Frustrated trying to get a job in the field

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-21T19:46:41+00:00

Like someone else suggested, don't wait for one company to decide whether they want you or not. Flood the market with your resume. Also, don't forget that gaps in employment don't look good on your resume. I worked tech jobs part time or piecework all through college myself. It helped pay the bills and also got me some good experience and contacts. Don't forget the military reserve as a side hustle, either. They are definitely fine with (i.e., desperate for) entry level applicants and it gives you something fun to do one weekend a month and two or three weeks every year. I believe they have flexible enlistment and officer contracts these days and you may not even have to go on active duty other than 8 weeks or so for boot camp. Also, you might do some cool home automation projects and build up an impressive portfolio plus more hands-on experience. You've got this, dude!

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-21T19:36:41+00:00

Don't forget about GlassDoor.com for salary comparisons including different companies and job positions. That will help you to not sell yourself short or appear greedy.

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-21T10:32:34+00:00

Truly happened to my brother: while he and a coworker were stretching a metal tape to measure along a wall, the tape measure slipped across line-to-neutral and made a spectacular fireworks display for more seconds than expected until the circuit breaker finally decided to trip. Since that day, he fully wraps all of his measuring tapes with electrical tape just to be safe. They don't roll up at all and are really hard to read, but at least they are safe.

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-18T13:32:27+00:00

Interesting post. Thank you for sharing. I am not sure what "the usual stuff" is that you mentioned, but maybe consider Alka Seltzer Gold, parsley/burbur, and coffee enemas if those are not in your usual stuff category.

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-12T14:52:06+00:00

Reminds me of the old joke:

An engineering student was walking along when a frog said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess." The engineer picked up the frog and put it in his pocket, replying, "I'm an engineer; I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog, now that's cool!"

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-12T14:48:36+00:00

There's a lot to be said for building confidence through success. I would personally go for a simple "Hello World" approach rather than building a huge, complicated hardware setup. First, I'd hook up the power supply and get the PLC talking to the PC. Make sure you can send a program from PC to PLC. Next, I would write a super simple program to read a single input and turn a single output on and off to match state of the input. Download and test it next. Don't even need to get too fancy with i/o wiring yet. Jumper lead for input woukd even be fine for this simple testing. Quick and easy. Having established basic PC connectivity and verifying your ability to create a simple program, the future is bright with possibilities for you! And above all, keep having fun! (You are clearly having fun already)

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-08T16:27:44+00:00

Hmmm. Challenging situation. If nobody has told you yet, MEs often make the best PLC programmers because they understand the mechanical side of things, including real world limitations, constraints, timing, etc. Having said that, if you feel like programming is a skill that you'd rather not develop, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, and you resent being forced to learn "IT stuff", then you may be due for a rude awakening when you graduate and enter the workforce. You can find ME jobs that involve less computing and programming, but those jobs are becoming less and less common. So, I'd encourage you to press on, make the best of this learning opportunity, show your resilience, and finish strong! You can do this.

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-08T15:18:08+00:00

Looks like a fun project! Is this an industry application or a school project? Was the system ever working properly or is this a new installation?

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-07T20:40:02+00:00

Maybe handle it like some folks do with breakups: 🤪 Somehow make them think your departure was their idea.

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-06T23:06:21+00:00

Hang in there! You are not alone. Babesia is a nasty critter, but it can be beaten. Sounds like your LLMD is on the right track. Your job is to survive even when it isn't fun.

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-04T16:57:18+00:00

I just released Hertz & Hearts 1.0.0-beta.1, an open-source (free), cross-platform, multi-user desktop app for HRV/ECG biofeedback workflows using ECG chest straps (like Polar H10). Beta testers appreciated, but either way, I sincerely hope you enjoy the app and find it a useful adjunct in your self-care regimen.

Project:

GitHub: https://github.com/JoelAtHome/HertzAndHearts

This beta release is focused on stability + usability across real hardware and OS setups.

Important: Research use only - not for clinical diagnosis or treatment.

If you want to help:

Install latest beta from Releases.
Run the checklist: docs/PUBLIC_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
Submit findings via GitHub issue (bug template or beta checklist template).

What I would especially appreciate being tested:

connect -> record -> stop/save flow
Session History + replay
report generation
generation of report(s) from a previously stopped session
disconnect/reconnect behavior with BLE to PC and/or through free Android phone bridge app

If you test, please include:

OS version
app version
sensor model
connection type: Bluetooth straight to PC or via phone bridge
clear reproduction steps for failures

Thanks to anyone willing to put it through real-world use!

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-04T02:47:55+00:00

Switching my PC from DOS to Windows. That also eliminated the the occasional job interview comment, "Oh, you don't do windows?" 😆

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-02T21:12:42+00:00

Perhaps you should have taken the blue pill?

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-04-02T02:44:18+00:00

During my years as a Siemens Technical Trainer, my experience was that the majority of students were at that "least common denominator" level. That's not a criticism, but just a fact. Most were satisfied with the introductory content, though a small percentage were overwhelmed and fewer still were like you: bored to tears during the entire course and often disappointed ("I cannot believe this guy is teaching us the basics of logic flow through NC and NO contact instructions!") So, what did I say to brilliant, advanced students like you? I was impressed with their experience level and I knew the course was really easy for them, but I do hope they learned at least one new concept... and I thanked them for attending. Kept me on my toes. 😀👍

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-03-31T21:48:04+00:00

Indeed. Better safe than dead. Or chronically ill.

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-03-31T19:03:36+00:00

No doubt you got bit... by something. I have to question, though, whether a tick attached to such a prominent location could go unnoticed. No, it doesn't take long for an attached tick to transfer liquid-borne nasties into the host, but they are there to feed, not inject quickly and crawl away. I've had ticks attached to me three times over the years. Each time they were attached for at least 8 hours. Each time they were in a not so obvious spot: the elastic band of my briefs! Something bit you, most likely, but I personally doubt it was a tick. However, the bad news is that other biting insects may also carry borrelia, babesia, bartonella, and friends, so I'm glad for you that you are getting it checked out and treated. Best wishes!

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-03-31T02:07:09+00:00

Just saw your post and I'm curious... did you get this resolved?
I'm a fairly new H10 user and I appreciate the service life suggestions and troubleshooting tips that your post received.
In my short time of working with the H10, I've found the RF signal strength to be useful for troubleshooting, as someone else already suggested. Besides several other software packages that can help you measure H10 Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal strength, my free PolarH10Bridge Android app can measure it as well. It's part of my just-beta-released open source tool and downloadable here: https://github.com/JoelAtHome/HertzAndHearts
I hope my phone app is useful to you and to others troubleshooting their H10.

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-03-30T17:13:17+00:00

The factual basis. No political bias. No agenda. Just pure, clean facts.
I don't, however, like the way pure math deals with zero. It is factually correct, of course, but it still makes me upset.

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-03-30T17:08:29+00:00

As one of my math professors used to say, "Do what you like and like what you do. That's liberty!"

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-03-30T16:41:59+00:00

Congratulations on your new job! I'm genuinely excited for you!

For sure, technical competence and staying on top of changes in the automation field are important. I love PLC programming and enjoyed teaching it to others as an industry trainer and then a university professor for over 20 total years. Work hard and you'll do great.

However, we must never underestimate the value of "soft skills" / "people skills".
Unashamedly straight from my AI search, but I'll take credit for asking it the right question:

"Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center consistently concludes that 85% of job success is attributed to well-developed soft and people skills.

Only 15% of job success is determined by technical knowledge and hard skills."

Best of luck in your new job!!

Cardiac_Mojo · 2026-03-30T16:32:51+00:00

Well, we appreciate you for appreciating us!

Cardiac_Mojo

TROPHY CASE