Looking for replies from optimistic and or successful people - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: renzoms
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2020, 03:46:24 pm
content: I’m preparing to earn a job after this semester and I’d like to know what positions I might like, recommendations, and insight into a job that will be the bridge between my associates degree and future degree(s). Below, I can post my linkedin bc it has my work experience and education. I’ll also describe it here.I started EE by going to Penn State University for 2 years. I did alright. Between us, I going to class high, partying, not being a role model student. I can post the transcript below, too. I took 3 year gap and worked a few jobs; logistics and catering, bartending and serving, included a highly ranked fine dining restaurant that was the best job I ever had. Around the second half of the 3 year gap I picked up my notebooks from PSU and started reviewing. I ended up at the library. I ended up buying a new book. I ended up buying textbooks, and a lab. I ended up among completing every exercise in an electric circuits textbook, a digital logic w/ verilog textbook, and 4 classes from MIT’s OpenCourseWare, single variable calculus, multivariable calculus, differential equations, and (3/4s of linear algebra). I ended up with a 4.0 last semester and I have one more semester to go until I have all of my credits for an associates degree in EE. I think I’ll get a 4.0 again. And I’m going to complete these textbooks.I can’t afford to earn a Bachelor’s rn, so here I am, learning what job positions I might like, recommendations, and insight into EE.I feel smart. I like the electric circuits more than the digital logic right now. I want a job that will supplement my growing career and compliment what I have done.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2020, 05:01:43 pm
content: The advice I give my children, and most others who ask is not to be too specific in your likes. People hire someone because they have problems they want solved. Engineers like to solve problems. The makings of a lovely match are there. It comes apart when people are too specific in the types of problems they like to solve. Over my career I ending up solving problems in analog electronics, software, automated test, environmental test, manufacturing, field operations and many others. Each offers its own types of challenges and responds to different types of tools. Learning the new tools is fun, and applying tools from other fields where appropriate is rewarding. This advice is saying that your attitude is important. Find the joy in what you are doing each day. Or if it is a bad time, try to average over longer intervals.And my experience is that once you have established a reputation for solving problems the specific training and degrees you have become less important. Still worthwhile, because particularly in large organizations hiring and wages becomes disconnected from day to day success and turned into an algorithm, but not absolutely mandatory for a viable career.Carry on and good luck to you.

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2020, 01:13:09 pm
content: CatalinaWOWgave an excellent and detailed answer!I'm not in the U.S. but some things are the same throughout the World. Here's a few things I've learnt/found...Firstly, you said... "I like the electric circuits more than the digital logic right now". That 'seemed' to indicate that maybe you are morepresently interested in more generic electrical basics, as opposed to an Electronics career?? There's a vast difference. The first is more of a'Trade' relationship, for which there are 'usually' many 'Unions' etc that people have to conform to in industry. Of which, there are 2 main types,being 'Domestic' and 'Commercial/Industrial'. The latter is much more involved, and these days due to technology advances crosses boundariesinto many facets of Electronic equipment too!However, when (from my experiences) you seek/gain employment from a lot of 'Technical' organizations, their interest is often 'less' on whatcertificates/qualifications one has, especially working out in the field, as to what they know/feel one could do! And they are also very muchnon-union oriented. I'm mainly talking about as a contractor, not in-house specific requirements. It's good though, to come up through theranks, so one can appreciate all aspects of the work, as well as how to work with people and get the best out of them.My 'sore' point throughout the decades, is having to work with 'some' engineers etc that have come straight out of Uni etc, and have ZEROpeople-skills, and just a head full of formulas/figures!The good ones have come up through the ranks, know what it's like to actuallyachieve goals, and have a realistic & friendly repore' with workers. As CatalinaWOW said, your attitude is most important! and don't lockyourself into specific 'ability' boundaries. In 10 or 20 years, you will still be learning!!

author: iteratee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2020, 06:41:11 am
content: You'relookingfor optimism? I'm optimistic, unsuccessful, and trying to cure both. But alas I simply cannot adjust my expectations low enough to avoid dissapointment, let alone achieve my ultimate dream goal of one day experiencing plesant surprise.

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2020, 01:38:54 pm
content: Quote from: iteratee on September 04, 2020, 06:41:11 amI'm curious as to your current age? And what your current expertise/work entails?I can understand if you are say in your 40's and above, the difficulty of gaining new employment, especially in Technical environments,is/can be overwhelming, as many people find. However, if you are in your early/late 20's, you have the World at your feet!Most of us do not have life handed to us on a platter, but make a personal choice to better ourselves, if we so desire. Some people arehappy to continue what they are doing, for life. And that's OK!! We can't ALL be Brain Surgeons or Astro Physicists. Sometimes, thesimpler life, with wife & kids in a little house with a white picked fence, is all that we either want or need to feel fulfilled...There is SO much in life that we CAN'T control though, like health/accidents, or in the wrong place at the wrong/right time!!I'm in my mid 60's now, and although I've done a lot, covering vast topics of 'expertise/experience', I will never get any better now,for 2 reasons. Firstly because of my age, and secondly because my time left on this blue/green Planet is now very limited. I really donot know what I would change, if I could do it all again... However, I guess I would still have given it my best shot, as I did, multipletimes. It's only NOW, knowing the future I don't have, that even though I plough the Internet and forums like this to keep my mind'active', that it's rapidly becoming more than I can absorb now, so I'm now just watching it/future all pass by!!YOU, and others, have the power/ability/age to deal with & cross our new Worlds frontiers.

author: iteratee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 05:42:59 pm
content: Quote from: GlennSprigg on September 05, 2020, 01:38:54 pm35 - right in the middle. An older or younger person would have their own advantages and disadvantages. amidst this exponential information availability age. Many peers have had a substantial head start as I didn't begin heavy research until my mid-late 20s when school finally got out of the way. Like yourself I strain for every bit of flexibility this "old" brain has left, but at least I am seriously devoted.I'm unemployed. I focus on software and computer systems, dabble in analog design, and anything else my meandering research methods lead me into. Inventing / developing the research methods is quite a meta-task in itself.QuoteIndeed i'd feel free to have a life having accomplished said vast epic carreer. If I can't have both then I'll take one over none.QuoteNothing wrong with that, one can do a lot with that knowledge. Interwebs is where the action is really, especially when money isn't a concern. There's nowhere else to go for such deep wisdom sharing and colaboration.QuoteI've observed that the few outstanding teachers I've had the chance to work with over the years are also the most flexible, make the fewest assumptions, are least likely to make negative inferences quickly based on assumptions, or if they do, don't allow them to interfere with their ability to work with people. They also seem more observent and don't struggle to guage people that are dissimilar to themselves, even for students with lesser developed social / emotional intelligence.I don't know why these traits appear to be unvalued and don't translate into the workaday world. People want "people skills" yet believe they can't work effectively with those that lack them or express themselves in ways they can't fully relate to.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 06:51:51 pm
content: Quote from: renzoms on August 28, 2020, 03:46:24 pmTo be young. Any feelings I had about being smart were erased long ago. If anything, I feel my own skills lacking more now than ever.I'm slowly working my way through this book and recently finished the chapter on education. It's not specific to any one area of expertise and IMO, well worth the read.https://www.amazon.com/Death-Expertise-Campaign-Established-Knowledge/dp/0190469412QuoteNews flash, it's the World Wide Web.Be humble.Loose any sense of entitlement.Learn to fail.Learn to take instructions.Take notes.A formal education is just the start of a long journey.Learn to communicate.Never approach a problem with a closed mind.Never attempt to take credit for someone else's efforts. A better way to put that is to give credit where it is due.Maybe the most important is knowing your personal limitations and how to leverage people.*****Learn how to ask a question.

author: iteratee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 09:18:55 pm
content: Quote from: joeqsmith on September 06, 2020, 06:51:51 pmMatter of perspective. You compare yourself to the wrong people. Average Joe is a dumbass.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 10:42:02 pm
content: Someone told me, at age 55, I had not accomplished anything 'significant' in my life. WHEW, that made me feel offended.Aside from any word streams, (I've got plenty of positive advice, similar to above posts), I started a side hobby: The older (90+) lady next door was a widow, and senile, as you might expect. But we have a nice yard, and I started asking her over, for ice tea and just to sit and chat.Later, after a fall (common occurrence), she couldn't remember my name, but would immediately say "oh, I like you! That was an easy sell.Point there is those few afternoons, got me on a 'good luck track' for many years after. I even mentioned to her that I felt 'unsuccessfull', which she immediately scoffed: I was pretty darned good, in her view.I also took over some responsibility, for well-being of her pets! Those sincere actions didn't really take lots of time, we weren't super close, and I continued study Engineering matters.Maybe a private journal would help you keep sorting things out... You maybe have skills, as a writer.Good question post.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2020, 01:13:58 am
content: Quote from: renzoms on August 28, 2020, 03:46:24 pmDoing a good job and career growth within an organization is already well covered byCatalinaWOW's excellent reply. I will add a few words about career growth since it requires more than just doing a good job. You use the word "optimistic" in the title. That deserves a few words as well.First, optimism:Be guarded with optimism particularly with planning. What worries you likely is not "when things going well." What worries you likely is when things are NOT going well. So, always look for problems ahead because Murphy's Law may just hit you. As the saying goes, "plan for the worst, hope for the best."Second, good career vs doing a good job Take control of your life/careerDon't just sit back and think if you do a good job, your career will grow. Some employer may see your potential and want to maximize it by giving you a bigger job, but many bosses would sit back and only oil the squeaky wheel. Actively do what is needed including (a) letting your boss know you want a bigger/better job, (b) you are already prepared with the basic requirements for it (and you have to demonstrated that whenever you can), and (c) don't forget your old job still needs to be done - is there a way for your boss to fill that painlessly once he/she promoted you to the next spot? If not, find one for your boss. The less trouble it is for your boss to move you up, the more likely you will succeed. Growth needs headroom - may need to jump to a different organization(Since you selected to display the USA flag, I assume you are working in the USA.)I have no suggestion on action, but I do want to raise this so you are aware:Just a bit over a decade ago, I was working at a Fortune 1000 size organization. Then, we already had thepolicy of not allowed to give referencesof former staff to new employers. We were allowed only to confirm job title, dates, and salary. Recently, my State (NJ) has a new law that an employer cannot even ask the job candidate what his/her current salary is, or what salary the candidate wants. It is a distinct possibility that your new employer cannot ask how you were as an employee, or confirm your current (or last) salary.So, your current boss/employer love you is not enough. You must be prepared to demonstrateindependentlyto your new prospective employer that not only did you do a good job, you had a good growth path with your current job up to this point.As I said, I have no suggestion on action since it would be very much depended on your employer and your job function. I will share with you something I did: I was always helpful to others whether they are on my team or they are with another department or even other branches/companies under the same corporate umbrella. If their request is not a simple one, I would ask: "That is one big favor you are asking. I've no problem helping you with that. But can you do me a favor back? My annual performance review is coming, can you put your thank-you in writing and cc my boss and HR on it?" (HR = Human Resources aka Personnel Dept) That I believe was helpful in my having a very positive performance review consistently. Paper is portable - between departments and between different employers. Work for me then doesn't mean it will work for you now. You have to figure that out.Last words:Remember, you need to be more than good with your job. Good character is always a good thing and is the foundation of being a good employee. "If every you did regarding this issue is made known to the world, would you be proud?"Also, being an employee in technology doesn't mean you solve only technology problems. In non-technical problem solving, I learn after many painful experience: "When describing a problem, always find a way to insert 'I' or 'me' in it." Say for example, Joe on your team is behind schedule... don't just think of it as "How can Joe screw up that?" think of it as "How can I let Joe's screw up like that?" or "How can I missed Joe is running behind." With the 'I' in the problem description, you took responsibility for what happened. Also, with the 'I' or 'me in there already, you can think of "what can I do to prevent that" a lot easier.Good luck - with will, you can do it. Be ambitious, and reach for where you ambition and your capability intersects.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2020, 03:50:46 am
content: Rick's answer is also excellent, with his final words perhaps being the most likely to benefit us technical types who often focus too heavily on devices and equations.