Thanks for this video! With your advice i was able to secure an internship at my dream company. I showed them a slideshow of everything ive been doing at uni and outside of uni, demonstrated my technical knowledge, went with humour. They loved it and I start next month!
When I'm asked the weakness question, I just say that I'm very critical about my work, which would sometimes cause me to recheck my work multiple times... I think this is a better answer than saying you don't have any at all.
The best interview advice I have ever been given, used it for getting a job as a penetration tester (ethical hacker). Start the job next week, off to London Town. Took along my Arduino with the multiplexer code I built and a print out of it along with other examples of what I have done. talked about Linux, servers I have set up and the tools I would use on a day to day basis. Made sure my enthusiasm shone though and I even got taken to meet some other people round the office. I of course had board markers in my bag to, just in case.
Often, my job as an engineering tech. involves creating prototypes and one-offs such as test jigs, etc. What I started doing (years ago) was taking digital photographs (with my employers consent, of course) of my projects. I put these pictures on a USB thumb drive and brought them with me to interviews. Nowadays, I suppose carrying them on your smart phone would be a good option, too. I even included home projects in unrelated areas that highlighted my machine tool experience, mechanical design; screen captures from CAD programs, or program code would also help. For my present job, the interview process took one whole day and I interviewed with 8 different people, including one gent who gave me a soldering test (soldering down a bunch of 0201 resistors!).
+Dave Stone Definitely agree with your advice mate! In my case I was able to carry around some of my physical protos. Regarding the guy having you solder 0201s,... what a jerk! (^_^)
Heya, thanks for the tips, last time I actually got into an interview was for a three round process, the first was actually with the people I would have been working with and the workfloor chef. I got through that first round with flying colours, while officially under-educated, though still having all the certificates that they needed me to have, they where impressed with how well rounded I was, programming PLCs, µcontrollers, troubleshooting, hardware engineering and fresh out of college. But also had skills that they weren't looking for (backyard casting aluminium, blacksmith, general metalwork and CAD design. So I go home, feeling good and confident, a few weeks later I got a call that I was through to the round, which was with HR and other office personnel. HR is generally B*@#% to impress, for me at least, and the interview went well I thought, I got to show them some examples of what I had done and made, it seemed to impress them eventhough they shoved it aside quickly to get back to working through their list. in the end, I didn't get the job because "they could not read the enthusiasm off my facial expressions". Lesson learnt, I guess that next time I'll have to make sure to be overly expressive ;) /rant keep up the blogs!
Thank You Dave, You made me a lot more confident about myself with these job interview tips! I'm kind of struggling to get my degree in engineering, because I have so much going on beside that, mostly free time engineering, social commitment and designing stuff and producing it. In some time I will finish my first multilayer PCB and get it manufactured in a small series, it will be used in a all-electric race car for the Formula Student. So what You told ist very valuable for me. Because I won't be able to stand out with my degree or amazing grades, which I don't get. But I can built working stuff, I love electronics and designing, even in my free time. So I hope I could get into a company which values what You told, and that I will impress them some day with this. Many greetings from Germany :)
Hello, first time viewer - and I already have so much respect for you. Thank you so much for helping us recent graduates. looking on the side related videos and seeing you have over 100 blogs makes me excited to venture more into your channel : )
@scancool I've been pretty well known for a long time if you can call it that. Even decades ago I would turn up at an interview and they already knew me from my magazine projects.
Thanks again for another great episode, this will really help me out in a few years once I'm out of school(Junior in High School right now). Can't wait for the next show! P.S. I like the shirt.
hi Dave, it's really great video! it's very useful for the new graduates like me ^_^ I just want to help me to find some convincing answers to these questions, please: 1. Talk about your self? 2. Talk about your ambition? 3. Why do you want to work for this organization? 4. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization? Thank you so much Dave.
love the mythbuster shirt ;) I would say , show up at the 2nd interview with a geek t-shirt if I worked in electronics and I saw someone with that shirt he'd get extra point before he even opened his mouth !!! also people always comment about your accent but it's not your accent, it's your off the scale enthusiasm !!! these vblogs are the best on youtube, they're as good as "nurdrage"'s chemistry vblogs seriously, keep up the good work !!!1one
This video reminds of something Guy Kawasaki once said about engineers (in his "Art of the Start" talk, I think). Engineers always think that engineering is hard, and all other jobs aren't. Dave Jones seems to be a perfect example, the way he talks down other departments of his (and other) companies.
Dave you probably already know this but you are taking some of the human race to the next level ! great stuff,`I luv it` knowledge is power the most true saying out there! see ya cobber!
I made a PROM tie tack. I do bring the electronics that I have built to interviews. I don't show up in a lab coat, however, because I don't want to be carried off in an ambulance to the funny farm. Frank Reiser
hy Dave, good tips about engineering job tips, I am in my final year of Uni, your tips are a good reminder of many things, I do make things in my spare time, 1- how would you take them to the interview ? in a cart ? 2- Who much do you pay for PCB manufacturing ? It is expensive, do you have any suggestion for students ? Thanks
sigh, that and social networks, "its not about what you know, but who you know" Apparently knowing what a Oscilloscope is and how to use one is pointless in electrical engineering, who knew.
hi! i am an undergrad doing mechanical engineering. i'm impressed by your video. Do you have some specific tips for mechanical engineers? And i'll be starting my F.Y.P in 2,3 months ,would you please share spme journals or magazines wher i may get my work published? Thanx!!!
M&E position, average benefits, SME, manager practicing law has an engineering degree and a law degree "tell me about yourself?" silent (3sec) "like your siblings?" yea, their jobs. (talked about my father being a draft and he replied is that why he makes me an engineer?) "Are you familiar with autocad?" yes, i use the software frequently. "Have you worked with subcontractors?" No, i'm a fresh grad. "but you know what is a subcontractor right?" yes. (i did not even elaborate) "you do not have work experience... what did you do in your uni project?" I ...(not very related to the job) "so there shouldn't be a problem for you to ....?(not sure why he still say this)" yes i think so "do have questions for us" No. (i prepared for this but he looked bored and wanted to end this) "well then you should hear from us within a day or two if no other issues." Poorly and nervously done. Less than 3-5 minutes, offered the job.
I fear that these days when it's electronics, your more likely to be interviewed by a manager than by an engineer and typically that manager is going to be a former media studies graduate (or something equally useless). One interview I had, I turn up 15 minutes early, i'm taken to meeting room by the managers assistant, I can see the manager from the meeting room less than 2 meters away, he sits there tidying his desk, twiddling thumbs and watching the clock until 5 minutes after the interview time, before finally having the common courtesy to acknowledge my presence, i'm thinking "thanks for the interview, but I wouldn't work for someone like you if you offered double the advertised salary!!!!" and "how can I get out of here asap?". They also always ask that question, "where do you see yourself in 5 years time"....... Well i'm nearly 40, i'd like to have some stability and to start a family, but i'm engineer and experience tells me that engineers are disposable, so I work hard, I take each day as it comes and hope I win lottery before I reach retirement. Depressingly this ^^ just seems to be the way electronics companies have gone these days, especially here in the UK.
If someone can actually fulfill all this tips he will get hired instantly. The main problem is that there aren't enough people like that. Disclaimer: This statement is based on experiences in the IT industry. But I guess it will apply to other industries as well.
Dave do you have anymore tips for pathways for people to learn electronics and up to design engineer level..what I have gleamed is get into it, be methodical, do all the questions in the book... theres uni, tafe, self taught etc... Id like to make stuf, go to woah..from my shed in the back yard... is uni a waste of time? I think Id like a thorough understanding... I have applied for electronic and telecommunication engineering degree
Hi Dave, ur EEVblog was really helpful (although my background in chemical engineering). I did a terrible mistake yesterday's interview. the engineer interviewing me asked me abt salary and I replied if they gonna count my masters as experience (bcoz my master is from environment, and the company is mining & materials) why I asked? I feel terrible,I even told him, dont u want to hire a chemical engineer who also knows abt the env?& I think I lost my chances,do I have any way out to recover??
The second interview sucks all the times. Anybody who have enough technical desires can win the first interview, because you are dealing with senior engineers. They just engineers. The hard part is second interview. Top HR guy or top director will interview you. You need to dress well to the second interview. Life is so hard when you have to deal with non technical guys who are senior than you.
Interview is a lame way to judge a candidate.Background checks and written tests are good tools. Anyways,interview still holds its place because it is the best way to carry out unethical hiring
The "don't show up empty-handed" tip is the best tip ever. The look on the face of your interviewers when you show your stuff is just priceless.
Thanks for this video!
With your advice i was able to secure an internship at my dream company.
I showed them a slideshow of everything ive been doing at uni and outside of uni, demonstrated my technical knowledge, went with humour.
They loved it and I start next month!
I know this is a year old but did you just show them the slideshow on your laptop? Or did you print out your slideshow?
When I'm asked the weakness question, I just say that I'm very critical about my work, which would sometimes cause me to recheck my work multiple times... I think this is a better answer than saying you don't have any at all.
The best interview advice I have ever been given, used it for getting a job as a penetration tester (ethical hacker). Start the job next week, off to London Town. Took along my Arduino with the multiplexer code I built and a print out of it along with other examples of what I have done. talked about Linux, servers I have set up and the tools I would use on a day to day basis. Made sure my enthusiasm shone though and I even got taken to meet some other people round the office. I of course had board markers in my bag to, just in case.
Often, my job as an engineering tech. involves creating prototypes and one-offs such as test jigs, etc. What I started doing (years ago) was taking digital photographs (with my employers consent, of course) of my projects. I put these pictures on a USB thumb drive and brought them with me to interviews. Nowadays, I suppose carrying them on your smart phone would be a good option, too. I even included home projects in unrelated areas that highlighted my machine tool experience, mechanical design; screen captures from CAD programs, or program code would also help.
For my present job, the interview process took one whole day and I interviewed with 8 different people, including one gent who gave me a soldering test (soldering down a bunch of 0201 resistors!).
+Dave Stone Definitely agree with your advice mate! In my case I was able to carry around some of my physical protos. Regarding the guy having you solder 0201s,... what a jerk! (^_^)
Heya, thanks for the tips, last time I actually got into an interview was for a three round process, the first was actually with the people I would have been working with and the workfloor chef. I got through that first round with flying colours, while officially under-educated, though still having all the certificates that they needed me to have, they where impressed with how well rounded I was, programming PLCs, µcontrollers, troubleshooting, hardware engineering and fresh out of college. But also had skills that they weren't looking for (backyard casting aluminium, blacksmith, general metalwork and CAD design. So I go home, feeling good and confident, a few weeks later I got a call that I was through to the round, which was with HR and other office personnel.
HR is generally B*@#% to impress, for me at least, and the interview went well I thought, I got to show them some examples of what I had done and made, it seemed to impress them eventhough they shoved it aside quickly to get back to working through their list.
in the end, I didn't get the job because "they could not read the enthusiasm off my facial expressions".
Lesson learnt, I guess that next time I'll have to make sure to be overly expressive ;)
/rant
keep up the blogs!
Wow Dave!
You totally blew my mind! Well done sir. Please keep this channel going and I've learned a lot, no matter skills or experience!
Thank You Dave, You made me a lot more confident about myself with these job interview tips!
I'm kind of struggling to get my degree in engineering, because I have so much going on beside that, mostly free time engineering, social commitment and designing stuff and producing it. In some time I will finish my first multilayer PCB and get it manufactured in a small series, it will be used in a all-electric race car for the Formula Student.
So what You told ist very valuable for me. Because I won't be able to stand out with my degree or amazing grades, which I don't get. But I can built working stuff, I love electronics and designing, even in my free time. So I hope I could get into a company which values what You told, and that I will impress them some day with this.
Many greetings from Germany :)
How did the Job hunt go? :)
Thank you for the tips Dave! I took my PCBs with me and I just got an offer for a PCB design position in a very nice company.
Hello, first time viewer - and I already have so much respect for you. Thank you so much for helping us recent graduates. looking on the side related videos and seeing you have over 100 blogs makes me excited to venture more into your channel : )
@scancool I've been pretty well known for a long time if you can call it that. Even decades ago I would turn up at an interview and they already knew me from my magazine projects.
Thanks again for another great episode, this will really help me out in a few years once I'm out of school(Junior in High School right now). Can't wait for the next show!
P.S. I like the shirt.
hi Dave, it's really great video! it's very useful for the new graduates like me ^_^
I just want to help me to find some convincing answers to these questions, please:
1. Talk about your self?
2. Talk about your ambition?
3. Why do you want to work for this organization?
4. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization?
Thank you so much Dave.
Dave What can i say... You are the guy i was looking for. Good work there. Highly appreciated.
@tamyboy1 Use ITead studios for low cost pcbs. Take your stuff in a briefcase or something. Blank example PCB's I take in a zippered A4 folder.
love the mythbuster shirt ;)
I would say , show up at the 2nd interview with a geek t-shirt
if I worked in electronics and I saw someone with that shirt he'd get extra point before he even opened his mouth !!!
also people always comment about your accent but it's not your accent, it's your off the scale enthusiasm !!!
these vblogs are the best on youtube, they're as good as "nurdrage"'s chemistry vblogs
seriously, keep up the good work !!!1one
@4:03 I died at this point 😂😂😂 COULD NOT STOP LAUGHING! Dave you did it again 😂
These are some really good tips for ANY job interview.
I think this is the only ECE video blog. Very informative vid. Thanks!
I have looked at few videos on interview tips, but by far this is the best! (at least for technical field)
Thank you very much Sir.
This video reminds of something Guy Kawasaki once said about engineers (in his "Art of the Start" talk, I think). Engineers always think that engineering is hard, and all other jobs aren't. Dave Jones seems to be a perfect example, the way he talks down other departments of his (and other) companies.
Another classic EEVBlog! I quite liked this little series
WOW...What energy this Mr. Engineer has..thank you so much for the video.
Lol when in doubt... "MY ENTHUSIASM!!!!!"
I didn't think another job interview clip would be enjoyable. I couldn't have been more wrong, good stuff.
@hussain935 No idea, sorry. I'm an EE, not an ME.
Thanks for the tips. I was thinking about bringing something in and was honestly wondering if that would make me look like a sperg or not.
Dave you probably already know this but you are taking some of the human race to the next level ! great stuff,`I luv it` knowledge is power the most true saying out there! see ya cobber!
This is the best youtube channel there is!! :D
Thanks for the tips.
I put a link to my youtube channel on my resume when I graduated two years ago. It was the key difference to other applicants, and I got the job.
Thank you sir. That made my day now really. I am so stress since I have my first interview on Tuesday. Really that video you made made my mood.
This is really great & useful. You make it sound so simple! Thanks!
seeing this in mid of 2017, i went to interview once with a unpopulated PCB that i designed and fabricated for my ex company. KBLAAAM
Very solid advice, even after 10+ years.
Thank you so much for these tips, eases a lot of tension.
@TheEPROM9 No doubt!
I made a PROM tie tack. I do bring the electronics that I have built to interviews. I don't show up in a lab coat, however, because I don't want to be carried off in an ambulance to the funny farm.
Frank Reiser
hy Dave, good tips about engineering job tips,
I am in my final year of Uni, your tips are a good reminder of many things,
I do make things in my spare time,
1- how would you take them to the interview ? in a cart ?
2- Who much do you pay for PCB manufacturing ? It is expensive, do you have any suggestion for students ?
Thanks
@foxkidcmm
Yeah, if they don't like you showing your stuff etc then they usually ain't worth working for!
Great video Dave. Thank you for the excellent tips!
@EEVblog Thank you, genuinely and honestly Thank you.
@kchida1980
All of the above over 30 years or so.
I like this guy haha Whats your weakness? My enthusiasm !! Awesome, about to pull this for my interview 4:00 pm.
Dave Jones for PM of Australia!
I realize it's pretty randomly asking but do anyone know a good place to stream newly released movies online ?
@Zion Chad flixportal :P
@Ronnie Randy thanks, I signed up and it seems to work =) Appreciate it !!
@Zion Chad Glad I could help :)
@MewesK They are the minority in the electronics industry too.
hey man great advice thanks I'm gathering material now to show an employer
@Raheel197
Good luck, keep us posted!
Dave you pretty famous on the engineering community by now, has anyone you interview recognize you?
8:35 precisely why personality>smarts/skill in job world
sigh, that and social networks, "its not about what you know, but who you know"
Apparently knowing what a Oscilloscope is and how to use one is pointless in electrical engineering, who knew.
great video i would like to see video for student like me just starting i wanna know what is the most intro job in enginnering so i can pay my way up
Haha its rare to have more than 3 interviews at one company...I have 5 this Thursday. It seems a bit ridiculous.
HR Person-"What's your best trait?"
My smart ass -"I can make things, AND I can make them work, kind of.Barely functional counts right?"
/) :D
@bnjmn532
Awesome work!, glad it worked for you.
bloody hell Dave, long time ago!
hi!
i am an undergrad doing mechanical engineering.
i'm impressed by your video.
Do you have some specific tips for mechanical engineers?
And i'll be starting my F.Y.P in 2,3 months ,would you please share spme journals or magazines wher i may get my work published?
Thanx!!!
M&E position, average benefits, SME, manager practicing law has an engineering degree and a law degree
"tell me about yourself?" silent (3sec)
"like your siblings?" yea, their jobs. (talked about my father being a draft and he replied is that why he makes me an engineer?)
"Are you familiar with autocad?" yes, i use the software frequently.
"Have you worked with subcontractors?" No, i'm a fresh grad.
"but you know what is a subcontractor right?" yes. (i did not even elaborate)
"you do not have work experience... what did you do in your uni project?" I ...(not very related to the job)
"so there shouldn't be a problem for you to ....?(not sure why he still say this)" yes i think so
"do have questions for us" No. (i prepared for this but he looked bored and wanted to end this)
"well then you should hear from us within a day or two if no other issues."
Poorly and nervously done. Less than 3-5 minutes, offered the job.
Thank You!!!
@EEVblog thats awsome thumbs up!
I fear that these days when it's electronics, your more likely to be interviewed by a manager than by an engineer and typically that manager is going to be a former media studies graduate (or something equally useless).
One interview I had, I turn up 15 minutes early, i'm taken to meeting room by the managers assistant, I can see the manager from the meeting room less than 2 meters away, he sits there tidying his desk, twiddling thumbs and watching the clock until 5 minutes after the interview time, before finally having the common courtesy to acknowledge my presence, i'm thinking "thanks for the interview, but I wouldn't work for someone like you if you offered double the advertised salary!!!!" and "how can I get out of here asap?".
They also always ask that question, "where do you see yourself in 5 years time"....... Well i'm nearly 40, i'd like to have some stability and to start a family, but i'm engineer and experience tells me that engineers are disposable, so I work hard, I take each day as it comes and hope I win lottery before I reach retirement.
Depressingly this ^^ just seems to be the way electronics companies have gone these days, especially here in the UK.
If someone can actually fulfill all this tips he will get hired instantly. The main problem is that there aren't enough people like that.
Disclaimer: This statement is based on experiences in the IT industry. But I guess it will apply to other industries as well.
Dave do you have anymore tips for pathways for people to learn electronics and up to design engineer level..what I have gleamed is get into it, be methodical, do all the questions in the book... theres uni, tafe, self taught etc... Id like to make stuf, go to woah..from my shed in the back yard... is uni a waste of time? I think Id like a thorough understanding... I have applied for electronic and telecommunication engineering degree
+Foxy rollins just do the degree. Self learn on the side and you'll be better than 90% of graduates
Thanks Dave
Hi Dave,
ur EEVblog was really helpful (although my background in chemical engineering). I did a terrible mistake yesterday's interview. the engineer interviewing me asked me abt salary and I replied if they gonna count my masters as experience (bcoz my master is from environment, and the company is mining & materials)
why I asked?
I feel terrible,I even told him, dont u want to hire a chemical engineer who also knows abt the env?& I think I lost my chances,do I have any way out to recover??
plz add videos of large duration
This is awesome I love this.
@teemune Nice work!
You are 100% right thank you for the great tips
I totally love this guy!
This guy must really know his stuff!
Good one one the top managers yes you can't tell them the truth
Love your videos! :) Hehe
thanks for uploading tips,,, all great
Good one Dave! :)
Very informative !!! Thanks
The second interview sucks all the times.
Anybody who have enough technical desires can win the first interview, because you are dealing with senior engineers. They just engineers. The hard part is second interview. Top HR guy or top director will interview you. You need to dress well to the second interview. Life is so hard when you have to deal with non technical guys who are senior than you.
Awesome!
Good one!
great idea!!
@sdfgkjioeg90 Classic stupid HR questions! I'll have to do a blog on this!
good job !!!
Damn! I like this engineer
@EEVblog thanks
I like this guy.
Good true stuff!
I can't believe I have to convince you that I'm capable of using Google. But, what do I know, you know? I don't know.
I love you dude.
What accent is this?
nice video.
i love your videos ;)
still relevant in 2018
"And don't go in this kind of T-shirt like I wear"... :P
'Engineering guys don't ask like..wanky questions'. Here here mate.
it was really useful, thank u. More interview materials: #Top17TipsToWinEveryJobInterviews
thanks.
i signed to say.. Man i love you,, i lke your language :)
@souzzzzza damn ryt!!
try not to say "you know" at an interview :P
You look like christen bale
Interview is a lame way to judge a candidate.Background checks and written tests are good tools. Anyways,interview still holds its place because it is the best way to carry out unethical hiring
It's a stupid question, give them a stupid answer. Haha!
OMG CHRISTIAN BALE!!!