Pride Paper Interview Questions

PRIDE Paper Interview Questions
1. What does your typical work day consist of?

My Typical day will start with a coordination meeting with my peers and supervisor. In these
meetings we discuss changes or conflicts that occur between our disciplines. We interface with
Electrical and Structural engineering for physical design space. We also interface with process
engineering to assure that equipment and systems will work as intended. Then ,I meet with my
Teams design and technical leads to determine the status of work. I will spend time with the design
team to provide direction, and make sure that work is progressing toward the design goals. Then I
spend time reviewing budget and schedule of work and make sure that any changes or updates are
captured funded and can be completed in the time/budget allotted.
This is interrupted with meeting, emergencies, and phone calls . So, there is really no such thing as a
typical day. I almost never do on a given day what I set out to do. Keeps life interesting.
2. What skills are required daily in your position?
Math, of course. Also, research and investigation skills. I often look up standards and codes for
Engineering that are published but various standards associations (ASME, ANSI, etc.) Software skills
using word processing, spreadsheet, databases, and digital modeling are also required.
3. What parts of your job do you find most challenging?

People. They are not a predictable commodity. They are also the most likely to provide satisfactions.
either through getting the best from people, or making their day better, when you get to your
supervision role, you will see what I mean.
4. What is your favorite/least favorite part of your job?
I enjoy the creative portion the most. Watching design evolve and the team work toward a solid,
impressive design. The most awesome thing you can see is when all your planning and direction turns
into something real. Once you get the feeling of success/accomplishment that comes from your
design jumping from idea to reality, it is hard to stop.
The least favorite is trying to describe ideas to those that dont work in the design world with us. it
can be hard to communicate with people of limited vision/imagination. Shis can be very frustrating.o
(I messed up your format here) How would you describe the work environment of your career?
Luke warm. We have air conditioning and heat in our office, so the temperature doesnt change
much.
we have a professional and relaxed work environment. There is plenty of pressure, so we need to be
calm and productive. The only way to get good quality work from people with the best possible
effort is to be relaxed and sharp.
5. How has the industry changed in the past five to ten years? How has that affected you and
your coworkers? Do you expect any major changes in the next five years?
More demands, less training. Companies are pushing more and more for using international
(cheaper) resources. It makes sense to some degree for the corpoation.
Our company uses a high value (i.e. low cost) engineering center in India to do some of our work.
this needs to be overseen by engineers in our office. So, daily calls at the beginning of the day here
(end of day in Mumbai) become part of some peoples job. The cost/risk are low and we can just hire
a couple engineers in the country to oversee the work. So, again the risk to the company is reduced,
but there are probably risks to either the Engineering profession and/or the individual.
I have seen little success in doing engineering remotely. i have seen several companies use this
method. the language and time barriers are significant. However, the push for cost controls will
continue.
6. How competitive are job openings in your field?
There is the normal paradox in the job market these days. Employers want qualified experienced
personnel, but that isnt really possible for a new hire directly out of school. So I see the place for
competition at the internship level. People who get internships or co-operative study positions will be
in high demand. But that will make competition for internships/co-op very important/challenging.
7.
hat educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to enter this
W
field?
FIRST robotics.
all kidding aside, the program at any accredited school will suffice. And probably burn you out a little.
The key will be getting work experience that will allow employers to see hiring you as less risky. (i.e.
get an internship/referral, it sets you apart)
8.
What qualifications do you seek in a new hire?
We prefer new hires with experience in FIRST robotics. Lacking that, they can go to college and get a
degree in Engineering.
Resumes and education are subjective, and getting into the door is challenging. Setting yourself apart
from the group with good use of cover letters and getting some unique experience is always good.
9. How do most people enter this profession?
They Walk. Our office building has both a revolving and an automatic door. Sweet! You dont even
have to push
Id say that most people have had a more or less organic process to their career. Opportunities
present themselves and depending on your abilities and inclinations, you participate and contribute to
projects. In that way, you learn your strengths and people get to know you. Once youve established
your value to a group, the work comes to you.
Engineers tend to be very smart people with A type personalities. i.e. they tend to be controlling.
They also like challenges. So, they tend to bore easily with repetitive work. So, you see them
moving to greater responsibilities and scope of work..
10. Is there a reasonable amount of job security in this field or is there a high employee turnover
rate?
A gifted/good engineer will always find work. I cant say it any other way. Employers crave good
employees.
The employee turn over issues ive seen for my entire career are rarely the result of the employer
cutting personnel. Yes, there are industry downturns, but Ive never been downsized. Turn over
for engineers is most often the result of an employees leaving. So, for the individual, the turnover is
almost always a positive. It means they are leaving for something better.
11. What would be a reasonable starting salary range to expect if I entered this field? What is the
long term potential?
The starting salaries for degreed Engineers are in excess of $80,000 a year. The long term potential
for engineering is solid, but not astronomical. I think that is the reason that so many of my peers have
left the profession to pursue other paths.
12. What is the typical path of advancement in this field?
I dont think a typical path exists. I think the degree opens doors. You need to understand yourself
well enough to go through the right ones. While there are plenty of people who might not say good
things about engineering; they generally have respect for the work done to get the title.
13. Do you think a graduate degree or a Professional Engineer certification would be more
beneficial?
My current supervisor says Engineering is a great first degree. You will find that it prepares you for
advanced degrees in most any profession. I know people whove gone on to be lawyers, financiers on
Wall Street, MD, Pilots, and Veterinarians. Like i said, smart people. You will probably set your career
path in Graduate School.
Ive gotten my Professional Engineering License. It is useful and more or less required for
advancement in certain branches of engineering.
14. What is the process of becoming a PE like? (working as an EIT, the exam itself, etc.)
The EIT work is pretty much the same as any entry level engineer. So, that portion is not remarkable.
If you are intending to get your license, it is probably best that you take the EIT exam while still in
school. The material is similar to the information you need for a Doctoral Verbal exam, so if you are in
Graduate school engineering, it is a good primer for that particular hurdle.
THe EIT exam is very similar to tests youve taken. Fill in a bunch of circles in a random pattern until
time runs out. Guy with the best cheat-sheet wins.
the EIT is a LONG multiple-choice examination. Two four hour sessions in one day. They test you on
basic ( for an engineer) math skills, Computer programming, physics, chemistry, heat transfer,
anatomy (okay, not anatomy), materials, ethics (yes, ethics), and hepatitis. Like I said, good to take
near your last year as an undergraduate engineer, or in your first/second year of grad engineering.
the PE is a Long multilevel test of (more -or-less) real world engineering problems. Here, you will be
tested in your field of focus (discipline). This test will be aimed at delving into your skills with about
four problem types in the morning and another 4 in the afternoon. You pick 4 of 6 problems to work
through both for the morning session and for the afternoon. So, you have an hour per problem to
demonstrate facility in what you consider to be your strengths as an engineer. Part of being a PE is
knowing your limitations.
15. Is there anything else you think I need to know?
Cant think of anything. Good luck, Tyler.
BTW. I have learned to hate Google docs in the past hour or so.

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PRIDE Paper Interview Questions

1. What does your typical work day consist of?

3. What parts of your job do you find most challenging?

What qualifications do you seek in a new hire?

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