please help with my CV - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: vixo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2022, 09:58:25 am
content: Hello everyone, I've been applying for jobs of late but I'm finding that a lot of jobs that I thought I would be suitable for aren't getting back to me. My experience is a little patchy - I have a BEng and a PhD in sensor technology but I haven't worked a "proper" industry engineering job before. I worked as technical staff in a recording studio and also had my own small company where I design musical hardware which involves a lot of analogue design / simulation (ltspice - by no means an expert), a bit of digital (working with STM32), PCB design (which I really don't know how to do properly but I am familiar with most of the main software packages) and A LOT of debugging which is probably my strong point.I would say I'm pretty capable at what I do and could with just a little experience do a lot more, but as of now I'm not exactly sure what to put on my CV to highlight my skills. It seems that I'm always going for opening positions (even though I've been working with electronics for years) and I'm losing out to university graduates with less skills than me, meanwhile I can't apply for mid level positions because I don't have experience doing key thingsHow can I fashion my CV to maximise my skills? Thankyou in advance!

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2022, 04:56:49 pm
content: First- you need to think through your objectives and what your applying for. Engineering today at least at large companies is somewhat specialized. An analog, digital, software, PCB, debug and project engineer is not a common job. Any company of any size (with a 10+ engineering team) would have specialists that do each of those things. Your skills would fit well in a small company with perhaps one or two engineers.It would be good to put your experience in the context of the skills you used. The last ten years is project engineering in a small company atmosphere where you did it all. You might bring out a bit of specifics of the kind of equipment- sound mixers?, low noise analog processing, DSP? You can also explain roles, project engineer- customer contact, reporting to outside customer, supervising people. Resumes are scanned by key word searchers- designing X-Ray detectors doesn't mean much- ultra low noise analog design, complex filters, digitizing one time events, etc are the core skills required. People making first passes on resumes can't figure this stuff out.Finally, its easy to crank out custom CV's these days tailored to an opportunity. I wouldn't try to shoot for a "universal" CV. Good luck.Don't get discouraged. "Getting back to people" is not done much these days. I think with ease of emailing resume's etc, companies are bombarded with low quality candidates and generally don't even log them into their system. Do something to stand out. Perhaps send a well thought out cover letter tailored to the job requirement in a real envelope with a stamp- you can back it up with an email so they can forward it around and file it.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2022, 08:23:05 pm
content: I am not an engineer and was waiting for someone to point out what I saw immediately in the CV.1) Is it a CV or resume? In my experience, CV's are much more detailed.2) There are gaps in employment. At the start, 2 months with a university research group, a gap of 6 months, then 7 months in another job, then self-employer/unemployed. Those are flags. The university gig is not too worrisome in isolation, but coupled with the second job, it becomes more significant. If possible, you might explain why each job ended, e.g., the university grant expired.3) The problem is getting past a heartless screener. More detail about your success as an entrepreneur would help. In particular, I would ask, "After being an entrepreneur, why are you looking for a job?"4) You have a Ph.D. and are looking for a starting position. In my field (chemistry/biology/medicine), that is another flag. I have heard that some Ph.D.'s save that information once they get past the screener. Don't hide it in any interview.Again, you need to get past a screener, so write your resume to match the low-level position to which you are applying. That may be futile. Have you considered university or college appointments?

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2022, 08:32:15 pm
content: There was a time back in the late '70s where PhDs were unemployable in Silicon Valley. They were simply overqualified for most openings. As a result, laws were created that allowed candidates to omit the PhD on their resume and just specify their BS and MS degrees. They couldn't lie but they didn't have to tell the whole truth.https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-career-killing-mistakes-phds-make-4-very-common-hankel-ph-d-https://www.zipjob.com/blog/excluding-education-from-resume

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2022, 08:36:59 pm
content: 'Sensor technology' sounds like avionics to me... Are you considering the defense contractors or government agencies? There's no 'country' flag next to your user name so it's pretty doubtful that any of the replies will actually work. The US is pretty flexible.

author: Warhawk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2022, 09:05:38 pm
content: What country? From my experience, there is a big difference between a CV in the US and let's say in Germany.I am a European so here are my two (Euro) cents:- your skills are not Matlab, Labview. Your skills are using the software to solve specific problems. What you list there are tools. Imagine, you are a woodworker but you say "my skills are a table saw, planer, jointer a set of chisels...."Example of skills:* Designing and coding embedded applications in C/C++. Practical experience with STM32 and AVR microcontrollers.* Printed circuit board layout experience using industry-standard tools such as Altium Designer, Autodesk Eagle, and KiCad.* Implementing automated laboratory tests using LabView and Python scripting.For every bullet above, you should be ready to show an example and talk in detail about it. Of course, do not disclose any confidential materials. However, showing a PCB that shows the complexity and tidiness of your designs is a great thing. Honestly, a hand-assembled PCB is the best CV.Do you solder? Are you able to work in the lab, and operate oscilloscopes? If so, put it there! You would be surprised how many college graduates have never had a soldering iron in their hands.Example:* Fluent in standard laboratory work using modern test equipment.* Experience with voltages above XXX.* Comfortable with assembling PCBs for prototyping and debugging including fine-pitch SMD components.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2022, 09:10:50 pm
content: Recruiters don't getting back to you even to say "Sorry, no" is sadly the new norm today. Unless you have some special skill that's in high demand you can expect to have to send many tens of copies of your CV out to score maybe two three replies and invitations to first interview round.Then you pass that - and never hear from the company again, they simply ghost you. Also very common behavior. And then companies are crying about how difficult is to "find talent". No shit, Sherlock, with such hiring processes ...This happens even if you have perfect CV. So don't despair, just keep trying.Try first to find work through your personal network. That works much better than replying to job ads where you could be one of hundred candidates and no actual person even looks at your CV and cover letter - a computer or some clueless HR intern that has no idea whatsoever about the actual job they are trying to fill checks for keywords and picks maybe 2-3 candidates that cross the most boxes to invite for an interview. That's especially true if it is some sort of external HR agency doing the screenings for the actual employer (very common with large companies).

author: gbaddeley
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2022, 10:40:39 am
content: CV = your life story, all qualificationsResume = Only Relevant info for the job application

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2022, 01:27:04 pm
content: In the US, there is little distinction made between the two- they're synonyms. They're just thought of as the European equivalent.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2022, 03:17:12 pm
content: jpanhalt has already touched upon a few "flags" which might lead your resume to fail in the initial screen already.To be more direct: You need to counter the impression that, ever since finishing your PhD, you were just "drifting". Both, the studio technician job and the self employed (tinkering? unemployed?) time could be interpreted as such, with the gaps in-between not helping.In the resume sections on your two most recent roles, it would be good to add a few bullets stating what youachieved, rather than just what you spent your time on. In your technician role, how much responsibility did you have? Were you one out of 10 technicians, or the only one? What value did the "bespoke audio equipment" provide to your employer? In your own company, what product line(s) did you build, what kind of innovation did you bring to your customers? What revenue did you aim for and what did you generate (in the good years)? etc.Also, a sentence or short paragraph before each of the bullet-point lists to statewhyyou decided to take that role might be helpful. And, as suggested by jpanhalt, a sentence afterwards to explain why you left. (Because the university and studio technician stints were pretty short, and moving from a one-man show to employment is a qualitative difference worth explaining.)Best of luck to you!

author: vixo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2022, 06:02:21 pm
content: thankyou everyone, some very helpful responses there. I am a UK national living in Germany for those who askedQuote from: ebastler on October 15, 2022, 03:17:12 pmIt's no secret for me in my personal life, although I wouldn't tell employers - I had an injury which resulted in long term, persistent migraines and I found it very difficult to concentrate / handle stress, so I eventually became self-employed after a couple of false starts at different jobs. I ran a small business doing what was my hobby - designing audio equipment - and now I sell through vendors around the world. Now I'm a lot better now and I want to challenge myself more - I'm hoping my 'drift time' doesn't spoil my chances!

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2022, 08:37:40 pm
content: Initial resume screening is AI robots.little chance of getting any human responsePost Brexit you will need an EU or Germany visa, work permitGerman economic outlook is poor due to energy shortages and manufacturing locating out of Germanypersonal connexion is the best way to get a good jobBon courageJon