It's important to find a company with backbone that can take you up a notch. Also it's likely that you will be trying to enter a management position around your 40's and have a company that can carry you into your 50's at which stage you must retire because it's too hard to last in the industry longer. So your money making years are important so you can pay your mortgage but also that the company can last to help you acquire skills and cement your lifestyle. By your 40's and 50's your relying on experience…
Australia needs a foundation for its electronics industry that builds up each player so you can remain in a job by being more competitive. Then experience can flow through the industry instead of you having a rating of being a professional engineer and dumped with all the stress and expectations of being capable to realise the companies products.
Basically there's no foundation in the Australian electronics industry. And it's the cause of stress and the loss of building up the captured experience that can be passed on.
It's pretty much a cowboy experience or a hobbyists Fruit bowl.
I hate to disagree, bud. You said, "companies are looking to hire really smart people…," no, not really. Really smart people are typically blunt people, they hate really smart people because we push them out of their comfort zone. They want somewhat smart people who self censor uncomfortable truths.
Even though I have my degree in electrical engineering, I only have one electrical project which is a blinking led from a 555 timer on a pcb. Does anyone have any other suggestions for pcb designs or projects?
Hi Dave, I watched this clip and I know it is almost 10 years old and during the global recession. I am a man from a different country and culture but I have been to Australia and worked with Australians. I have a BSEE and graduated decades ago. In my class there were less than 10% female students, probably much more these days I hope. It is surprising that, in 2009, you went straight to biasing your job interview tips, which I liked overall, to a male applicant — wearing a tie or whatever. About interview techniques, it much more about what one can do for them, not about oneself bragging about oneself. It is very important to nicely and naturally answer different versions of the questions: "Tell me about yourself." "Why do you think you are the right candidate?" "Why do you want to work here?" "What are the three most important initiatives you will take that you think will make positive impact in the first 90 days if you are hired?" "What do you know about our company and customers?" These have to be answered in an average of 60 seconds, no speeches, no canned answers… it must sound natural, short & sweet and bring value. Then with follow-ups. People in general just fail / choke / panic. Preparation is not that difficult, it has to be done. As you said, the sense of humor part is important too. They don't want to hire robots or downers. They want collaborators and teamplayers and people with energy, and people who smile.
Found this old video, great interview hints and tips, only thing is carrying tools or a knife about to do tinkering on an interview walk round or a work trial day can land you in prison in some places, here in the UK it will be up to 5 years in prison and it is pretty much open and shut, they may as well not take it to court it is so often guaranteed to get jail time.
Any blades or point at all which aren't in the boot (trunk) of your car from a to b or sent ahead by post and you'll end up inside for a long time and blacklisted for life from everything, won't even be allowed a passport or bank account after that and can forget getting a decent job ever again.
If you have a box of tools in the back of your car and the cops stop you they will ask a bunch of questions but if you are in the train station or bus station and they ask to see in your things it will be big trouble.
Have a great day
Sorry to go on but it's just that things have gotten so bad it is not safe to carry any sharp tools nowadays, everything has changed in the last 10 years….
There's some really good information here about interviewing for these positions. The two I like the most are doing research about the company and asking questions. I have landed positions within companies, even when they have already picked their candidate, by knowing about the company, their history and what they do. I have also interviewed candidates who, half way through the interview, ask "So…. What does this company do?" Fucking really??? You want to work for us and you don't even know what we do? INTERVIEW ENDED! Asking questions during an interview is important in a few ways. First of all, you have to remember that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Second of all, if you are asked if you have any questions, and you say"No", you are basically telling them that you are just looking for any job offer and will take whatever they will give you. Asking questions shows confidence and value in yourself. On the other hand…. I HATE videos like this that tell people what to say. If someone is good at what they do and are confident in themselves, they will know what to say. I want the guy who is confident in his abilities and can conduct themselves well in an interview. I don't want to waste my time interviewing a bunch of people who are all saying the same things because of videos like this.
I was gonna comment on how amusing it was to me that he pronounces the letter H as "hache", but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it makes way more sense than the American way of "ache" because you actually hear the actual sound the letter makes. goes and sits his American ass down to think about life
Craziest thing is I wish I had watched this video earlier when I was in my early 20s then my mid20s. Instead of being anal about my GPA I should have just done something cool out side of university classroom. :/
I worked as a machinist for a small engineering company. We had a few people come in for interviews and it came down to two. We chose the one who wore a tie lol.
I'll be having an EE job interview tomorrow, just rewatched this video for the tips. Got me a bag of hobby projects and PCB's with me to talk about, let's see how it goes! 🙂
I'm going to be good at this. I always ended up interviewing my professors hehehe 😀 Slipping in that "Oh that's interesting, is it done this way to achieve this?" – Boom, you're in the lead, don't loosen grip. Except it sometimes backfires. Like taking an hour and a half because your professor likes to talk a lot. In short: Like Dave says: Be prepared. That'll allow you to mould the shape of that interview into something you like. Make sure you enjoy it too. From the interviewer's POV, there's nothing better than to have an interviewee who's having fun at your otherwise rather boring interviewing sessions!
It's important to find a company with backbone that can take you up a notch. Also it's likely that you will be trying to enter a management position around your 40's and have a company that can carry you into your 50's at which stage you must retire because it's too hard to last in the industry longer. So your money making years are important so you can pay your mortgage but also that the company can last to help you acquire skills and cement your lifestyle. By your 40's and 50's your relying on experience…
Australia needs a foundation for its electronics industry that builds up each player so you can remain in a job by being more competitive. Then experience can flow through the industry instead of you having a rating of being a professional engineer and dumped with all the stress and expectations of being capable to realise the companies products.
Basically there's no foundation in the Australian electronics industry. And it's the cause of stress and the loss of building up the captured experience that can be passed on.
It's pretty much a cowboy experience or a hobbyists Fruit bowl.
I will re-watch this one day..
Great advice for young aspiring engineers fresh out of University. Personally, I am happy where I am. How many people can say that?
"If you wanna make an impression turn up in a lab coat" lol
I had few internships were I was stammering and bluffing stuffs. Then I found that I talk about stuff which I am interested in.
Well the most important thing is that you have to bring your cheap Chinese multimeter to interview xD
As always, you are the best Dave. You are genuine and make a lot of sense. Wish you made a reverse of this, how to interview engineering candidates.
I hate to disagree, bud. You said, "companies are looking to hire really smart people…," no, not really. Really smart people are typically blunt people, they hate really smart people because we push them out of their comfort zone. They want somewhat smart people who self censor uncomfortable truths.
Even though I have my degree in electrical engineering, I only have one electrical project which is a blinking led from a 555 timer on a pcb. Does anyone have any other suggestions for pcb designs or projects?
Hi Dave, I watched this clip and I know it is almost 10 years old and during the global recession. I am a man from a different country and culture but I have been to Australia and worked with Australians. I have a BSEE and graduated decades ago. In my class there were less than 10% female students, probably much more these days I hope. It is surprising that, in 2009, you went straight to biasing your job interview tips, which I liked overall, to a male applicant — wearing a tie or whatever. About interview techniques, it much more about what one can do for them, not about oneself bragging about oneself. It is very important to nicely and naturally answer different versions of the questions: "Tell me about yourself." "Why do you think you are the right candidate?" "Why do you want to work here?" "What are the three most important initiatives you will take that you think will make positive impact in the first 90 days if you are hired?" "What do you know about our company and customers?" These have to be answered in an average of 60 seconds, no speeches, no canned answers… it must sound natural, short & sweet and bring value. Then with follow-ups. People in general just fail / choke / panic. Preparation is not that difficult, it has to be done. As you said, the sense of humor part is important too. They don't want to hire robots or downers. They want collaborators and teamplayers and people with energy, and people who smile.
Hey guys, I don't fee like I know too much about circuit boards. Are there any videos that could give me some insight?
Found this old video, great interview hints and tips, only thing is carrying tools or a knife about to do tinkering on an interview walk round or a work trial day can land you in prison in some places, here in the UK it will be up to 5 years in prison and it is pretty much open and shut, they may as well not take it to court it is so often guaranteed to get jail time.
Any blades or point at all which aren't in the boot (trunk) of your car from a to b or sent ahead by post and you'll end up inside for a long time and blacklisted for life from everything, won't even be allowed a passport or bank account after that and can forget getting a decent job ever again.
If you have a box of tools in the back of your car and the cops stop you they will ask a bunch of questions but if you are in the train station or bus station and they ask to see in your things it will be big trouble.
Have a great day
Sorry to go on but it's just that things have gotten so bad it is not safe to carry any sharp tools nowadays, everything has changed in the last 10 years….
David Jones, from Karibean´s pirates?
There's some really good information here about interviewing for these positions. The two I like the most are doing research about the company and asking questions. I have landed positions within companies, even when they have already picked their candidate, by knowing about the company, their history and what they do. I have also interviewed candidates who, half way through the interview, ask "So…. What does this company do?" Fucking really??? You want to work for us and you don't even know what we do? INTERVIEW ENDED! Asking questions during an interview is important in a few ways. First of all, you have to remember that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Second of all, if you are asked if you have any questions, and you say"No", you are basically telling them that you are just looking for any job offer and will take whatever they will give you. Asking questions shows confidence and value in yourself. On the other hand…. I HATE videos like this that tell people what to say. If someone is good at what they do and are confident in themselves, they will know what to say. I want the guy who is confident in his abilities and can conduct themselves well in an interview. I don't want to waste my time interviewing a bunch of people who are all saying the same things because of videos like this.
I was gonna comment on how amusing it was to me that he pronounces the letter H as "hache", but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it makes way more sense than the American way of "ache" because you actually hear the actual sound the letter makes. goes and sits his American ass down to think about life
Craziest thing is I wish I had watched this video earlier when I was in my early 20s then my mid20s. Instead of being anal about my GPA I should have just done something cool out side of university classroom. :/
I worked as a machinist for a small engineering company. We had a few people come in for interviews and it came down to two. We chose the one who wore a tie lol.
I'll be having an EE job interview tomorrow, just rewatched this video for the tips. Got me a bag of hobby projects and PCB's with me to talk about, let's see how it goes! 🙂
Man YOU are a guide! Thanks a lot man for the whole heavenly tips….
Dude….ur tips are real…..tanx alot …GOD Bless u
That tip about bringing something you worked on really helped me recently. Thanks Dave!
2016 anyone? xD
I'm going to be good at this. I always ended up interviewing my professors hehehe 😀 Slipping in that "Oh that's interesting, is it done this way to achieve this?" – Boom, you're in the lead, don't loosen grip.
Except it sometimes backfires. Like taking an hour and a half because your professor likes to talk a lot.
In short: Like Dave says: Be prepared. That'll allow you to mould the shape of that interview into something you like. Make sure you enjoy it too. From the interviewer's POV, there's nothing better than to have an interviewee who's having fun at your otherwise rather boring interviewing sessions!