What are EE grads missing??

[roogadget]

I am going to graduate this year with a B.A in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

I would like to know what pisses employers off when they hire new graduates. (Other than the lack of "soft-skills")

Do they lack practical skills? If so, what practical skills? Drop an opinion please!

P.S I'm graduating at 30 yrs old and have worked previously..

[tggzzz]

I would like to know what pisses employers off when they hire new graduates.

An infinite number of things

If you can demonstrate:

• you have a solid grasp of theory, (i.e. what things ought to do and, equally important, can never do
• the non-ideal behaviour of practical components, why important, how to circumvent
• you can set realistic stretch goals, achieve them, and state how/why you would do things differently next time
• you aren't a timeserver, i.e. you choose do things because they please you
• you have a realistic concept of your strengths and weaknesses
• you can understand their point of view and what's important to them

then they would have no cause for complaint.

[Rerouter]

Being up front when you don't know something, and being willing to learn it.

Being able to explain your thoughts on a subject (able to summerise)

Some actual experience, even if its just hooking up an arduino, or making a hello world program, to use in your interview if they probe, most of the time is not the actual item, rather understanding what method you used to reach that solution and how you overcame issues.

Being able to use a multi meter, Theoretical only gets you so far if you don't get the basics first hand.

For just about every job where you enter a new field, its not about what you know, rather how quickly and easily you can learn and adapt to there in house methods, breaking experienced workers out of bad habits from prior jobs can be a pain.

Make a truthful cover sheet, if you add something, make sure its something your happy to talk about in detail, resume you can stretch, but keep it sane, again, if you say your skilled in something, be expected to show it.

[tggzzz]

I would like to know what pisses employers off when they hire new graduates.

An infinite number of things

If you can demonstrate:

• you have a solid grasp of theory, (i.e. what things ought to do and, equally important, can never do
• the non-ideal behaviour of practical components, why important, how to circumvent
• you can set realistic stretch goals, achieve them, and state how/why you would do things differently next time
• you aren't a timeserver, i.e. you choose do things because they please you
• you have a realistic concept of your strengths and weaknesses
• you can understand their point of view and what's important to them

then they would have no cause for complaint.

I ought to summarise some of those points as "be able to demonstrate you know the theory and can apply the relevant theory to the practical situation at hand". That implies understanding objectives and non-objectives, and having done something practical with the theory!

[julianbrown]

*the ability to use specialist knowledge creatively and innovatively to solve problems
*pragmatism and practicality to turn a concept into reality
*effective communication (spoken and written)
*good teamworking
*project and time management
*a professional approach and ability to work to an ethical code of conduct.
*Electrical and electronic engineers are also in demand in other sectors, such as finance and management.

[coppercone2]

guts to stand up to cost

i.e. think about future of product vs manager giving you a high five that lasts for 15 minutes before the first recalls start coming in 

but you really need to know your stuff to not just get thrown out immediately if you do that 

and ability to recognize things like internal test systems will be attacked viciously by cost people, and having the thought to say some crazy ass shit like "i care about the future of the company" 

chances are if you get some kind of power position as a new guys its because you are liable to be manipulated... be careful and do the right thing

[Dundarave]

I’ve hired co-ops and new grads for years in Canada.  It’s not usually for any specific technical knowledge: it’s for their ability to learn fast, be receptive to instruction, ability to think ahead, raw initiative, and commitment to the job.

I know first-hand the curriculum for an Elec Eng or Comp Eng degree in Canada, and there’s very little “practical” in proportion to everything else. In fairness, there’s a metric shit-load of theory that needs to get covered in 4 years, so I’m not surprised.

What might piss me off in a new grad in general?  People who think they are worth more than we’re paying them.  People who don’t understand the need to grok the office/lab/shop culture and fit in.  People who have a sense of entitlement as a result of their new degree.  In short: social immaturity coupled with unrealistic expectations about their new career.

I’ve generally been fortunate enough to have weeded such behaviors out at the initial interview stage, but not always.

My point is that employers know that new grads are short on directly-applicable technical skills, and have already baked-in the need to teach/train/invest time and energy in making you productive and returning their investment in you.

The more you impress them with your ability to learn and retain knowledge, positive attitude, ability to follow instruction, as well as adhering to office social conventions like showing up on time each day, not getting caught web surfing on company time, etc., I’m sure you will do fine.

In your specific case, although you’re an older grad at 30, unless you bring some significant “prior relevant industry experience” chops to the table, I’d say my comments are still valid.

[coppercone2]

I think you made a typo. what you meant to say is

"think of your salary as hazing for a fraternity"

yea son, ramen life!!!