Author Topic: Out of work - General Discussion - Advice  (Read 3214 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline ChrisGreece52Topic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 832
  • Country: gb
  • Electronics Engineer - Tinkerer - Nerd
Out of work - General Discussion - Advice
« on: November 14, 2024, 02:02:10 am »
Hello everyone!

I've recently found myself jobless due to joining a company with the most toxic work environment I've ever experienced. Having no other jobs lined up, I decided to leave and find something after escaping this hellhole.

Career-wise, I got a technician repair job after uni (repairing VFDs for elevators and escalators). Wanting to be a layout engineer, it took a year before I decided to move on to another position with an IOT company as an Electronics Engineer. They would outsource the schematic capture and PCB layout of the products, but I would still be involved in the production design and testing phases.

After spending one and a half years with them (I know it's not a long time but I had to travel 3 hours a day and relocation was not an option so it became quite tiring) I got the job I mentioned above where I was responsible for everything from the design, schematic capture, PCB layout, and testing. I lasted for 6 months.

That was back in August. It's been 4 months and I'm still actively looking for another job. I can't say I have a great deal of experience when it comes to designing products on a professional level. I have worked on personal projects some of which are still ongoing but I think the situation of the job market is helping. Most roles that are available ask for Intermediate / Senior engineers and companies I have applied/interviewed with shut me off based on this lack of experience.

I feel completely lost as to how to continue my search or if there is anything more I can do to improve my chances. Most of my projects are simple MCU-based sensing devices that I use at home. I had no need to design something complex for myself, but I think that looks negative when I explain their functionality and way of operation to possible employers.

Forgot to mention that I'm based in London. Since it's quite late at the moment I may have committed other useful information that could provide a better insight in terms of my experience, situation or skills.

Any device would be appreciated, and please lets get the discussion going  ;)
 
The following users thanked this post: SeanB

Online tggzzz

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 21474
  • Country: gb
  • Numbers, not adjectives
    • Having fun doing more, with less
Re: Out of work - General Discussion - Advice
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2024, 10:32:22 am »
Don't panic about the difference between "junior" "intermediate" and "senior" engineers. Firstly they mean different things in different companies, secondly they are often "aspirational requirements", thirdly in my first job I was promoted regularly every six months along those lines - but was doing exactly the same job all the time. If you successfully completed design/layout/testing, that would make you an intermediate engineer rather than a beginner.

Do be able to articulate what you demonstrated in your previous job, both technical and non-technical.

Do be able to show that you are using your "down time" productively, whatever that might mean.

Doing a non-required project in your own time always looks good; it demonstrates interest in the subject (nowadays inflated to be "passion", ugh!). You should be able to demonstrate setting realistic and stretch objectives (and non-objectives), the theory and practice of your design, implement it, discuss what worked and what didn't - and what you would do differently next time.

An objective and/or implementation being simple isn't necessarily a problem: KISS is always good. But it is also good to be able to articulate how it could be extended if the objectives change.

As for leaving the previous job, be able to articulate the toxic atmosphere in a way that doesn't led people to believe you were the problem.
There are lies, damned lies, statistics - and ADC/DAC specs.
Glider pilot's aphorism: "there is no substitute for span". Retort: "There is a substitute: skill+imagination. But you can buy span".
Having fun doing more, with less
 
The following users thanked this post: ChrisGreece52

Offline ChrisGreece52Topic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 832
  • Country: gb
  • Electronics Engineer - Tinkerer - Nerd
Re: Out of work - General Discussion - Advice
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2024, 04:08:00 pm »
Thank you very much for your answer!

Thank you for the tips as well. I think I'm not bad at articulating my skills and interest in electronics in general to possible employers.

That said, I think I focus on the technical aspects way too much, giving little thought to non-technical qualities.

In addition, I realized the way I present my projects is not clear enough and could use some improvement. Mainly about the process of design, implementation, and testing.

The only point I believe I do a good job at is explaining my departure from my previous company as this was my main concern when I started looking for another role.

Thank you again for taking the time and providing me with some great insight and good tips!
 

Online tggzzz

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 21474
  • Country: gb
  • Numbers, not adjectives
    • Having fun doing more, with less
Re: Out of work - General Discussion - Advice
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2024, 04:31:06 pm »
In addition, I realized the way I present my projects is not clear enough and could use some improvement. Mainly about the process of design, implementation, and testing.

You're welcome, and it is a pleasure to have someone that questions, listens, and thinks.

Don't underestimate the importance of requirements gathering/elucidation, setting non-objectives, and the post-mortem :)

A good CV and interview will include "demonstrated X by Y". For non-technical aspects, the demonstration can be from outside work. Thus my daughter was able to state "demonstrated teamwork by launch point and ground activities at the gliding club", leaving something for the interviewer to question her about.
There are lies, damned lies, statistics - and ADC/DAC specs.
Glider pilot's aphorism: "there is no substitute for span". Retort: "There is a substitute: skill+imagination. But you can buy span".
Having fun doing more, with less
 
The following users thanked this post: ChrisGreece52

Offline ChrisGreece52Topic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 832
  • Country: gb
  • Electronics Engineer - Tinkerer - Nerd
Re: Out of work - General Discussion - Advice
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2024, 12:09:37 am »
That's true! A good/ clear CV can get you a long way.

Based on our discussion, I feel like mine could use some tweaks!

Thanks for that too!

Got an interview lined up tomorrow so fingers crossed I can prepare accordingly!

And again thank you for the tips! It's always good getting another person's perspective and listening to their suggestions!

 

Online tggzzz

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 21474
  • Country: gb
  • Numbers, not adjectives
    • Having fun doing more, with less
Re: Out of work - General Discussion - Advice
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2024, 12:58:25 am »
Good luck; luck is always onvolved, but you can load the dice in your favour.

Don't forget you are interviewing them too.
There are lies, damned lies, statistics - and ADC/DAC specs.
Glider pilot's aphorism: "there is no substitute for span". Retort: "There is a substitute: skill+imagination. But you can buy span".
Having fun doing more, with less
 
The following users thanked this post: ChrisGreece52

Online coppercone2

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 11451
  • Country: us
  • $
Re: Out of work - General Discussion - Advice
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2024, 01:11:51 am »
I see tons of people being fine after working 6 months, IMO its a big hoax that you need to work for years at a single job. In robust positions your boss should have full project documentation within 1 year, ready to hand off to other people, because your skills are wanted in the company and they have the option of putting people on more advanced projects. That's usually what a good employee is, someone that multiple groups in the company can use. Once there is enough projects and people you will see how 'long term' positions that are difficult to fill are weird.

i think you have nothing to worry about, 18 months is plenty

with high speed design (china modules), the entire period in which a position is staffed might be 12 months, and it gets turned to some legacy support type firm after that, which stops innovating and keeps it going (they have the EASY job)

I think that is something all designers notice, when enthusiasm (and support) for the technology goes into the 'stable' phase. You usually still have ideas but the people that get their hands on it have a very 'conservative' approach, so you talent is essentially hindered if you stay with it too long. Because basically the thing that is hard to realize is that they have some insane 'ROI' they want to meet. Its usually a ludicrous figure. To me its like the creation and the gestation areas, eventually people just start sitting on it making sure it delivers money with minimum investment to satisfy some spread sheet. That is why product design might not be super long lived. When the product starts working good it often enters a "maximum profit point" tracking system lol. And to be fair if your offered the opportunity to 'sit' on it for a while, I think you earned it, but its not for everyone. Kind of like catching your breath or giving you a 'raise' in free mental energy.... you usually get some opportunities for at least interim management positions that might be relaxing.... but if you have the desire and willpower to keep working.. chances are slimmer for 'long term' positions, and people know it!
« Last Edit: November 15, 2024, 01:51:15 am by coppercone2 »
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf