Engineers told to prove qualifications in Victoria and Queensland

[james_s]

I give a basic 10 question aptitude test to potential new hires.

Last guy- couldn't sketch how to connect a transistor and  calculate LED dropping resistor. It was terrible 
Next candidate, said she "would just use Google".

What they are doing is making huge fake claims about their knowledge and then using the Internet to get by.

Jeez, I'm a college dropout who has spent most of my professional career in software and I could answer those two questions without even thinking about it. That said, Google can be extremely useful, it's not that uncommon that I need to look up a formula or syntax in whatever programming language if it's something I haven't used in a while.

I have noticed from networking on LinkedIn that a LOT of people make greatly exaggerated claims on their resumes. Of course with all these automated applicant tracking systems and their keyword filters that everyone is using now, one almost has to embellish to some degree just to get through the filter. I wonder if the systems will get better eventually or if companies will realize the problem. My cynical side suspects we will just end up with whole companies full of people who excel at manipulation and gaming the system.

[CatalinaWOW]

These registration schemes are mostly just a liability dodge.  Companies can show due diligence by requiring this.

It is a lot easier than verifying actual competence.  I truly respect those who are very good at sorting the good from bad in an interview.  I have known a very few.  And know that I am not first rank at this.  Along with many others.

My most graphic proof of this was on an individual I hired after doing an interview including some test questions.  Apparently I ask him questions exactly on the only ten things in engineering he knew, because he did fine on those, but when he showed up for work demonstrated that he couldn't do any job more complicated that screwing in a lightbulb.  With assistance.

Fortunately it turned out he had lied on his degrees and when the universities responded that they had never heard of him it was easy to make him disappear.

[DerekG]

I'm a college dropout

I guess this means that Bill Gates & Steve Jobs would never have got a job out here.

[sibeen]

I know that some tenders here for Queensland department of Transport and Main Roads have asked for RPEQ certification on some parts of the electronics design and stand alone solar power system.  So it is being used to some extent..

Yes, for govt stuff definitely; I think it's written into legislation somewhere that it is required. But for private enterprise it seems to be non-existent.

Unfortunately it is required for private enterprise. If you are doing a solar installation it needs to be signed off by a RPEQ, or at least if the system is above a few kW. I've done designs for one large company in a few states, normally minimum of about 30 kW up to about 100 kW, and in Queensland I have to get one of the locals with this august lettering under their name sign it off. I wouldn't hurt too badly except some of the questions I get asked by the RPEQ are bloody embarrassing.

[Richard Crowley]

Let's not forget the case where a degreed and licensed professional engineer from Sweden was fined by the state of Oregon for "practicing"* without a state license.  Where the "license" is essentially a receipt for the fees paid into the state coffers.  Note that the "violation" was "resolved" by payment of $500.

* "practicing" consisted of complaining to the government about the red-light cameras in Beaverton.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/man-fined-for-criticizing-govt-using-science-without-a-license/

[engineerguy]

I'm not a fan of these sort of things, where otherwise useless organisations (such as EA) try to make themselves more relevant.

I went to university with a guy who was working at Air Services Australia, and after we graduated he invited me to some lecturers/talks that were IEEE affiliated. He said that he's starting the process of becoming a chartered engineer (here in Aus/QLD), and needs to fulfill some criteria. Anyway, he said the whole point is for him to be promoted at work since that way he can sign off on projects, etc.