This was the kick in the pants I needed to get off my ass and start taking pictures of all the little odds and ends I've been tinkering with while working on my degree.

[@julian_online]

Very interesting recommendations, I believe engineering is all about projects, if we lay only in theory and learning stuff we go only half way, making is the key of success.

[@darer13]

the theory of a phone is cool. but i cant use it like a real phone.

[@WHiPCPL]

Since I got a job, I can 100% say this is correct. Companies care WAY more about what you can do, over what your papers say you can do. Because let's be honest. Woohoo you got the degree, congratulations, so do the other 50 applicants you're competing against. Engineering is about your passion to design/build/research. Not you just knowing how to read a book and repeat the information, it's about can you actually use the information to make something.

[@typxxilps]

excellence, commitment, stamina, enduance, foreign languages, member of a club, social engagement , blood donatir you have to convince first someone from the HR departement who is most likely NOT AN ENGINEER. You can try to get in contact with the engineering directly but you have to convince first someone from HR who picks your application out so don't try to fool but convince them that you're OUTSTANDING iin a way that the company can't afford not to hire you.

[@threeMetreJim]

Nice advice. The problem I had is that I was experienced with electronics as a hobby. Once working, it ended up becoming more of a chore and less enjoyable, maybe the place I worked was bad. In the end I carried on with the electronics as a hobby and repairs for friends and ended up doing a mundane job with no baggage to take home after work. Might be something to be aware of in that situation. I didn't go to uni, but had college qualifications in electronics and computing.

[@Electronzap]

It's rare to find someone else who likes both electronics and exercise :) Those 2 groups usually scare each other. I just gotta figure out how to make videos while lifting weights or working the heavy bag.

[@jordanjohnson714]

Great inspiration Dave, thank you.

[@jordanjohnson714]

Also a fan of this walk & talk format

[@Jesse-ei6hq]

Alternatively, there are also plenty of jobs available for people with engineering degrees that have very little technical ability or experience. Try applying for any government engineering graduate scheme and they will care much more about your personal traits and formal education background than any vocational skills you may or may not have.

[@jasonbanahan4618]

Don't forget social networking! I'm not talking about LinkedIn and Faceboob - Get to know your classmates and other people interested in the same things as you online! You and your peers start out in the same boat, but if they ever find themselves needing to hire you can be a recommendation which would put you miles ahead of the nobodies.

[@michaelg9334]

My resume has absolutely nothing special going for it right now but hopefully my new job as an assistant lab tech for my university's EE dept will be a good start when we can go back this coming semester. Also building Ben Eater's full 8-Bit computer project as my first project, and hoping to modify it somehow as much as I can to really get something cool to put on my resume (mod suggestions more than welcome). My degree is concentrated in CE so I'm hoping to get a really fundamental understanding of computers and to be able to explain everything about the project and how/why it all works and interacts. My biggest fear is struggling to even get interviews after I graduate since I haven't had any internships and likely won't before I graduate but hopefully these things will have some sort of effect.

[@carlwedekind3868]

If it's allowed by your company, always take pictures of the equipment you work on or things you've built. Carry them with you to other interviews. Some years ago I set up all the equipment to test traction inverters that we built for MELCO (Mitsubishi Electric). There were dataloggers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, bench multimeters, etc. There was a 600 VDC power supply to simulate third rail. After the company went out of business, at a subsequent interview, I'm sure those pictures of my test bench and load test hardware weighed heavily in my favor.

[@firstnamesecondname5341]

A good understanding of; (not necessarily a qualification, just enough to stand your ground) in marketing, finance and business side will at least give you a chance should you be aiming to launch your own products. Ive been involved in easily twenty projects including two for car manufacturers at tier one supplier level but of those that failed everyone did so because the finance, marketing or business side wasn’t up to expected level

[@user-rd5nc1nb9f]

Dude I fucking love you thanks so much for helping us, sincerely, thank you.

[@tehsimo]

Great to hear this kinda no-buillshit approach. I've been telling people for ages that a portfolio can greatly outweigh a particular course/qualification.

[@Petex90]

I actually got a job some years ago by showing some of my home projects in video CV, while wearing eevblog negative feedback t-shirt :D

[@19janiboy96]

I've built some analog synthesizers, repaired a few power amplifiers and mixing console synthesier and other music equipment and right now I'm building a 5 channel parametric audio stereo Equalizer with variable Q and variable Gain for friends recording studio. I was given some old PCBs for the filters someone made in 2001 and I'm going to tweak the design. I've already made some small boards to save time on populatíng the 10 dual 24-stepped attenuators, so that would be 480 resistors alone, digital potentiometers would be interesting here aswell. Another friend of mine can reserve domains for me and host free webspace. I will document everything on there eventually. Hearing what you've said is really encouraging and shows me I'm on the right track though I can't moptivate myself to do uni and the corona break isn't helping. :/

[@userPrehistoricman]

By the looks of it, you know a lot that uni would teach you. The only benefit of university for those who are devoted enough to do stuff in their own time is the badge of honour, and pushing you outside of your comfort zone a bit. For example, they would introduce you digital circuits, and may even get you to write Verilog. They would certainly bring in the mathematic side of analog (the boring side IMO haha). If you can do these things on your own, skip the university. It's a money sink too.

[@Metalloys]

You're actually a nice guy Dave !

[@rfengr00]

I brought in PCBs from my RADAR to my 5 interviews out of school. Had 5 job offers.

[@lilliampumpernickel9916]

what is RADAR?

[@littlepunk112]

Thanks Dave, helped me out a lot.

[@dynorat12]

been a long time when i went through that good tips Dave

[@OlympusHeavyCavalry]

I deadpanned through an entire interview and was hired a week later ...

[@mjrtude]

Excellent Advice!

[@williammathew8395]

I'm 15 & I am watching you!!

[@l3p3]

I hope you are watching his videos primarily. :D "I am watching you" is more what a secret police agent would say... or are you one?

[@ryansrandomshop]

Great video, very informative, I'm glad that I do lots of side projects

[@HamedAdefuwa]

More engineering student advice please. Genuinely hard for engineering students to speak with experienced engineers. I like the idea of joining open source projects.

[@trickyrat483]

Real engineers don't do shitty little open-source hardware projects - they are too busy doing real work and earning a living from it. If you want to meet real engineers - those still practising their craft and not simply dicking around on KZbin - then join a professional engineering society and go along to their their meetings and presentations; mingle with people and get to know them, who they work for and what they are doing.

[@DarrenGeyer]

1:50 Know exactly where you are. I used to go visit a client in the building behind you. The IT company I used to work for was on the other side of Windsor Road, Good ol Old Norwest. Funny enough my GP is still in Norwest. Keep safe man.

[@Sam-dc9bg]

It took me 2 jobs to get my mindset in the right direction on how to design my own project. School and being good at doing things the non-practical way actually led me in the wrong direction.

[@Torsan1977]

True words from a wise man.

[@michael_toms]

I came along to my job interview at ATV10 (Channel 10 on TV) with a LED chaser made from EA project. The interview back in 1982 with the head engineer at the television station landed me a radio trades apprenticeship. Sadly I left because of the staff bullying that was relentless in the third year of my apprenticeship.

[@raviteza8]

Another problem with Engineering Graduates is they don't know where to apply. They don't do enough research on available companies in their region. My advice search, search and search. Send 100s of applications, u will get a hit. Also sometimes Internships can be sought through cold calling the companies, they may not have an opening but u may be lucky and get a spot.

[@ElementalMaker]

When applying for engineering jobs I had put together a portfolio of many of my coolest side projects. That was almost always the highlight of the interview for the hiring manager. That being said engineering jobs in my experience are more boring than death, but I'm probably the only person in this comment thread who has sawzalled the spine out of a human body (aka cadaver, it was part of the Biomedical engineering job to see how the implant I designed functioned).

[@greywolf271]

Working for the dark side, ehh ?

[@guatagel2454]

Nice advice! Thank you!

[@profdc9501]

Dave speaks wisdom.,

[@akosbuzogany2752]

Yes, 1,000,000ppm agree! I got the best paid job of my life by showing two magazines containing my publications on a friday, and I was immediately told to come and start next monday.

[@cian.horgan]

That's interesting, I'm just finished my third year as well and was supposed to be working in industry this summer but it was a pretty different experience here in Ireland. We had relatively little competition for places here, my grades are pretty rough and i didn't have to fight too hard for work. Maybe 1-5 people interviewing for most of the jobs, took me and my friends a few weeks to get a place we were happy with, but as you mentioned it usually came down to hobby projects, showing interest through our extracurricular stuff

[@eudeslelaj2789]

Great tips!

[@Zooumberg]

When I was close to leaving school I asked for something in electronics. They sent me to a motor rewinding company. A week of watching people using a lathe. A complete waste of time. I did the right thing. I joined the Marines. I didn't want to spend years on the dole under a Thatch Govt.

[@Zooumberg]

Thatcher.

[@helmuthschultes9243]

Beware to not appear too BOASTING, as that would quickly push you down the interview stack.

[@sarbog1]

Yes, I agree.... I am retired now, got my ham radio license in 1967, graduated in EE in 1976, went on to Physics. I love rf stuff. It is very important to show what you can do!!!

[@MrFrazierNation]

Yes! Thank you!

[@Hellcommander245]

I've built several guitar pedals and a few vacuum tube amplifiers. Do those count?

[@HerbaMachina]

Yes, depending on what you had to make in particular by yourself for those projects.

[@1001ewaste]

Absolutely, even if they were a kit you just screwed together it's better than nothing especially if you learned something. Even if folk assemble their own desktop it shows at least some interest. They key as well is don't oversell any projects as that just annoys folk.

[@tomgeorge3726]

Yes, if you understand how they work.

[@obsoleteprofessor2034]

Check out FranLab. She's into pedals and retro electronic

[@darkguardian1314]

6:57 Not even Steve Jobs liked HR.

[@OnboardG1]

The biggest thing in an interview is to talk. The worst thing you can do is turn up with an impressive resume and hum and ah through the interview. You need to be able to clearly communicate your skills and abilities to the interview panel. I never needed to bring stuff with me because I’ve always been confident of talking through my uni and work projects (if they have a whiteboard ask to sketch on it because engineers love whiteboard sketches) and I’m also one of those people who isn’t overly enamoured with doing my job stuff in my spare time. If you’re like me that’s fine. If you’re a little bit shy then that’s when to bring stuff, because it’s a talking point, and by going through your hobby designs the interviewer can draw out the information about you that they need. Some jobs will ask you to do a PowerPoint presentation on a project that you’ve done so try to be proficient with the damned thing. It’s a good way of demonstrating your skills. And as always: point out what YOU did. Make sure to hammer home that you did this bit and that bit and wrote that process because they’re not interviewing your team, they’re interviewing you.

[@untrust2033]

Still trying to figure out how to get into the field for work, this helped a lot. Thanks.

[@ricardo_9726]

I’m doing lots of cool stuff through high school and documenting everything, then I will make a website with all my projects

[@rty1955]

Greetings from USA!. I watch all your videos and enjoy your enthusiasm i have been working in electronics since 1960, ues vacuum tube days and pt to pt wiring. But I donit as a major hobby. I now restore old 2" broadcast video tape machines fir a non profit organization. With that being said I rexently retired as a CIO for over 35 years and you are spot on about educational degrees. I have hired many many software people and don't give a Damn about what degrees or certificates they have. I look at how they think, how they can solve problems. I also look at gow many different languages they know (I know 13) because there is no language that fits all. Also want to see how they document thier code and applications as they may not be the ones to maintain it. Can They even create a proper flowchart? A lot can't even do that. So bravo for your input on rhe EE side!! Keep up the GREAT videos you produce!!

[@dmwtech4495]

to all electronics engineering students out there, The Automotive industry is really hungry for you. the industry is going to battery electric vehicles and autonomous control. lots of future here.

[@justpaulo]

Many online courses have a capstone project... So I would not discard that at all, specially if the course comes from a respected institution, university and/or someone highly regarded in your field of interest.

[@ElTwOJaY]

I just graduated with my BS in EET haha and I'm starting to see the truth to what dave says.

[@dhpbear2]

Dave. What sort of 'rig' do you use to video yourself walking?

[@jtb2586]

I like the eevBLAB series, when are you going back to the beach?

[@justpaulo]

This video will never be sponsored by Skillshare or Brilliant.

[@babyflurryheart9114]

Yes you ar 100% right

[@Yves_Cools]

@EEVblog : Dave, would you be so kind to let us know what kind of videocamera/gimbal/mic you used to film this video, please ? Thank you !!! 🙂🙂🙂

[@FurEngel]

I can confirm. EEVblog forum is legit.

[@khalilbelacel1414]

Thank you Dave (:

[@colinedwards7250]

Decades back designing projects for magazines looked good and paid. Didn't have to be complicated.

[@BradKwfc]

New boss is an EE but never worked it as he had several kids and didn't want to take the pay cut for an internship. Worked with many engineers over the years and am always puzzled when I excitedly share my engineering hobbies and find they really have no interest in engineering they just decided on it because of the money and they were good at math?

[@edgar9651]

Sounds great Dave - from the viewpoint of an enthusiastic engineer. But how about those HR guys who make decisions and have little to no idea about electronics? Do they think and decide like you?

[@Willy_Tepes]

I would advise young people to get a job "on the floor" before getting into a higher skilled job. Maybe start out with a "service technician" job to show that you actually are a good worker. Starting your working life in an office is not a good start. People skills are very important so practice that if you are a introvert like me.

[@kintag4459]

Thank you M.r

[@user-vt3vu4xv2l]

This raises a question in my mind: Is it possible to get in to the industry these days without a degree? (While having the things to show you know your stuff)

[@huihuihuihuihuihui1]

It's easier than before I'd say. More and more companies start to understand that degree is a worthless piece of paper.

[@advancedmicrosystems4658]

Nice profile picture. Stonks

[@danrykowski3133]

I'm gonna be making a lightsaber for a personal project and I'm going into my sophomore year. I'm gonna 3d model the handle and 3d print it and assemble the electronics stuff so there will be audio and light. The only problem is I'm not skilled enough yet to do the soundboard stuff so I'm just gonna buy one. That's my personal project for this year since I had a full time job and I took summer classes, but I plan on making an RC car with a mechanical engineering friend I have sometime. I have some really cool ideas with I'm gonna do for the RC car too such as even adding blinkers. Tell me what you guys think please. Is this good? Got any ideas?

[@michelfeinstein]

Love the walk, the only way I can sight seeing in the pandemic lol