Rutgers University S'H'E'

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Rutgers UniversityS.H.E.

• How engineering students can prepare for life
  after college

Milton Diaz Phillip Southard Sarnoff
Corporation PDS Consulting, LLC
November 13th, 2007
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Why are you an engineer?
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Agenda

• Your Résumé
• Interview Process
• Adjusting to the Workplace, Expectations
• Pursuing higher degrees
• Comments
• References
• Q A

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Your Résumé

• Résumé basics
• First impression of applicant
• Describe work/internship experience (Very
  important if applying to first full-time job)
• Describe your most challenging project
  (preferably a Senior-level project)

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Your Résumé

• Résumé Tips
• One page is enough, two may be a bit too much if
  not a lot of experience.
• DONT LIE on your resume!!! Anything you put on
  it is fair for questioning.

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Your Résumé

• Résumé Tips
• Use resources at school. You are paying for it.
  Have someone else look at it. Your Career
  Services department can help you.
• Include activities or qualities that
  differentiate you from others. Do you do
  volunteering work? Do you speak more than one
  language?

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Your Résumé

• Résumé Tips
• GPA Important but it does not tell the full
  story. It reinforces other accomplishments. Put
  your majors GPA.
• If your GPA is too low, dont put it on it.
  However, you may not be selected for possible
  interview. Rather, mention or submit references
  that can corroborate your good qualities.

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The Interview

• First Interview
• Prepare, prepare, prepare!!! Review technical
  fundamentals.
• First opportunity for the company to put a face
  to the name.
• Be ready to do most of the talking! Dont be shy.

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The Interview

• First Interview
• Gather information about the company and
  group/section that will be interviewing you. Use
  the Internet. Learn as much as you can.
• Ask questions relevant to the type of work
  expected from you.
• Be ready to describe your weaknesses and your
  strengths. What are you doing to improve on your
  weaknesses?

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The Interview

• People that you will meet
• HR person Your contact.
• Engineering Manager Will scrutinize information
  on your resume and ask you pertaining questions.
• Engineers People that you could work with if
  hired. They are the most important people in
  the process. Be ready to answer challenging
  technical questions. You may be asked to show
  how to design something.

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The Interview

• Some companies give out written technical tests
  to support a decision. Some of these may be
  based on some pre-screening.
• Example
• What is the difference between and in C?
• Explain RC circuits charging and discharging.
• Search the web for other examples. Train
  yourself.

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The Interview

• Some other companies will require you to give a
  presentation on a topic of your choosing. Peers
  will evaluate your communication skills and
  knowledge.
• Tip Take public speaking class to improve your
  oral communications skills.
• Some others will give you brain-teasers. These
  evaluate your thinking and logical skills.
• Tip Demonstrate your reasoning skills even if
  you dont get to the right answer. What was your
  approach to solving the problem.

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The Interview

• Sample Brain-teaser

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The Interview

• Lunch Interview?
• Be prepared to eat little, since you will be
  talking the most. Shy away from the spare ribs!!
  Order a salad.
• Even if the conversations are casual, remember
  that this is still part of the interview. Avoid
  political comments unless to your advantage and
  in line with your thinking.
• It is good to bring out any other interests that
  you have hobbies or sports, magazines or
  documentaries you like.

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The Interview

• Phone Interview?
• Prepare for phone interview the same as if you
  were doing the interview in person.
• Be settled before the call. A rushed feeling on
  your part will be felt by the interviewer.
• Consider dressing up a bit to play the part. It
  will put you in the proper mind set for the
  interview.
• Smile while being interviewed. Your cheerful
  attitude will be perceived on the other end of
  the line.

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The Interview

• In some companies you may be called for a 2nd
  round of interviews. This one will be more
  focused on the particular skills that the company
  is looking to fulfill. Dont forget to prepare
  again.
• Opportunity for you to ask more specific
  questions about the job and others (tuition
  reimbursement, medical expenses, other benefits).

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Congratulations!!

• You have graduated and have a job waiting for
  you!!

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The Workplace

• Meet the Team. You are part of a bigger
  organization and your role is important for
  maintaining the teams and product performance.
• Communication is very important. You may be
  required to talk to engineers in other locations
  in the U.S. or abroad.

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The Workplace

• Typical work flow in a company (Production
  Based)
• Marketing and BD Meet the customer. Get the
  business, show sample prototype, write the
  contract.
• Management In charge of the technical, business
  decisions and timeframe for delivery.
• Design Engineers Responsible for the
  performance and successful testing of the
  product.

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The Workplace

• Typical work flow in a company (Production
  Based)
• Test Engineers Qualify the design.
• Production Manager Takes control of design
  replication once deemed fit for production.
  Maintains qualification records.
• Supply Manager Takes control of inventory and
  guarantees that all resources are available for
  the production line.

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The Workplace

• Theres a new challenge everyday. Be prepared to
  adjust.
• See change as an opportunity to grow and learn
  socially and professionally.
• Realize that engineering is an ever changing
  landscape that will require more training.

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The Workplace

• Companies will provide onsite external training,
  this includes
• Technical software and other tools you are
  expected to use for you specific job.
• The work flow. Some companies will put you on
  rotation for 3-6 months to learn every aspect.
• The procedures. Written guidelines for
  documenting and delivering your work. The
  Quality Department makes sure these are being
  followed.

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Pursuing Higher Degrees

• Part time study
• Your company may cover some or all of your
  educational expenses (Tuition Reimbursement).
  Some restrictions may apply.
• You may know exactly what you want to specialize
  in.
• You are still in charge of your work
  responsibilities.
• You still have income.
• No more happy hours or weekend activities.

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Pursuing Higher Degrees

• Full Time study
• Not too many companies are flexible on employees
  taking on a full-time student status.
• If not working yet, you are used to the student
  routine. You could be better prepared for the
  time when you have to look for a job.
• Higher starting salaries for students with
  higher degrees.

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Pursuing Higher Degrees

• If considering an advanced degree, try to start
  within 1 or 2 years after obtaining your
  bachelor's degree. Any later, it will be harder
  to get used to the routine.
• Also, schools will revalidate your knowledge,
  either with a placement test or with a GRE score.
  
• You may have to retake some classes if you
  received a low grade in undergrad.

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What can you do now?

• Research your schools Co-op program or
  internship offerings related to your career.
• If no opportunities available, try to do
  something that will enhance your engineering
  skills. Lots of abroad study programs
  available.
• Have fun but dont let your summer go to waste.

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Life as an Engineer

• Do you have the Knack?
• Eager to try new things?
• Keep up with current technological advancements
• Be social and share your knowledge. Learn from
  others.
• Engineers DONT work alone

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Comments

• Network, Network, Network. Your coworkers could
  be your next contact for your next job!
• Keep up your National Organization membership.
• People in engineering come from a variety of
  cultures and countries. It is a World wide
  community. You are part of it!!

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Comments

• Remember Murphys Law, it can strike anywhere,
  anytime
• Nothing is as easy as it looks.
• Everything takes longer than you think.
• Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
• If there is a worse time for something to go
  wrong, it will happen then.
• If anything simply cannot go wrong, it will
  anyway.
• Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to
  worse.
• If everything seems to be going well, you have
  obviously overlooked something.
• It is impossible to make anything foolproof
  because fools are so ingenious.
• The Light at the end of the tunnel is only the
  light of an oncoming train. 

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Comments
Stay Focused, Dont overlook details.
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References

• Résumé Guidelines Work or Internship / Print or
  Electronic
• http//careerservices.rutgers.edu
• http//studentwork.rutgers.edu
• http//www.todaysengineer.org
• Technical Engineering Tests / Interview Tips
• EE http//www.techinterviews.com
• Google different companies tests.
• Study Abroad
• http//studyabroad.rutgers.edu

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Executive Summary

• Plan your résumé content
• Prepare for your interview
• Perform at work

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Q A