Near graduate seeks to distinguish himself from others 4

[Sinatra]

Hey everyone!

I've nearly graduated for the Ecole de Technologie Superieure in Montreal, Canada and i was wondering where how can i distinguish myself from other graduates.

1- Get more technical knowledge through books
2- Attend seminars, learn and hope to meet my ticket to the corporate world
3- Use linkedin or such community websites to find old lab partners and ask them if they have job openings
4- go to job fairs and do as #2
5- do nothing, as it is luck (or curse) that will push me in the right direction

Non-electrical engtipers are welcome to throw in their 2 cents

 

[Twoballcane]

At your level, internship, internship, internship. Makes your resume look much better. Plus you might get offers from the company thay you interned at.


Good luck!

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[JMirisola]

In my opinion, such as it is, experience and networking are what will help you the most. You can have all the technological knowledge in the world, but you're no good to anyone if you don't know how to apply it. Book smarts will only get you so far...

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP, Certified DriveWorks AE

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[MadMango]

Relevant and varied internships help greatly, but since you are close to graduating, maybe they won't. You and your graduating peers are all shiny, new, and green... relevant experience is all you have to distinguish yourself from the others.

I say do All of the Above, and number 1 should never stop. Pound the streets and get hard copies of your CV out there.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[TheTick]

Too late. Try asking again two years ago.

 

[IRstuff]

One simple thing you can do is to take a class in public speaking or technical presentations.

Your poise and ability to communicate clearly and succintly can make a huge impression, even with such a short horizon.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[civilperson]

Get a job in the field you would like to persue, after excelling ask for transfer to technical/design assignment.

 

[doberdorks]

... relevant experience is all you have to distinguish yourself from the others.

MM,

I don't agree. I'd add develop contacts (go to all those CSME ASME etc meetings), learn about how to dress for an interview, learn how to prepare for interviews, figure out how to cold call people without annoying them, and most important, learn to give people feedback -- so if someone gives you a name at a company you want to work for, send a note saying "thanks for giving me John Doe's name, I gave him a call and am meeting him next week" or "I talked to him and he was very helpful".....

My thoughts only
SLH

 

[AMN4]

Though it sounds obvious, be enthusiastic at job interviews (but don't overdo it either). I've interviewed people who didn't pay attention or came across as not interested. Easy ones to weed out. Act like you're actually intersted in getting the job.

Best of luck.

 

[KENAT]

Learn to be good at research. For instance, really browse this site, not just this particular forum but also maybe "Overcoming Obstacles Getting My Work Done" & even "Where is Engineering Going In The Next 5 Years". You will see answers to similar questions. You'll also see what people moan about in applicants/new hires etc and maybe learn what not to do.

There was a thread about being a 'star' engineer not too long ago, maybe more relevant to once you have a position but worth looking at.

You'll also find several threads on what to wear to interviews etc.

Before asking a question, it's usually a good idea to do your own research first. However, you did make some reasonable suggestions in you OP.

Tick may sound a bit harsh but he's not really wrong.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[MintJulep]

Do something interesting so you can have something to talk about at your interviews.

Did you do a senior design project? What was it? Do you really understand it? Can you talk about it intelligently, explaining the goals, challenges, what you learned and why you choose the solution to the problem that you choose? Do not, under any circumstances, say "well I plugged some numbers into the computer and it said this would be ok, so that's what we did." You will be instantly shown the door.

 

[prohammy]

Come first in your class.

Find a cure for the second law of thermodynamic.

Make damn sure that you target a company that suits your strengths (ie find your strengths and exploit them).

You choose!

Kevin

“It is a mathematical fact that fifty percent of all doctors graduate in the bottom half of their class." ~Author Unknown

"If two wrongs don't make a right, try three." ~Author Unknown

 

[EngJW]

Get the best haircut. It's all that will matter, since everyone else will be doing all of the above. Or if you really want to stand out from the crowd, learn to play guitar or drums, or learn to fly. Perhaps there is a company somewhere that would rather hire a real person instead of a cookie-cutter engineer.

 

[GregLocock]

I've got several jobs over the years, from the first job I ever had through to ten years ago, by waiting until the end of the formal part of the interview and then hijacking it by presenting an interesting project that I was involved in.



Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[MadMango]

Doberdorks, I was commenting from the aspect of only having a stack of resumes in front of me. The context of the OP (seemed to me) was getting an interview, not what to do during the interview. I might have been wrong in my assumptions.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[Sinatra]

Thanks for your replies!

Actually, this is my third internship and i'm pretty fed up with manufacturing. Besides, I've got great communication skills that are clearly not needed for the job i do (mostly CAD and electrical safety procedures)

I'll give a try with LinkedIn, as it will be a great way to find those lab parterns I've lost over the years.

As for Tick comment, it's true. I've missed my opportunity to enter Hydro-Québec thanks to millions of things that fly over my head as a student (didn't notice THAT email!)

I've been a salesman in the past and is considering becoming a sales engineer (so i can leech on your time with products you don't want!)

A future MBA is also on the radar.

Cheers!!

 

[TheTick]

I missed some great internship opportunities when I was in college due to military commitments. I made up for it by doing short-term contract work after graduation.

The advantage for me was that I could focus on doing the kind of work I wanted to do (mechanical design). Also, contracting gave me a chance to see what a company and field was like before getting in too deep.

Be careful in selecting your first job. If you have a specific field in mind, don't get too far away from it.

 

[doberdorks]

I was commenting from the aspect of only having a stack of resumes in front of me. The context of the OP (seemed to me) was getting an interview, not what to do during the interview. I might have been wrong in my assumptions.

Whoops, sorry about that -- I was answering the wrong question, I guess really my comment is

"if you think your resume is enough to 'distinguish' yourself, good luck".

My jobs have been (no particular order)
1. Working for profs from undergrad, underpaid but doing cool stuff
2. Though networking
3. Temp agency picking my resume off one of the online sites



SLH

 

[MechEng2005]

As already stated, go ahead and do them all. None of your suggestions will hurt anything (except maybe #5). Also, explore ALL options. This includes sending resumes/applications to companies that aren't formally looking for engineers or don't have ads. Explore all avenues for contacts. I had a few interviews based on parents of my friends. Even if I hadn't really met or discussed the parent, it was enough to get my resume looked at, even if it didn't end up with an interview.

Additionally, when you do get an interview, research the company you will be interviewing with as much as possible. Look up the company website, google the company, check wikipedia, everything. Then, when you are at the interview, you can ask intelligent questions. I have found in interviewing that the questions I ask often get a better reception from the interviewer than a lot of my responses to their questions. I suspect interviewers get approximately the same response from everybody, but each canidates questions are different. Use that to distinguish yourself positively.

-- MechEng2005

 

[TDAA]

Get pierced, get an odd hair cut with color.

The rest have been recoloring thier hair, and getting a "normal" cut. Thier piercings will come out for the interview.

It will get you noticed, but probably not hired.