Hello, my name is Chris and I am majoring in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. My focus area is on Power Systems, and I have taken coursework in circuit design, signal processing, communications, fault detection in power systems, and smart grid programs, C Programming, Java programming, Python programming, and Linux scripting. I am currently a Assistant Lead Teaching Assistant for CS344 Operating Systems.
I recently got a job at an Albany, Oregon branch of a national industrial company, and I just wanted to share some insight on getting a job after graduating.
- Apply everywhere. I mean everywhere. The absolute worst thing that happens is that they throw your application away, and your name sticks with them. Name familiarity really helps when getting a job! Start 3-6 months before you plan on graduating.
- After applying to everything, eventually you will get an interview. The first thing you should do is try to connect with a mentor of some kind that knows what the company does, or find out what they do. Find out what skills you will be using on a daily basis. Then before the interview, brush up on these skills. For my first interview, I had to take a timed technical test, and I feel like that is more the rule than the exception.
- Preparing for the interview itself is a little more difficult I think. You don’t know who you re interviewing with, what they are like, what they will ask, etc. What i can tell you is that you should brush up on basic engineering concepts like project management (think of a project like Junior and Senior design and the basic skills you learned such as coordinating a team of people to meet and communicate on the regular). Then have some answers for personal questions ready (what is your greatest accomplishment in school, in life, what are your strengths and weaknesses, etc). Finally, RELAX and have fun. Smile, crack a timely and appropriate joke. Show them you are human, and you can handle stressful interactions!
- If you get asked for a second interview, you’re in a good spot. Be prepared for more of the same questions with more important people. Once again, don’t be nervous! Just relax, be yourself, and answer the questions as best you can. I also should say that even if you don’t know the answer, show that you know how to FIND the answer. Your job as an engineer will take you down avenues you’ve never pursued, there’s no way around it. They know this, and if you show them that even though you may not know the answer, you have an immediate plan in place to FIND the answer, this will leave them with a good impression.
- And finally, even if you don’t get the first job after an interview, you now will have a better idea of what will be asked. Ten’ll get you one that just about all entry level job interviews for engineers are 90% the same, with only job specific details being different!
I hope this little primer helps! Good luck!
