Re: Need advice: want to enter the Embedded field

I had the same problem when I got out of school in 99!

I initially was sending out resumes to the big ones (Motorola,
WindRiver,...) and though I got a few responses at the time, they all were
looking for at least 2-3 years experience. Today, the market is getting
similar again with many openings for experienced engineers (albeit
compensation is not as exciting as it once were, ie: stock options!).
However, it is getting tougher for small businesses to find and retain
quality engineers. Over the last few years, many mid-level EE/Embedded
guys had to survive a layoff by taking lower paid positions with small
companies that hardly offered decent benefits, if any. Today that the
market is switching back to an employee market, those guys are getting
substantially higher offers from the big ones (it happened to me), leaving
unfilled positions in those small organizations. If I were you, I'd take
the following approach:

- look locally for small engineering companies. Maybe, driving around
the business parks and going door-to-door to introduce yourself and drop
you resume (talk directly to the owner/president and/or to the head
engineer)

- find a couple tech. temp agencies and let them find you a short-term
contract (it worked for a friend of mine: got a 3-month contract and got
hired full-time at the end. or you get another contract and on and on...
some like it and make great money)

One thing, make sure you know your market value (salary.com) and do NOT
cheapen yourself! it doesn't create a productive employer/employee
relationship to do so. Sooner or later, if you get paid peanuts, you'll
be thinking of leaving (~6 month later). And the initial idea that your
boss will eventually see your worth and dramatically increase your wage is
usually not the way companies work. Be warned!

Good luck to you, and don't despair most of us went through this!

P.S: At this level, you should NOT have to pay anyone to find you a job!
As an engineer, experienced or not, you will bring in value to your
employer (they won't hire you otherwise. no matter what!): the more with
the experience but then the higher the compensation too. In the embedded
world, I've seem many fresh out-of-school becoming more productive in no
time than the typical 10+ engineer because they're dying to learn more and
spend countless hours getting up to speed, and more often than never
exceeding expactations! So YOU are already worth the money you'll get.

I apologize for writing to this list but would be grateful if I can get
career advice from people in the Embedded field.
I did my MS in EE in 2001, an MBA last year in 2005. Now I want to get
an Embedded job but I don't have industry experience. I love the
field and know I'll learn quickly and perform well. What do I do to get
a job? I've applied here and there, and got no response from anyone.
Everyone is looking for very experienced candidates. The situation is
not promising. I'm not a US citizen but am authorized to work
indefinitely for any employer here (am an asylee). With my MBA, I also
need experience for that kind of job so I need to have a career in
technology before I can qualify for a management position. I did my MBA
to stay in school when the job market was bad. Currently I do website
work, its not related to my degrees but it makes a living. I know my
resume isnt perfect, but I believe my passion for the embedded field
would help me get a job no matter what.
I thought EE's were in demand. There's a company in a nearby city I
thought of volunteering in to get experience and maybe a job offer
later if all goes well. I wonder if they'll respond to my request and
how that would work out.

Any advice on how to get a job in the Embedded field? I'm also offering
$5,000 to any one who can get me a full time Embedded position. I know
this sounds desperate but considering I have no experience, I'm willing
to do anything to get a job. Is there anything I can do to at least get
on track to an Embedded career while earning money? Or do I think about
changing my field and abandoning Embedded?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Amir






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