I've had some bad interviews. Once company gave me a 12 question test that covered a wide variety of subjects. Second, they had me write c++ code on a white board while they watched. Third, they asked me riddles. After they asked me why I thought they asked me riddles. I responded "to see me sweat?", at which point they nodded in agreement. That was my first interview ever. It lasted approximately 5 hours. Be ready for anything. Oh, I didn't get it either, though I killed the riddles.
I worked as a machinist for a small engineering company. We had a few people come in for interviews and it came down to two. We chose the one who wore a tie lol.
Those are generally good tips, and at one time I would have found them very useful. However, having been on the other side of the table a few times before, I have found that interviewers have a somewhat different agenda. Their most important task is to avoid hiring the guy who is going to be a dick, who won't play nice with others. They know that one bad apple can sink a company, so they look for team players. Everything else is secondary, including intelligence (to my surprise).
I'll be having an EE job interview tomorrow, just rewatched this video for the tips. Got me a bag of hobby projects and PCB's with me to talk about, let's see how it goes! :)
Craziest thing is I wish I had watched this video earlier when I was in my early 20s then my mid20s. Instead of being anal about my GPA I should have just done something cool out side of university classroom. :/
Yes. After my schooling, I registered a sole propritorship name for electronics repair and design in 1995. I only repaired consumer electronics that people threw away and built electronic test instruments and power supplies from schematics and donated them to schools and nursing homes as a hobby while my career was as a chemist. I made a transition to teaching high school and college for three years. Because I had no work experience in chemistry for three years because of teaching, I no longer qualified to apply to chemistry jobs (companies can go screw themsieves--those anal bastards!). So, I put on my resume my sole proprietorship. When companies look up my business, they find it as a legally-registered sole propritorship in Essex County, NJ. So, even though I registered the name just for the fun of it and had electronics only as a hobby, I can apply for and get interviews by companies because they think that I was professionally working in electronics for 25 years. Actually, because of the market, I have been unemployed for years, but companies don't know that. I think that everyone should register a company name as a sole propritorship as insurance in case they have a lot of unemployed work in between jobs, or jobs out side of their profession,.
I'm going to be good at this. I always ended up interviewing my professors hehehe :D Slipping in that "Oh that's interesting, is it done this way to achieve this?" - Boom, you're in the lead, don't loosen grip. Except it sometimes backfires. Like taking an hour and a half because your professor likes to talk a lot. In short: Like Dave says: *Be prepared*. That'll allow you to mould the shape of that interview into something you like. Make sure you enjoy it too. From the interviewer's POV, there's nothing better than to have an interviewee who's having fun at your otherwise rather boring interviewing sessions!
Thanks dave for the tips! I managed to get the job i applied for. I got a feedback from my interview today when i went to write the contract that they were impressed that i brought my stuff along i had build as a hobby and that made me to stand out from the rest.
@ThunderAppeal Yes, the core technology used in WiFi was developed by the CSIRO. The standards committee knew it, but they don't care because they just set standards. But the companies that used it knew it, and knew the CSIRO ha the patents on it, but they used it anyway thinking they could get away with it. If you don't know the difference between WiFi and cordless telephone technology then you have a LOT to learn...
Hi Dave, I watched this clip and I know it is almost 10 years old and during the global recession. I am a man from a different country and culture but I have been to Australia and worked with Australians. I have a BSEE and graduated decades ago. In my class there were less than 10% female students, probably much more these days I hope. It is surprising that, in 2009, you went straight to biasing your job interview tips, which I liked overall, to a male applicant -- wearing a tie or whatever. About interview techniques, it much more about what one can do for them, not about oneself bragging about oneself. It is very important to nicely and naturally answer different versions of the questions: "Tell me about yourself." "Why do you think you are the right candidate?" "Why do you want to work here?" "What are the three most important initiatives you will take that you think will make positive impact in the first 90 days if you are hired?" "What do you know about our company and customers?" These have to be answered in an average of 60 seconds, no speeches, no canned answers... it must sound natural, short & sweet and bring value. Then with follow-ups. People in general just fail / choke / panic. Preparation is not that difficult, it has to be done. As you said, the sense of humor part is important too. They don't want to hire robots or downers. They want collaborators and teamplayers and people with energy, and people who smile.
@ThunderAppeal No I'm not kidding. The development of WiFi is hardly frivolous. The big companies knew who developed it at the time, but decided to use it anyway and not pay it. They thought they were too big to lose.
There's some really good information here about interviewing for these positions. The two I like the most are doing research about the company and asking questions. I have landed positions within companies, even when they have already picked their candidate, by knowing about the company, their history and what they do. I have also interviewed candidates who, half way through the interview, ask "So.... What does this company do?" Fucking really??? You want to work for us and you don't even know what we do? INTERVIEW ENDED! Asking questions during an interview is important in a few ways. First of all, you have to remember that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Second of all, if you are asked if you have any questions, and you say"No", you are basically telling them that you are just looking for any job offer and will take whatever they will give you. Asking questions shows confidence and value in yourself. On the other hand.... I HATE videos like this that tell people what to say. If someone is good at what they do and are confident in themselves, they will know what to say. I want the guy who is confident in his abilities and can conduct themselves well in an interview. I don't want to waste my time interviewing a bunch of people who are all saying the same things because of videos like this.
I wish I would have discovered you earlier. Better late than never. Going to watch all of your videos right now. It's go time! Thank you very much for taking the time to help others learn!
Rubbish you won't have anything to take along - go and BUILD something to take along! Take your thesis project documentation along at the very least. I'm thinking of maybe another Interview tips special, so stay tuned...
I totally agree with your interview tips. I am a computer programmer with over twenty years experience. I've been with large and small firms and have never been out work for more than two weeks in any tough market. Why is that? It's because I always bring my laptop with my code projects, website URLs, and currently iPhone apps developed by me. I can then talk serious shop and have an exchange of ideas.
It's important to find a company with backbone that can take you up a notch. Also it's likely that you will be trying to enter a management position around your 40's and have a company that can carry you into your 50's at which stage you must retire because it's too hard to last in the industry longer. So your money making years are important so you can pay your mortgage but also that the company can last to help you acquire skills and cement your lifestyle. By your 40's and 50's your relying on experience... Australia needs a foundation for its electronics industry that builds up each player so you can remain in a job by being more competitive. Then experience can flow through the industry instead of you having a rating of being a professional engineer and dumped with all the stress and expectations of being capable to realise the companies products. Basically there's no foundation in the Australian electronics industry. And it's the cause of stress and the loss of building up the captured experience that can be passed on. It's pretty much a cowboy experience or a hobbyists Fruit bowl.
Found this old video, great interview hints and tips, only thing is carrying tools or a knife about to do tinkering on an interview walk round or a work trial day can land you in prison in some places, here in the UK it will be up to 5 years in prison and it is pretty much open and shut, they may as well not take it to court it is so often guaranteed to get jail time. Any blades or point at all which aren't in the boot (trunk) of your car from a to b or sent ahead by post and you'll end up inside for a long time and blacklisted for life from everything, won't even be allowed a passport or bank account after that and can forget getting a decent job ever again. If you have a box of tools in the back of your car and the cops stop you they will ask a bunch of questions but if you are in the train station or bus station and they ask to see in your things it will be big trouble. Have a great day Sorry to go on but it's just that things have gotten so bad it is not safe to carry any sharp tools nowadays, everything has changed in the last 10 years....
I was gonna comment on how amusing it was to me that he pronounces the letter H as "hache", but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it makes way more sense than the American way of "ache" because you actually hear the actual sound the letter makes. *goes and sits his American ass down to think about life*
ok, the more I hear about these engineering job interviews the more scared I become. I am about to finish my BSc electronics and when I see the works done in the real job I realize how stupid and unprepared I am.
Hey Dave, fantastic tips for interviews with real engineers. Unfortunately, quite often with large companies, you will be screened by recruitment agencies and they have all kinds of psychological mumbo-jumbo they'd take you through. They'd probably be horrified if you took apart the company's product! Who knows how those guys would react... :) I know if was interviewing someone though, it'll show that he knows his stuff and isn't just puffing out hot air.
Fantastic tips. I've found you just have to work harder over a longer period of time to climb the engineering ladder. However, you can be more respected because you understand your work rather than assuming your academics will prop you up. I have an AS and design SMPS and audio equipment for my own business. I work a day engineering job for fun(!)
I'm a US citizen. I figured out years ago no one abuses the civil courts for profit than US companies. LOL you did show yourself the be out of your element when comparing cordless phones to WiFi. While both are radio XCVRS, but from there any other similarities fade quickly. This is a technical channel, while idealogy ar politics could come up, they would be very, very narrow in scope.
@EEVblog So will you go on to say that the organization you mentioned was the sole developer and creator of this standard? Furthermore WiFi works on the same frequency as cordless telephones, so what exactly is unique about this 'creation'? The big companies apparently didnt think they were too big for anything, it was easier for them to pay up to the extortion and stay out of court.
Even though I have my degree in electrical engineering, I only have one electrical project which is a blinking led from a 555 timer on a pcb. Does anyone have any other suggestions for pcb designs or projects?
Have a look at some sort of micro controller project, Like a make a basic multimeter, garden watering system etc. Other projects: make a linear power supply, microphone preamplifier and power amplifier for speaker, FPGA based project, solar panel controller, battery management system...the list goes on. Best of luck
For 100 on site interviews I did for engineering as a candidate, I failed like 80 of their tests. LOL. I did finally land a good job though afterwards.
It's really hard to get a job in Holland at the moment, this tips helped me a lot but I've majored in Electrical Power Engineering instead of Electronic Engineering, so getting a board with chips through a job interview isn't going to help me... especially because I'm a fresh graduate with just two interships in places most companies don't offer jobs at the moment...
I've had some bad interviews. Once company gave me a 12 question test that covered a wide variety of subjects. Second, they had me write c++ code on a white board while they watched. Third, they asked me riddles. After they asked me why I thought they asked me riddles. I responded "to see me sweat?", at which point they nodded in agreement. That was my first interview ever. It lasted approximately 5 hours. Be ready for anything. Oh, I didn't get it either, though I killed the riddles.
I worked as a machinist for a small engineering company. We had a few people come in for interviews and it came down to two. We chose the one who wore a tie lol.
That tip about bringing something you worked on really helped me recently. Thanks Dave!
Those are generally good tips, and at one time I would have found them very useful. However, having been on the other side of the table a few times before, I have found that interviewers have a somewhat different agenda. Their most important task is to avoid hiring the guy who is going to be a dick, who won't play nice with others. They know that one bad apple can sink a company, so they look for team players. Everything else is secondary, including intelligence (to my surprise).
Thank you for imparting your experience! I've made a note of it. ^^
Exactly. I'm a smarter person, I get an unbelievable amount of shade in college because mediocre people (the majority) hate we smart folk.
I'll be having an EE job interview tomorrow, just rewatched this video for the tips. Got me a bag of hobby projects and PCB's with me to talk about, let's see how it goes! :)
So, how does that turns out for you?
TheCrazyInventor can we get a follow up?
@@ZakKohler they killed him and ate him. tragic story
@@crimsonfist1408 More at 11.
Hey u dead
We had a course called "Applying for a job" at university. You summed it up quite well! ;)
Awesome!, glad the tips worked for you, hope your new job goes well!
Craziest thing is I wish I had watched this video earlier when I was in my early 20s then my mid20s. Instead of being anal about my GPA I should have just done something cool out side of university classroom. :/
same
Yes. After my schooling, I registered a sole propritorship name for electronics repair and design in 1995. I only repaired consumer electronics that people threw away and built electronic test instruments and power supplies from schematics and donated them to schools and nursing homes as a hobby while my career was as a chemist. I made a transition to teaching high school and college for three years. Because I had no work experience in chemistry for three years because of teaching, I no longer qualified to apply to chemistry jobs (companies can go screw themsieves--those anal bastards!). So, I put on my resume my sole proprietorship. When companies look up my business, they find it as a legally-registered sole propritorship in Essex County, NJ. So, even though I registered the name just for the fun of it and had electronics only as a hobby, I can apply for and get interviews by companies because they think that I was professionally working in electronics for 25 years. Actually, because of the market, I have been unemployed for years, but companies don't know that. I think that everyone should register a company name as a sole propritorship as insurance in case they have a lot of unemployed work in between jobs, or jobs out side of their profession,.
I'm going to be good at this. I always ended up interviewing my professors hehehe :D Slipping in that "Oh that's interesting, is it done this way to achieve this?" - Boom, you're in the lead, don't loosen grip.
Except it sometimes backfires. Like taking an hour and a half because your professor likes to talk a lot.
In short: Like Dave says: *Be prepared*. That'll allow you to mould the shape of that interview into something you like. Make sure you enjoy it too. From the interviewer's POV, there's nothing better than to have an interviewee who's having fun at your otherwise rather boring interviewing sessions!
Thanks dave for the tips! I managed to get the job i applied for. I got a feedback from my interview today when i went to write the contract that they were impressed that i brought my stuff along i had build as a hobby and that made me to stand out from the rest.
@ThunderAppeal Yes, the core technology used in WiFi was developed by the CSIRO. The standards committee knew it, but they don't care because they just set standards. But the companies that used it knew it, and knew the CSIRO ha the patents on it, but they used it anyway thinking they could get away with it. If you don't know the difference between WiFi and cordless telephone technology then you have a LOT to learn...
Hi Dave, I watched this clip and I know it is almost 10 years old and during the global recession. I am a man from a different country and culture but I have been to Australia and worked with Australians. I have a BSEE and graduated decades ago. In my class there were less than 10% female students, probably much more these days I hope. It is surprising that, in 2009, you went straight to biasing your job interview tips, which I liked overall, to a male applicant -- wearing a tie or whatever. About interview techniques, it much more about what one can do for them, not about oneself bragging about oneself. It is very important to nicely and naturally answer different versions of the questions: "Tell me about yourself." "Why do you think you are the right candidate?" "Why do you want to work here?" "What are the three most important initiatives you will take that you think will make positive impact in the first 90 days if you are hired?" "What do you know about our company and customers?" These have to be answered in an average of 60 seconds, no speeches, no canned answers... it must sound natural, short & sweet and bring value. Then with follow-ups. People in general just fail / choke / panic. Preparation is not that difficult, it has to be done. As you said, the sense of humor part is important too. They don't want to hire robots or downers. They want collaborators and teamplayers and people with energy, and people who smile.
@ThunderAppeal No I'm not kidding. The development of WiFi is hardly frivolous. The big companies knew who developed it at the time, but decided to use it anyway and not pay it. They thought they were too big to lose.
There's some really good information here about interviewing for these positions. The two I like the most are doing research about the company and asking questions. I have landed positions within companies, even when they have already picked their candidate, by knowing about the company, their history and what they do. I have also interviewed candidates who, half way through the interview, ask "So.... What does this company do?" Fucking really??? You want to work for us and you don't even know what we do? INTERVIEW ENDED! Asking questions during an interview is important in a few ways. First of all, you have to remember that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Second of all, if you are asked if you have any questions, and you say"No", you are basically telling them that you are just looking for any job offer and will take whatever they will give you. Asking questions shows confidence and value in yourself. On the other hand.... I HATE videos like this that tell people what to say. If someone is good at what they do and are confident in themselves, they will know what to say. I want the guy who is confident in his abilities and can conduct themselves well in an interview. I don't want to waste my time interviewing a bunch of people who are all saying the same things because of videos like this.
I wish I would have discovered you earlier. Better late than never. Going to watch all of your videos right now. It's go time! Thank you very much for taking the time to help others learn!
"If you wanna make an impression turn up in a lab coat" lol
Rubbish you won't have anything to take along - go and BUILD something to take along!
Take your thesis project documentation along at the very least.
I'm thinking of maybe another Interview tips special, so stay tuned...
As always, you are the best Dave. You are genuine and make a lot of sense. Wish you made a reverse of this, how to interview engineering candidates.
I totally agree with your interview tips. I am a computer programmer with over twenty years experience. I've been with large and small firms and have never been out work for more than two weeks in any tough market. Why is that? It's because I always bring my laptop with my code projects, website URLs, and currently iPhone apps developed by me. I can then talk serious shop and have an exchange of ideas.
Glad to hear!
Thanks for the tips Dave! Im on my very first internship as a freshman and its even paid! Im not sure i would have made it without you!
Wow, I didn't know companies hire interns until they've completed two years of classes. Great job!
It's important to find a company with backbone that can take you up a notch. Also it's likely that you will be trying to enter a management position around your 40's and have a company that can carry you into your 50's at which stage you must retire because it's too hard to last in the industry longer. So your money making years are important so you can pay your mortgage but also that the company can last to help you acquire skills and cement your lifestyle. By your 40's and 50's your relying on experience...
Australia needs a foundation for its electronics industry that builds up each player so you can remain in a job by being more competitive. Then experience can flow through the industry instead of you having a rating of being a professional engineer and dumped with all the stress and expectations of being capable to realise the companies products.
Basically there's no foundation in the Australian electronics industry. And it's the cause of stress and the loss of building up the captured experience that can be passed on.
It's pretty much a cowboy experience or a hobbyists Fruit bowl.
@Desishikamaru Congrats, I'm glad it worked for you!
Thanks for the tips Dave.
I'm looking forward to getting an electronics engineering job and I wil try to apply some of your interview tips.
Epic video! It's always good to revise it.
Man YOU are a guide! Thanks a lot man for the whole heavenly tips....
Found this old video, great interview hints and tips, only thing is carrying tools or a knife about to do tinkering on an interview walk round or a work trial day can land you in prison in some places, here in the UK it will be up to 5 years in prison and it is pretty much open and shut, they may as well not take it to court it is so often guaranteed to get jail time.
Any blades or point at all which aren't in the boot (trunk) of your car from a to b or sent ahead by post and you'll end up inside for a long time and blacklisted for life from everything, won't even be allowed a passport or bank account after that and can forget getting a decent job ever again.
If you have a box of tools in the back of your car and the cops stop you they will ask a bunch of questions but if you are in the train station or bus station and they ask to see in your things it will be big trouble.
Have a great day
Sorry to go on but it's just that things have gotten so bad it is not safe to carry any sharp tools nowadays, everything has changed in the last 10 years....
Grant Rennie such dumb laws. Carry as many sharp pencils as you want, but no knives!
That sounds nuts to someone from the states. I'll have my freedom -thanks
Amazing tips!
I will re-watch this one day..
Well the most important thing is that you have to bring your cheap Chinese multimeter to interview xD
Great advice for young aspiring engineers fresh out of University. Personally, I am happy where I am. How many people can say that?
I do, it's a Wave.
Dude....ur tips are real.....tanx alot ...GOD Bless u
+Bablee Brangi Mhh... you MIGHT have skipped one episode or two.
I really like the byo projects idea, definitely going to try that one out.
You're full of great ideas.
@upenbhupen Well done! It doesn't take much to tip them over.
I was gonna comment on how amusing it was to me that he pronounces the letter H as "hache", but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it makes way more sense than the American way of "ache" because you actually hear the actual sound the letter makes. *goes and sits his American ass down to think about life*
And the videos get better...
ok, the more I hear about these engineering job interviews the more scared I become. I am about to finish my BSc electronics and when I see the works done in the real job I realize how stupid and unprepared I am.
Wow, that was a set of really good tips. Thanks man.
Hey Dave, fantastic tips for interviews with real engineers. Unfortunately, quite often with large companies, you will be screened by recruitment agencies and they have all kinds of psychological mumbo-jumbo they'd take you through.
They'd probably be horrified if you took apart the company's product! Who knows how those guys would react... :) I know if was interviewing someone though, it'll show that he knows his stuff and isn't just puffing out hot air.
Fantastic tips. I've found you just have to work harder over a longer period of time to climb the engineering ladder. However, you can be more respected because you understand your work rather than assuming your academics will prop you up.
I have an AS and design SMPS and audio equipment for my own business. I work a day engineering job for fun(!)
I had few internships were I was stammering and bluffing stuffs. Then I found that I talk about stuff which I am interested in.
Hey guys, I don't fee like I know too much about circuit boards. Are there any videos that could give me some insight?
Great tips.
2016 anyone? xD
yus
+JamesCraft 2016?
***** Yes ... It is now ... wasn't back then ... I will fix ASAP
Yupppp!
almost 2017 now!
I'm a US citizen. I figured out years ago no one abuses the civil courts for profit than US companies. LOL you did show yourself the be out of your element when comparing cordless phones to WiFi. While both are radio XCVRS, but from there any other similarities fade quickly. This is a technical channel, while idealogy ar politics could come up, they would be very, very narrow in scope.
@EEVblog So will you go on to say that the organization you mentioned was the sole developer and creator of this standard? Furthermore WiFi works on the same frequency as cordless telephones, so what exactly is unique about this 'creation'? The big companies apparently didnt think they were too big for anything, it was easier for them to pay up to the extortion and stay out of court.
..expect the interviewer to either call the police or the White van when you take out your Swiss army knife and start taking their products apart!
lol
well, done .....thnx
Even though I have my degree in electrical engineering, I only have one electrical project which is a blinking led from a 555 timer on a pcb. Does anyone have any other suggestions for pcb designs or projects?
Have a look at some sort of micro controller project, Like a make a basic multimeter, garden watering system etc. Other projects: make a linear power supply, microphone preamplifier and power amplifier for speaker, FPGA based project, solar panel controller, battery management system...the list goes on. Best of luck
Some good tips there, but I wonder if turning up in a lab coat will actually have the intended effect. :)
To continue... Where do u think I shall look for my development training and how can I scope more from UAE market?
For 100 on site interviews I did for engineering as a candidate, I failed like 80 of their tests. LOL. I did finally land a good job though afterwards.
Just wondering Dave but do you have a leatherman?
Holy I found a gold mine😭🙏🏾
It's really hard to get a job in Holland at the moment, this tips helped me a lot but I've majored in Electrical Power Engineering instead of Electronic Engineering, so getting a board with chips through a job interview isn't going to help me... especially because I'm a fresh graduate with just two interships in places most companies don't offer jobs at the moment...
Thanks galore, I wanted to ask you, I am an soc engineer, but present working as a product manager or home automation solution
ThunderAppeal got BURNED!
David Jones, from Karibean´s pirates?
Get a tattoo on your face of a PCB.
@souzzzzza this video still only has 1 dislike.. i wonder how it got there..
I rated with a thumbs down by mistake. Sorry.
You vlogs are awesome! Thanks for the tips. :D