Need to be an expert by Monday, ... or at least know what I'm talking about.

[RANDALL]

I graduated in May with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University in New Jersey. I have not found a job yet due to lack of internship experience, but my cousin is a part of the Alumni Association for Princeton University and found a job posting from another member for a final engineering position for a new company in New York City. Based on the qualifications for the job, I meet most of the requirements, however, before Monday I have to refresh/learn about circuit design for power applications. The job sounds like it's more for an Electrical Engineer, but the CEO saw my resume and scheduled a phone interview for Monday morning at 10 AM EST. If I get hired, I would be building and programming drones. So, here I sit with a Microelectronic Circuits textbook, 1400 pages long, with two days to study hard, and I am scheduled to work 11.5 hours at my part-time job between Saturday and Sunday. I really don't want to waste this guy's time, but I am desperate for a better paying job. If I am hired, I don't want to let him down either. He did say that entry-level engineers are welcome to apply, so I guess I have that going for me.

 

If anyone has experience in what I have described and is going to be on xfire this weekend, I would love to join the XI teamspeak and talk, just send me a message. It would mean a lot.

[DeemerXI]

You don't have experience.  The CEO knows that and still wants to talk to you.  Don't blow smoke up his ass.  Show you eagerness and enthusiasm for the job and the willingness to do whatever it takes to learn whats needed for the job.  You are a smart dude, and you are capable.  Show that in the interview and everything will be fine. The worst that could happen is that he says no, which , honestly, is a good thing.  There is nothing worse than working somewhere you are not qualified or are just plain miserable.  Good luck brother and keep us posted.

[RANDALL]

Will do. I will be honest and straightforward.

[RANDALL]

Thanks

[iboomboom]

By all means go to the interview.

 

Having said that, that is not the job for which you've a foundation. It sounds like an Analog Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design job, with ability to write low-level hardware code. If he has read your resume he knows your background is in mechanical engineering. If I were to guess, you would have to work on the mechanical design of the drone, wingspan, airlift, payload size and hull integrity etc. You would define the physical constraints in light of the target application and then the other engineers would design the electrical components. You may end up being an Electro-Mechanical engineer, perhaps participating in the design of electronics surrounding the mechanical parts of it all. 

 

You cannot learn all the facets of a different field from one book in one weekend, you may catch a few phrases but an experienced professional will see right through you. This will make you look very bad. What I found to be most effective, is to know well what you claim to know, everything that you listed in your resume. At the end of the day its confidence in your own knowledge that helps you carve your waves. 

 

Worst case scenario you're not a good fit. You will have at least gained two things, first-the experience of an interview, two-the knowledge of what you don't know.

 

I hope this helps.

Edited August 30, 2014 by iboomboom

[Damage_inc-]

well said iboomboom

[Labob]

Boom Boom got it right. The guy know's your smart what he does not know is you. Be confident be willing to new ideas and team play. As soon as he hears well I'm not sure about this or that your toast. So OMG you got a degree in Mechanical Engineering is there something you don't know or can't figure out Go get it 

 

P.S. no shoes on the desk during the call

[hxtr]

I graduated in May with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University in New Jersey. I have not found a job yet due to lack of internship experience, but my cousin is a part of the Alumni Association for Princeton University and found a job posting from another member for a final engineering position for a new company in New York City. Based on the qualifications for the job, I meet most of the requirements, however, before Monday I have to refresh/learn about circuit design for power applications. The job sounds like it's more for an Electrical Engineer, but the CEO saw my resume and scheduled a phone interview for Monday morning at 10 AM EST. If I get hired, I would be building and programming drones. So, here I sit with a Microelectronic Circuits textbook, 1400 pages long, with two days to study hard, and I am scheduled to work 11.5 hours at my part-time job between Saturday and Sunday. I really don't want to waste this guy's time, but I am desperate for a better paying job. If I am hired, I don't want to let him down either. He did say that entry-level engineers are welcome to apply, so I guess I have that going for me.

 

If anyone has experience in what I have described and is going to be on xfire this weekend, I would love to join the XI teamspeak and talk, just send me a message. It would mean a lot.

Just remember... school and real world experience are two different things. I'm pretty much guaranteeing they know they can train you and they understand you are just not going to have the experience.  

 

Never ever ever worry about wasting someones time when looking for a job. Take every single interview you can even if you don't want the job because the more interviews you do the better you get at it.

 

Check out these videos I found. That last on is like some 40 courses. But it might help speed up the learning as you get going. 

 

Good luck!

Edited August 30, 2014 by hxtr

[Bullet]

Even though you have no experience, your degree basically proves you have the foundation and capability for the position.

Like the others said, they have seen your resume (assuming you didn't lie on it, lol) and want to talk to you.

 

After I graduated with a BSEE, I had an interview where they gave me a written test.  Some questions were easy and some I had no clue about (I also had no related experience).

The eng'g mgr came back a few times and asked if i was done and I asked if I could have more time.

Convinced I bombed his written test, I received and accepted their job offer.

After working there a while, I asked the mgr about the test and how I did.  His answer, I know there are questions graduates would have no clue about, but you didn't give up and that was what i was looking for.

 

Go to the interview, be honest, be enthusiastic and good luck to you.

[RANDALL]

Thanks everyone, this is valuable advice. 

[loaderXI]

Randall at this point having knowledge of the company and its history and goals is worth tons ...... Research the company and present that knowledge at the interview.... Then sell your readiness and desire to become part of the team of there company that you now have knowledge of..

 

 

I have personally made this work for me (2x) and have had others do the same and it worked for them ....

 

 

 

 

 

Wish you all the best

loADER>XI<

[TBB]

Randall -  I think all the advice given here is excellent - you might want to ask  "With my background - where do you see me making a contribution?"  - shows you are interested and aware you don't have all the knowledge. - TBB RU '67 - math

[7Toes]

i have a degree in dumbass thats a good degree before going into politics lol

[RANDALL]

I had a good conversation with the guy, but he really needed an Electrical Engineer. I had some experience but not enough of what he was looking for. Glad I got the experience from the interview though.