I feel like such a turd tonight..

[tardfarmer]

I was asked to interview another engineer today to debug and document some motherboard failures that we've been having in the field. My boss was involved in the interview.

I tried to "slow ball" the questions... I didn't ask "Is the Neumann function holomorphic at zero and infinity"... I asked basic questions on circuit design about transmission line theory and sources of phase noise in oscillators (which even to a tech is pretty basic).

He failed miserably. I never want to give another interview as long as I live, the guy needed the job and I felt that I was part and parcel to him not getting it. I tried to explain to management that I would be willing to take him under my wing and I would have no problem teaching him because he's a nice guy and was willing to learn.

I hate f*****g industry.

[CalHunter]

Don't they need a certain level of training and/or education to hire somebody for the position? Maybe he's just not well-prepared for the job.

[Coastie]

Never feel bad about doing your job to the best of your ability. If you had been looking for a talented trainee, that's one thing. You were looking for somebody to locate a problem in an existing line which apparently needs some specialized talent right now. If this guy is any good at all, he will find a job and grow with the industry and quite possibly thank you for turning him down for something he wasn't ready for.

[tardfarmer]

Don't they need a certain level of training and/or education to hire somebody for the position?

EXPERIENCE is virtually impossible to gain in industry these days. And unfortunately 99% of those with the experience won't teach a "newbie" because they're a bunch of p*ssies affraid for their jobs. The days of essentially being an apprentice are gone. They want people to hit the ground running.

Training someone while they're working on other sorts of tasks is not "cost effective" (according to corporate america) -- unless you pay them $3/day in India or China.

[tardfarmer]

If this guy is any good at all, he will find a job and grow with the industry

Doesn't happen in engineering.

[Coastie]

ORIGINAL: tardfarmer

Doesn't happen in engineering.

Perhaps you are right but that's how I got started in Radio Engineering. Granted it is not Engineering at the same level as what you do, but Engineering none the less. Regardless, you did your job honestly and to the best of your ability, no shame there.

[tardfarmer]

Perhaps you are right but that's how I got started in Radio Engineering. Granted it is not Engineering at the same level as what you do,

It more than likely is. All the mathematics, the physics etc. means nothing in industry. You have to be able to USE it.

If you're a ham freak that builds your own stuff, you have more experience than 90% of the engineers that are lied to about how their careers will "grow".

As a matter of fact, my Alma Mater sent out a newletter the other day which said that the "shortage of engineers is critical" -- BULLSH*T. They're trying to bolster their student ranks to get more money so some other poor schlub who thinks he's going to continue to learn will drop his $60,000 and end up at Wal Mart. I sent them a letter that i'm sure they have hung up in some men's room somewhere.

It's sad. Alot of drive and talent is being diverted. I'm just venting.

I don't give a rats arse about my career, I could be happy being a cashier at K-mart. I just wish that ONCE some company would actually have the foresight to realize that someone with brains that is willing to work, as long as they're not treated like dog dirt (thats a tricky one), could be their "diamond bullet".

Oh well, enough of my pontificating.

[vc1111]

Money, money, money. It sounds like the business could not afford to allow you to mentor him...and that is sad.

I got started in Radio Engineering.

That was one of my career dreams at one time (long ago) believe it or not. I was involved in amatuer radio and my uncle was a radio engineer. I also wanted to produce a radio show.

[AlaskaMagnum]

tardfarmer,

I work for the Corps of Engineers, you may want to steer this young man to a government internship with the government. See, despite all of the rumors, government pay is not all that great (it lags about 30% behind private industry), so a ton of engineers start off with the government. He could tutored and mentored, then when he actually gets GOOD, he can go work for another company.


Of course, by that time, he may be actually used to working a 40 hour work week instead of a 60 hour week and tell corporate american, NO THANKS. I'd rather get paid less and have more time to hunt, fish, and be with my kids.

[tardfarmer]

I work for the Corps of Engineers, you may want to steer this young man to a government internship with the government.

He actually spent 7 years in radio in the Coast Guard.

Protocol man.