Entry Level Electrical/Computer Engineers wanted - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 02:33:41 am
content: I work for a major oil field service provider in Texas, USA. We're looking for entry level electrical and computer engineers. No one I've interviewed so far knows how to use a voltage divider, select a value for a current sense resistor, or buffer a signal going into an ADC. C'mon guys, this sucks. I know there are some decent recent grads out there looking for a job. Pay is good, benefits are good.What are we looking for? Well it's entry level - so we're obviously not looking for seasoned experts. We are looking for sharp individuals who have the enthusiasm to learn and figure out stuff. A engineering mind - being able to ask smart questions and hone into a solution. A decent grasp of basic concepts, and first principles. Hardware, digital electronics, fpgas, embedded systems, analog electronics, ... we do everything. The magic smoke is alive and well where I work. If we not breaking something every now and then, we're probably not working hard enough or pushing the boundaries far enough. Often, we end up working out of datasheet specifications.Shoot me an email at miscelaneousjunk AT gmail DOT com (yes, the spelling of misc.. is wrong, I know!).We're hiring like crazy - please send me your resumes before management is forced to hire whoever they can get their hands on. Please put  in the subject.Thanks!

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 02:44:24 am
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 09, 2013, 02:33:41 amWell, there's your problem! When they said to look at graduates as possible hires, they meantuniversitygraduates. Those kindergartners might be enthusiastic, but they're just not suited for skilled work...

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 02:48:37 am
content: FIFO?

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 02:58:01 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 09, 2013, 02:44:24 amI know, right!? All of them were university graduates (some with Masters degree with thesis!) from 'good' universities. Sigh. C'mon people ... send them in! Don't have a fancy resume, no problem. One engineer to another - just write something up and email me with your contact info.

author: TerminalJack505
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:03:14 am
content: Sounds like a person can get hired just in time for a nice toasty Texas summer. And if you're on the coast, you get humidity too!

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:03:57 am
content: A lecturer at my school (a new one, at least, and it doesn't look like she'll last long) insists thatthisis a non-polarized ceramic capacitor. (In a very small amount of defense for her, the ones we have use a polarity dot, not a plus sign...) She can solve the shit out of a second-order ODE representing an RLC circuit, though... EE curriculum seems to be really light on practical information.

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:10:15 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 09, 2013, 03:03:57 amSigh .. I wouldn't fault a recent grad for not recognizing a tantalum ... but a lecturer? Hmm ..

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:16:36 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 09, 2013, 02:44:24 amEnthusiastic? Are you kidding me? I start out each interview (after exchanging pleasantries for a few minute obviously) by asking them to talk about the 'coolest' project they did. Introduce the system, principle of operation, block diagrams, ... I even encourage them to go on a tangent if they are excited about a particular detail (I like tangents!). I couldn't get one of them to talk for more than 240 seconds before I was forced to poke and prod them for more details.Sheesh, it would seem that something you spent many an all-nighter on working out kinks and bugs would result in a little more passion and discussion.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:19:11 am
content: Damn! I could go on for hours. Still in school though

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:22:49 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 09, 2013, 03:03:57 amUniversity != job skillsUniversity = fundamentals to let you proceed to masters and phDs.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:28:14 am
content: Quote from: Fsck on May 09, 2013, 03:22:49 amYes. Gotta get those higher-level degrees so you can pass on your lack of practical knowledge to others!

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:31:41 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 09, 2013, 03:28:14 ampractical knowledge is mostly a job skill

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:52:15 am
content: Quote from: Fsck on May 09, 2013, 03:31:41 amI tried to explain this to my adviser, but she said I couldn't skip Basket Weaving Lab just because I planned to become a professor of basket weaving theory

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:52:55 am
content: These people you've interviewed, they haven't been vetted by HR first have they?

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 04:00:27 am
content: This is Texas - if they can spell the company's name and cook a good barbecue they're in.(Just kidding. This obnoxious New Yorker couldn't resist getting in a jab at a southern state...)Seriously, though, I'm kind of wondering that too. How could these bozos make it past a quick glance by HR? Can't use a voltage divider for god's sake?

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 04:08:53 am
content: LOL. Was just thinking the pseudo head shrinks in HR probably mistake enthusiasm and passion as potential obstinance

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 04:11:41 am
content: Potential? I'd say they're dead right. How many people have you met who are both passionate about something and not the least bit obstinate about it?I mean...Davefor crying out loud!

author: jebcom
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 04:14:55 am
content: Well first, what HR administrator knows anything about EE? They make sure the guy doesn't smell bad, shows up on time, and actually has a diploma. The technical part is up to the technical manager.QuoteI've worked with several of these guys over the years. They can memorize, pass tests, and talk the talk. Unfortunately, that's about all they can do. The problem is, the education system is set up by....... Professional Educators! The very people who are the BEST at memorizing and passing exams! I don't mean to blast all of them; there are a lot of great educators out there. But unfortunately there also a lot who don't know anything other than memorizing and taking tests. We shouldn't be surprised at the output of this system.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 04:19:40 am
content: Quote from: jebcom on May 09, 2013, 04:14:55 amThen that HR administrator is useless. I can tell just fine if somebody smells bad and show him the door myself. Same with showing up on time. As for the diploma - frankly, if he knows his stuff I really wouldn't give a damn. Why don't they do something useful and see if the guy can tell an ohm from an ampere? They don't have to know EE. Just ask questions off a list and see if the guy can make an attempt at an explanation. It's OK if the explanation is wrong, they'll still filter out the ones who don't know where to start like these morons.

author: jebcom
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 04:25:46 am
content: QuoteThere you go. Years ago I was listening to a "maverick" business guy talk about managing business. I think his name is Townsend. Regarding personnel administrators, he said that if you have to hire more than one, put them at opposite ends of the building. Otherwise, they'll get together and form a Human Resources department.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 04:28:44 am
content: *snort*

author: jebcom
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 04:33:34 am
content: I think it was this guy:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Townsend_(author)I could get on a roll here...QuoteIf you're passionate and even a bit obstinate, you're seen as rocking the boat. Is it any coincidence that companies that see it this way tend to be on the downhill slide, and will soon be out of business, or at least moving a lot of the work to a developing nation?

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 05:31:47 am
content: applied. Lets see how far I get before he realizes that I am a kiddie from washington

author: jebcom
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 05:42:10 am
content: miscjunk,I apologize for hijacking your thread with negativism. I should find another way to blow off steam.Best of luck with your search. Sounds like interesting work.

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 07:49:03 am
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 09, 2013, 02:33:41 amYou aren't involved with anything up in my neck of the woods are you? e.g. the North Dakota oil boom...

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 03:50:13 pm
content: When is the industry going to look for people with talent rather than a degree? I believe that I am qualified for an entry level electronics job. Why do I need a diploma? People stop looking at it after your first job anyway, right?

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 07:39:14 pm
content: Quote from: smashedProton on May 09, 2013, 03:50:13 pmIn general the answer is never. In extreme cases one might slip in.QuoteThe thing is, thousands think they are, few are really.QuoteBecause it is a simple and easy way for the industry to preselect candidates, and weed out heaps of people who think they are qualified, but aren't.By doing that the industry is fully aware that they occasionally, but only occasionally, miss a real talent. And they are fully aware that a degree doesn't guarantee to get only talent. But they have learned that no degree means a high probability of getting a fail.QuoteNo, they just weight the degree less and less, the more you can show real success. Success, and not just a first job (from which you might have gotten fired). However, if you don't happen to be in the small ppm group of people who are extremely luck and talented you might never make it out of the lower ranks and always get paid less for lack of a degree.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 07:55:56 pm
content: Quote from: smashedProton on May 09, 2013, 03:50:13 pmWrong. Not only is someone's highest academic qualification a useful indicator of intelligence, but a really sound academic background is necessary for dealing with all the problems that you're likely to encounter that don't lend themselves to a trial & error approach.Bored@work has it spot on.

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 11:38:13 pm
content: and then there's the whole duty of care thing. If an employer hires someone without the appropriate nationally accredited qualifications and they make a mistake that causes harm or the potential for harm, the onus is then on the employer as to why they appointed someone without the proper qualifications to carry out that task. Most of the legislation that I have seen here in Australia doesn't seem to be specific about qualifications, instead words to the effect "deemed competent" are used. As the employer "deemed" you as competent, then its up to them to prove why they thought this. Having a recognised qualification is one less headache for them should something go wrong.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 12:10:03 am
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on May 09, 2013, 07:55:56 pmWrong. It is a useful indicator of minimum intelligence and with half the population now expected to get university education for degree level qualification that minimum is still below average.

author: vvanders
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 03:16:02 am
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on May 09, 2013, 07:55:56 pmThat's a pretty broad statement. I've interviewed quite a few PhDs and not a single one of them could code themselves out of a paper bag. Bright guys I'm sure, but when it comes to implementing a robust solution they fell far short. I can respect the role that academia and research has but I would much prefer someone who has extensive real world experience and passion.It is rare to see people without degrees but that doesn't mean that we don't exist or can't hack it just as well with the rest of em. I've been writing realtime systems my whole career and it's amazing how little people with traditional EE/CS degrees know about even the basics of getting performance out of modern embedded processors.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 08:18:35 am
content: For every PhD fail I can show you hundred non-degree holder fails who also think they could do the job. So what?And if you are working in a niche it is no surprise there aren't many people who are knowledgeable about the subject, with or without degree. But that exception does not change the way the industry works in general, i.e. they look for degree holders.In a few years, when politics have finally managed that everyone can get a degree by just demonstrating they can help themselves to a beer from the fridge without falling over their own feet, the industry might give up on asking for a degree. Instead they will ask for something else. If there isn't something else in place, like a super-degree or special accredited degrees, they will probably do their own tests. Guess what will happen if the industry does their own tests? Complaints why the do the tests instead of looking for self-styled talent.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 04:21:18 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on May 10, 2013, 08:18:35 amI was given an informal test on general electronics during the interview for my first job. The interview for my second job included a formal 45 minute IQ test. When did industry stop doing their own tests?

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 04:51:47 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on May 09, 2013, 07:55:56 pmAll that piece of paper says is that you have met a set of criteria. and those are not the criteria required for the job. in fact they might havbe nothing to do with the job at all.So according to your scaling my IQ is somewhere around room temperature ... ( in celcius ).. Ah well it's still better than 273 kelvin...Besides. intelligence is a quasi constant for an individual.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 07:00:27 pm
content: QuoteDunno but my experience shows a 100% correlation between firms that do psychometric testing and places that I wouldn't want to work even if they were the last employer on the planet.

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 07:59:53 pm
content: Quote from: smashedProton on May 09, 2013, 05:31:47 amI actually realized that as soon as I saw your resume and webpage. That's partially why I'm pulling all the strings I can to get you an interview. My HR department and I don't see eye-to-eye on the requirement for a degree. Good luck to you, and hope you get a call.

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 08:01:47 pm
content: Quote from: Skimask on May 09, 2013, 07:49:03 amAll of the major service providers have a piece of that action ...

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 08:06:03 pm
content: Quote from: smashedProton on May 09, 2013, 03:50:13 pmI don't agree with the idea that a diploma is necessary. However, I can partially understand why they look for it. We've received over 1000 resumes, of which only a couple of people were worth hiring. We're at a point where if someone is good - we'll hire them and figure out what to do with them later. There just aren't enough out there.A diploma isn't everything, however technical managers also have better things to do than to review resumes all day. And anything that helps with increasing the signal to noise ratio on resume's help. Having a degree from a good institution happens to be one of those factors ...However, you can gain an advantage by actively doing stuff - and documenting it on your website/git-hub/whatever. Be meticulous in your documentation, and analysis. Basically, build your experience portfolio - and you will get noticed. Some social engineering via linkedin is also useful to be able to land your resume on a relevant person's desk.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 08:30:49 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on May 10, 2013, 07:00:27 pmIt was IBM and back then people would be slightly awe struck and muttering lucky bastard when you told them that is who you worked for. The staff canteen had Egon Ronay awards for the fittings and better quality carpet than you would find in most managing director's offices. It could have been a job for life and I could have done much worse, but, I wanted to do design work and IBM wanted its employees to do whatever they needed doing so I moved on after a couple of years.

author: jmc2000
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 10:01:24 pm
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 09, 2013, 02:33:41 amYou get what you pay for.Good graduates with the potential to be productive in their first job, tend to be snapped up by a sponsor early on in their education, and trained on summer jobs.Raw graduates with little practical experience need a senior engineer to train and guide them early on for the first two years in their career. They get to be trained on low pay, and in return they do basic tasks that increase in complexity as they help the senior engineer managing the project.Put another way, you're asking for trouble if you expect an entry level engineer to manage their first project that will be productive to the company. It takes years to train an engineer.

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 12:19:46 am
content: Quote from: jmc2000 on May 10, 2013, 10:01:24 pmWhere did I ever mention that I'm expecting an entry level engineer to manage a project? I have no such expectations, and fully expect to assign a mentor to each such engineer. I was, and am still looking for, students that weren't struggling thru college as a result of recovering from repetitive hangovers from frat parties - but rather were struggling because they were trying to understand something they spent nearly a 1/3 of their conscious life studying - engineering.Asking how a use a voltage divider is too much?Given a fixed DC current, selecting a current sense resistor to output a certain voltage is too hard?The concept of 'calibration' also seems to be alien to most ...If those questions are 'too hard' for a electrical engineering graduate (even those with masters!), then what exactly would be fair game to ask? I'm a bit at a loss here ...For all you potential candidates: A C average student, who just happens to be a bad test taker, is inquisitive, and has tenacity is much better than an A grade students who is good at taking tests, and forgets everything the next day. If you think you have an engineering mind, and can demonstrate it in your conversation, the types of questions you ask, etc .. email me!

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 03:52:04 am
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 10, 2013, 08:01:47 pmYa, that stuff is right down the road from me. I'm getting a piece of it too...mainly in the service department (e.g. fixing dead PCs, printers, etc), but once in awhile, I get a good piece to whip up a box to do 'whatever' for whoever.

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 06:10:36 am
content: May I ask what the company name is, and where exactly you are located.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 06:35:15 am
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 11, 2013, 12:19:46 amEE as a UG degree (from what I've seen in north america) is kind of like a multitool, does a lot of things [many that you don't need/want], but none very well, except for a few things (like pliers, knife) = EE theory.However, even with that comment, I find it strange those questions would be too difficult.. Answering those questions would require you to pay attention for the first week of EE at my school.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 11:19:36 am
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 09, 2013, 02:33:41 amWhy is this a good thing? seriously, is this the attitude today? that you have to break stuff, burn it up, "let the smoke out" and then you're a good engineer, because you're "pushing the limits" ??I'm actually proud of the fact that what I design is alwaysIN SPEC, done with purpose, always works, keeps on working, and doesn't kill anyone.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 11:31:07 am
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 11, 2013, 12:19:46 amI think asking candidates about a voltage divider and how to select a current sense resistor should be fair game, yes.Probably they won't know about calibration.. it's a concept that was foreign to me too, until I started working. The professors don't teach or talk about calibration, or the need for it. We just learn the EE concepts and use the tools they provide. The students are never involved in maintaining the equipment.By the way, I'm Canadian, I spent 15 years in the USA already in a past life (Richmond, VA, Salt Lake City, UT, Boulder, CO, and finally San Jose, CA), and although I am out of work right now, I think I am too old for your job posting

author: TerminalJack505
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 11:39:53 am
content: Quote from: codeboy2k on May 11, 2013, 11:31:07 amThere. Fixed that for you.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 11:44:17 am
content: Quote from: TerminalJack505 on May 11, 2013, 11:39:53 amLOL

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 12:35:22 pm
content: Quote from: codeboy2k on May 11, 2013, 11:19:36 amIt's not a good thing if you are working within design parameters of your components.See the emphasis above .... If you have customer requirements for which no qualified components are available - then you have to do destructive testing, and push the limits ... Clearly, you don't have much exposure to super hi-rel extreme environment electronics (think NASA).

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 12:40:34 pm
content: Quote from: codeboy2k on May 11, 2013, 11:31:07 amThat's why I said the "concept" of calibration. I.e. if a device outputs a certain signal, but it changes with say ... time of day, or temperature, or humidity ... is the device still usable given that you can measure the disturbance?That is not a circuits questions, or a signal processing question, or anything technical ... If they've ever had to adjust the thermostat on their fridge during the warmer months - they've done 'calibration'.You see .. I'm looking for engineering fundamentals - not domain specific knowledge. We allow our engineers to take their time to learn domain specific concepts...

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 12:42:31 pm
content: Quote from: codeboy2k on May 11, 2013, 11:31:07 amIf you know know control systems theory with application to motor control, or are a communications guy who can do heavy duty channel modeling and comm systems design - they may make you an offer that would bring you out of retirement.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 12:55:04 pm
content: So you use commercial parts, instead of industrial or aerospace rated ones. Quite common, as often the only differences are either the package, and the testing required. Can be a big difference in price, especially if you are building things for which there are no industrial or aerospace parts available, as the cost of specifying them is quite high, and the commercial parts are reliable enough from the manufacturers own testing.74 series TTL has a aerospace equivalent in the 54 series, but the parts selection is a very small portion of the devices available, and they cost around 20x more, but in many cases the 74 series can be used instead as a drop in replacement, it just is not tested to the extremes like the 54 series. Often the 2 are available from the same batch, just the one set has been cooked for 100 hours at 125C to age them before the second testing round. With the bake cycle they need 100% pass rate or the lot is going back into the 74 series pool.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 03:46:38 pm
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 11, 2013, 12:35:22 pmnope. I have not designed anything that went to space, ended up on a submarine, or under a hood of a carI have done destructive testing of some components, but that was only at a time when management wanted one less power component than I thought we needed, so I did some testing on the component get a better characterization of it (and to feel more comfortable designing the circuit with one less than I wanted to use). That one was running closer to the limits than I normally would design (I'm conservative) but every power device was still within spec.control theory and channel modeling ?? I don't know much about control theory beyond the basic feedback loop, and I've never worked with motors, but modeling comms channels is something I've definitely done; one time in my past life was designing multi-protocol synchronous comms boards for mainframes and micros. I don't know what software exists today for this, but at that time, we had to write our own simulation software to model the channels and test our board designs. ( reminds me of "ten miles to school, barefoot, in the snow, uphill, both ways" )

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 11:38:03 pm
content: Give me a ring if you need PCB layout or FPGA design (both hw and sw) on a contract basis. I am booked for a while out. If you need this stuff regularly you might have your guy (fulltime)

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 13, 2013, 02:05:23 pm
content: If I was 45 Years younger

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 13, 2013, 02:08:53 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 09, 2013, 02:44:24 amQuite agree, got the paperwork but no idea, well that's it at least for the next twenty years, when they stop telling everyone how good they are then they'll have the idea.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2013, 04:50:57 pm
content: @marshall give me a ring if you get a client that you can't take because you are booked outI am free, trying to build my client base up ...embedded software development, digital design, analog design, FPGA, PCB layout, I can do it all too

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 13, 2013, 04:58:29 pm
content: Asking how a use a voltage divider is too much?/Surely the answer is in the question, were they still wearing Nappies/Dippers

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2013, 08:01:26 pm
content: Quote from: Telequipment on May 13, 2013, 04:58:29 pmthey're still trying to find the egg....

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2013, 04:01:54 am
content: Bump!

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2013, 04:58:26 am
content: You still haven't found talent?! I'm now having trouble believing this so-called unemployment 'crisis'

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2013, 06:20:49 am
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 10, 2013, 08:01:47 pmYa, no kidding. even McDonalds (e.g. all of the fast food chains and most of the dept. stores) are outsourcing help from overseas.I'd take a stab at it but I don't feel like moving out of N.D. just yet.Maybe when the traffic gets a bit heavier and the people get just a tad more annoying...

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2013, 03:16:25 pm
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 09, 2013, 02:58:01 amSo am I. But that's not when&where i learnt to do the things you ask.Non of my classmates learnt it during their education.The ones that did, learnt it at the age of 15 or 16, by modding their bycicle or model aircraft..

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2013, 06:20:45 pm
content: Quote from: smashedProton on May 14, 2013, 04:58:26 amMy thoughts exactly.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2013, 06:34:07 pm
content: Quote from: Galenbo on May 14, 2013, 03:16:25 pmThat really just speaks to how poor the education was.When you attend university, you should not expect to be taught how to do things, you should expect to learn how to think and how to figure things out for yourself.How to use a voltage dividerHow to select a value for a current sense resistorIf you can't figure out how to answer those questions by thinking for yourself after graduating from a university with an EE degree (or a physics degree, or a MechEng degree, or ChemEng degree, or a <insert technical subject here> degree), then your education was useless and you wasted your time. If that is the case you really shouldn't be seeking a professional engineering job.

author: madshaman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2013, 06:34:30 pm
content: Quote from: ivan747 on May 14, 2013, 06:20:45 pmI think that many are simply finding better uses for their talent.

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2013, 07:25:17 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on May 14, 2013, 06:34:07 pmEeeeexactly!

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 02:23:39 pm
content: It wad pretty smart of you to recruit from this forum. We are all geniuses working for slave labor wages here

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 03:32:42 pm
content: Quote from: Galenbo on May 14, 2013, 03:16:25 pmi never knew bicycles had tons of hi-end electronics in them. hmm maybe i need to take another look at them...

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 04:15:54 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on May 15, 2013, 03:32:42 pmYou have to go across the Rhine first and ask for them back.............I think high tech on bikes is more with materials, variable stiffness and mass cutting where possible, the electronics is mostly to do with lighting and trip tracking.

author: kfitch42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 04:35:53 pm
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 09, 2013, 02:58:01 amIn my personal experience (more on the software than hardware side) people who went straight from undergrad to grad school were useless in reality. They tended to have lots of difficulty dealing with those pesky situations when something that 'should' work didn't work. And, if the customer changed their mind, or we discovered that one of our assumptions was wrong .... you would think the world was about to end.

author: miscjunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 06:39:16 pm
content: I guess ya'll are right. Those students who 'merely' have a university education and were good test takers probably shouldn't be expected to know even the fundamentals much. Only those who geeked out on the side (like most of us here) can be expected to know and apply fundamentals ...Oh well.Thanks for your submissions guys. They've all but filled the spots (with the lot I described .. sigh), but there are a few more open ones. I hope ya'll get some calls.Regards!

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2013, 12:22:35 pm
content: Quote from: miscjunk on May 15, 2013, 06:39:16 pmThat would be sweet, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm the guy who was a little more entry level than entry level since I'm not actually an EE yet. Fingers crossed for a super entry level position. Haha

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2013, 03:16:17 pm
content: You will get an internship. I got one there. I would LOVE to go... but its too far away. I cant live by myself yet

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2013, 03:34:53 pm
content: Quote from: smashedProton on May 16, 2013, 03:16:17 pmDo you know where in Texas it is?

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2013, 04:24:59 pm
content: I will send some emails

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 01:06:28 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on May 15, 2013, 03:32:42 pmI should have used the word moped. I can only speak for the things I did on them when I was 16.Mounted an electronic ignition, mounted an RF-remote-controlled "resistor" (to make it run the legal 40kmh instead of 75kmh)

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 05:42:11 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 09, 2013, 04:00:27 amNot so very long ago I read a post by someone who had to do technical interviews on Slashdot, management basically told him that they didn't care if they couldn't get through fizzbuzz ...

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2013, 02:07:43 pm
content: Engineering jobs on the rebound:http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/25/news/economy/engineering-best-paid-jobs/index.html?source=yahoo_hosted