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Any graduate (University trained) engineer?
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| Cloudburst |
I've got this assignment to ask a bunch of questions (12 of them) to a graduated engineer, nothing too seriuos. So I'm wondering if there's anyone here? It needs to be done by tomorrow. :wtf:
I had totally forgotten about this until today... :rolleyes: |
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| Dervish |
| Yep, though I've gone back to uni to do a MSc. I've got work experiance from placements but you might be looking for a full-time guy. (got a job lined up though) |
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| Cloudburst |
Here's some questions (that I just translated) I'm supposed to ask...
Tell me about your background, education, work of choice.
How did you get your first job as an engineer? Contacts, adverts etc?
How did the job interview go? Was it as you expected?
How did you get your current job?
Why did they choose you?
What kind of qualities in a person does your employer appreciate?
What is your current work assignment?
What kind of responsibilities do you have within the company?
How large part of the work is of technical nature?
How do you work? Alone or in a group? How is the work divided among the people?
How do manage to have both a private life and a working life? How do you prioritise?
Do you still have any contact with people from your education? Iss it in private or for work?
Is there any advice you would like to give to an engineer student today? |
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| Dervish |
Tell me about your background, education, work of choice.
Education:
Electronic & Electrical BEng, doing an MSc in System Level Integration (to get chartered engineer status with experience)
Work:
Placement, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Prototype Fast Reactor Dounreay
Safety reports, plan for a new ultrasonic probe system.
Placement, Rolls-Royce, Design Office, Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment
Unifying report on configuration management systems used across the site (alot of books in that one!).
Placement, Rolls-Royce, Main Coolant Pump Facility, Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment
Alot of different tests (instrumentation mainly, setting up power analysers and so on) for the suitability of some of our plant to be used for another series of tests.
How did you get your first job as an engineer? Contacts, adverts etc?
Contacts, and word of mouth was how I found out about the placement scheme (applied then got an interview). And the job was because of performance while on placements.
How did the job interview go? Was it as you expected?
It went pretty much as I'd expected one HR and one engineer. No really surprising questions. I thought it was important to not seem too slick, simple honest answers all the way.
How did you get your current job?
I've been offered the job I will be taking up by taking part in the undergraduate engineering placement scheme of the company basically.
Why did they choose you?
In the first instance because I fitted the education profile and was enthusiastic and easy to work with, after that because of performance on placements.
What kind of qualities in a person does your employer appreciate?
First priority is the education, you have to have that first obviously. Then it is pretty much all about how well you can work with people, while also being motivated enough to carry out the work.
What is your current work assignment?
The last one I did was in my last placement with the suitability testing.
But the first thing they want me to do when I start is go off on another course! Thats basically to specialise me in their area (Naval Nuclear), but it's not cheap for them and it's not easy. So failing at that would not be a good idea (even though I'll have had 1 week off total since last year until the end of the course). It's taught by the navy so the standards will be high.
What kind of responsibilities do you have within the company?
Right now none, but when I'm back at work it could be for a number of things, probably for signing off other peoples work and requests for work really, and organising people.
How large part of the work is of technical nature?
Very little, but you need to have the background to understand what you are talking about with the technicians and so on. But most of the work will be more management style stuff.
How do you work? Alone or in a group? How is the work divided among the people?
Normally there are a few different projects on the go at once so in some on my own and in others with groups or teams of people. It just depends how big the overall project is.
How do manage to have both a private life and a working life? How do you prioritise?
Put simply when I'm at work I work. When I'm not I'll have fun (mostly at the weekend).
Do you still have any contact with people from your education? Iss it in private or for work?
From my first degree, not a huge amount I've moved city and I'll be moving again. I speak to them on the internet sometimes but since I don't stay in the same place anymore or work with them. and it is a case of out of sight out of mind really.
Is there any advice you would like to give to an engineer student today?
At every opportunity get any work experience possible. When you do go to work don't take any preconceptions about your role, or how much you know.
One of the most important things to remember is university, to me anyway, is just a big test that teaches you a few skills. It is unlikely that you will use the vast majority of what you learned. Do not assume you are going to wade in and straight off be able to do things.
For the first few years (possibly) of work you'll just be learning how to fit in with company learning the language of the business and the different structures that make it up.
Give the utmost respect to anyone (at whatever level) with experience. The guys at the "bottom", if you treat them with respect will be more willing and probebly more able to teach you than people "at your level". In some cases you'll be talking to guys with 20+ years of experience (many of whom are actually pretty smart!) and they will have forgotten more than you'll have learned in your degree. Learn from them. |
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| Cloudburst |
Thanks a lot man! :D
You saved my ass! |
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| Cloudburst |
If anyone else feels the urge to answer these exiting questions, feel free to do so!
Then I could have some fancy comparison between different engineers in different parts of the world! Stuff like that gives you a higher grade! :p |
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| butterfly |
Tell me about your background, education, work of choice.
I am from NJ, USA. my father is a chemical enginer, my mother and analytical chemist, my uncle is a chemical engineer, my granfather an industrial engineer, my great grandfather was a civil engineer.
i have a BS in chemical engineering from Rutgers University, School of Engineering. I work in the pharmaceutical industry but I have also worked a little in biolgics.
How did you get your first job as an engineer? Contacts, adverts etc?
I got an internship through the career center at my school. i interned for one year and then got a college hire position at that company when i graduated.
How did the job interview go? Was it as you expected?
good. yes.
How did you get your current job?
i went through a rotational training program where i worked at different operating companies and locations within my corporation. after the program i chose to relocate to a different operating company that needed people.
Why did they choose you?
because i am technically strong and have high leadership potential.
What kind of qualities in a person does your employer appreciate?
they like to have a diverse workforce. it depends on the job description and the preferences of your hiring manager. my hiring manager prefers technically competent people with experience in the solid dosage field of pharmaceutical manufacturing or development.
What is your current work assignment?
i provide technical support for commercially manufactured solid dose pharmaceuticals. i also work on launches for new products.
What kind of responsibilities do you have within the company?
i am the lead process engineer for two products. i am responsible for managing my time on my day to day activties. these may include data analysis, production floor support, document change management, product deviation investigations, experimental work.
How large part of the work is of technical nature?
60%
How do you work? Alone or in a group? How is the work divided among the people?
70% of my work requires teamwork.
How do manage to have both a private life and a working life? How do you prioritise?
my company puts a strong emphasis on good work/life balance. i dont usually work more than 40-50 hours a week. i also dont party late at night anymore. it was too unhealthy.
Do you still have any contact with people from your education? Iss it in private or for work?
both, but only 2 or 3 people.
Is there any advice you would like to give to an engineer student today?
you have a lot of options. when you go to interview, know what you want to do and have goals for yourself. show motivation. you can always change your mind later. but an interviewer would rather see a student who is driven and knows what they want to do than someone ready to take any job offered to them. |
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| Cloudburst |
Thanks for taking the time!
They will love a female engineer! ;) |
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| Jackson |
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Lucky Sod! :p |
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