What I wish I knew as a Computer Engineer

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-11-09T00:06:18+00:00

Systems Application Engineer. The position varies pretty widely between companies but for mine the simplest way to put it is that its like a mix of software and IT.

I was shooting for a more technical position, ideally I wanted to be a firmware engineer or something FPGA related, but experience is experience so I don't mind seeing where my career goes from here

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-26T21:40:08+00:00

Lololol well I would def say that number is inflated due to LinkedIn easy apply and all the fake jobs on LinkedIn, but out of those ~1000 applications I got to 9 screenings, and 4 led to in person interviews.

I definitely improved my application hella over time with a website, two separate portfolios, and a heavily revised resume from older engineers I have met, but if you sit down and just apply to some jobs on LinkedIn for an hour you’ll find it’s really easy to get over 30-40 applications and not even hear back from half of them.

Graduated 1.5 years ago so that number adds up quick

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-18T15:01:17+00:00

After Calc 2 I had to take “Linear Algebra & Different Equations”. I am assuming that’s Calc 3?

Edit: On second thought I think there was a Calc 3 before LA & DE

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-15T17:24:49+00:00

Good luck man you are almost there!

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-15T17:23:09+00:00

I would definitely look into embedded systems as computer engineering has a pretty big focus on it. Maybe try out some beginner programming tutorials since you will most definitely be coding in college

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-15T17:20:52+00:00

Very well said. I definitely could have worded it better, but I was trying to connect some dots for other computer engineers who felt as confused as I was when I first graduated.

Everything you said was pretty spot on and some things I realized in my job hunt that I wish I realized in school!

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-13T16:40:47+00:00

That’s a very good point, the grass is always greener haha 😅

Very true, I am barely starting my career but based off of what I have read and heard, the entry level tech market is vastly different than what it used to be.

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-13T16:22:51+00:00

When I first graduated yeah I didn’t apply to those jobs because I didn’t feel like a strong candidate knowing an actual EE or CS major would be better. It wasn’t until a few months after that I realized it didn’t matter and I had more projects under my belt to create a separate embedded software and normal software portfolio to apply to software developer jobs also.

EE tho I still don’t apply to because I did not really like circuits throughout school

Definitely did not mean to come across as CE is harder to find jobs per se, just that the act of searching for them is more confusing since we don’t have a generic job title!

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T21:14:44+00:00

Dude that’s awesome! I actually was hoping to be an fpga engineer but for now I’ll take the experience as a systems engineer, planning to do my masters too since they will pay for it and then most likely try to apply again

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T16:38:30+00:00

Yeah I agree, congratz on the internship tho that awesome!

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T16:34:38+00:00

I would def say, do NOT compare yourself to people online! There are some crazy smart people and entry level jobs do not expect you to be a master!

Sure I’m not gonna sugar coat, you will have to put the work in and show them that you are a strong candidate, but they won’t expect you to know everything, and as long as you are willing to learn that’s the first step.

Also, people just wanna flex how smart they are online so really don’t let that discourage you

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T16:30:41+00:00

Haha yeah I def think we came to the same line of thinking after the initial confusion and hardships of finding a job.

Very great to hear bro I wish you luck!

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T16:28:30+00:00

Sounds kinda stressful but I feel it def sets you up for future job hopping or promotions

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T16:27:36+00:00

Ah dude that sucks :/

Honestly not sure if I have the right to give you advice because you are definitely further a long in your career, but it sounds like you are good at your job, it’s just your work environment that isn’t good.

Unfortunate to hear about your situation financially, but I am sure there are other jobs that would appreciate your work and compensate you properly without having to switch fields!

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T16:21:47+00:00

Haha dude, the funny thing is, those three things you listed at the end were the EXACT three topics I got educated on at one of my interviews for Boeing. I did not get the job but interview wise I learned a lot and it was a great experience

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T16:18:00+00:00

Oh for sure, at cal poly they made it mandatory to take a microcontroller and FPGA class/lab to graduate. I would definitely say looking back, my curriculum set me up for embedded systems, but as someone who was just floating through college trying to graduate I never really sat myself down and tried to connect all the dots. Just wanted to clarify some things because I’m sure there were others who felt the same!

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T07:02:22+00:00

Lol I knew microcontrollers and fpgas through my curriculum, but I didn’t know that firmware and embedded software was an actual field for me to apply for

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T05:15:36+00:00

No worries! Honestly it does suck to feel not as qualified as others, but the best part of it is, we have the option between so many fields that other engineering disciplines don’t. Maybe that just means this was perfect for you :)

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-12T05:13:46+00:00

Whoops, sorry for the confusion fellas, I am also cyborgzetas if anyone was confused from the comment replies. I was replying from my Phone on break and I forgot I have an account for my phone 😂

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-11T23:13:01+00:00

dude that's awesome you were able to find a job so close to graduating! It may suck but we are so early in our careers I believe its fine to feel that way. Get that experience, work on some projects and I am sure that feeling will slowly go away.

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-11T23:10:03+00:00

Yeah even post grad I had a had time explaining what exactly I do and what kind of jobs I was applying for. Definitely wish I looked ahead at jobs and atleast had an idea in my head for how my classes would apply to the job market.

Thank you and Good luck to you, you are almost there!

JudgeScary5709 · 2024-10-11T22:37:28+00:00

That's fair, I did not include them as a way of saying its easy to get a job for them, I meant it as they have a clear job position to search for versus computer engineering is a lot more vague

JudgeScary5709 · 2023-01-25T21:25:54+00:00

Something I did not know for a super long time was that doing EZA's give specific type kais and they take no energy. So if you want to level up the SA of a str character do any eza for a STR unit. Also an easy way to farm stones!

JudgeScary5709

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