Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Thoughts on the Region F Conference from a First Time Attendee!


From Emily Frantz, 2011-2012 Freshman Representative:

The Region F Conference at MIT was the first SWE conference I have attended.  It was an absolute blast!  If you have never gone, I highly recommend it.  As for cost, SWE usually offers reimbursements for those who apply! 

The first of four sessions I attended was Interview Skills by Michael Ross, a recruiter for General Dynamics with inside knowledge on the in’s and out’s to expect from employers.  He described a resume as your profile, where you want to create questions but not to be vague or lie.  He personally scans a resume in 8 seconds, looking from top to bottom, left to right.  He advised bolding key phrases, not just headings and to tailor each resume for the job.  Networking is crucial so always get the business cards of professionals you meet, with the goal being to get to hiring managers.  He also advises getting your own business cards to hand out.  Once you get the interview, prepare for it like game day.  He shuts off his phone and electronics to focus in.  You want to do your homework prior to the interview so that you have questions to stump the interviewer, and look for odd statistics on the company to ask about.  Keep in mind you are looking for a company that is a right fit, just as much as they are looking for the right employee.  The interview starts the moment you enter the building.  If you got into a car accident on the way over or faced other stressful situations, do not mention it and be composed.  Arrive 15 minutes early, no more no less.  Know the interviewers name and title, and be prepared for a team of interviewers or a behavioral interview.  In the interview, it is a good idea to ask to take notes and never let yourself relax.
Mr. Ross had great answers for when people typically cannot find the right words:
Three days after getting a business card, shoot them an email that says:
“I’m looking for networking opportunities.  I was wondering if I could use you and your network to look for future opportunities” OR “Is there any way I can utilize your networking circle for assistance/help in finding future opportunities.”
Do you plan to have a family?  (An audience member said she was asked this, but Mr. Ross stated that an interviewer typically stays far away from such a tricky topic)
“A family may or may not be I my future but I am focused on my career”
Do you have any questions?
“Could you tell me about the team I could be working with?” or “Give me three adjectives to describe your company”
What are you looking for a salary?
“I’m looking for an average wage within my field given my skill set”
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
“My weaknesses are that I’m too focused; take too much on, etc.”  (Make weaknesses strengths instead)

The second session I attended was on Acing the Technical Interview by Alison Cichowlas, a software engineer at Google.  She said that interviewers look for algorithms, code, data structures, analytical skills, and sound design.  Her tips were to review algorithms and data structures, as well as to practice writing code.  Employers will want to see actual code, not pseudo code, and to have a preference on what you like to use.  During the interview, think aloud, ask questions, and go the long way using all the tools in your toolbox.  Define an approach, propose a solution, and prepare for change and the problem to get more difficult.  The thought process is more important than the answer.  Do not let the first question affect your performance on the next.

The third session I attended was An Unconventional Approach to Engineering by Dana Canby.  The presentation was on the opportunities within the nuclear field through the United States Navy.  These opportunities are not just for nuclear engineers, but a wide range of engineers and scientists.  Much of the job training is done with the navy.  There are two sides to the career opportunities: the operational side working on aircraft carriers or submarines, and the support side.  The support side includes Nuclear Power School Instructors where you sign a contract for four years in Charleston, South Carolina, teach one or two classes a day, get secret clearance, have graduate school opportunities, a salary of $50,000 a year for four years, working ten hours a week.  The other support opportunity is working as a Naval Reactor Engineer on a five-year contact in Washington DC.  This is the top job held by approximately 380 naval reactor engineers, about a third of that is hired a year and typically have a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA.  An excellent program to jumpstart a career with the Navy in the nuclear field is to join the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC) as a student.  The navy is 15% women and the NUPOC program is as well.

The final session I attended was a personal development workshop titled, Fight of Your Life: How to Stay Motivated Crossing the Sahara, by Kathleen Aston.  Her message that we have many deserts in our life and that we can’t let fear,  underdeveloped confidence, negative mindset, overwhelmed/chaos, fatigue, or disappointment detriment self-motivation.  The take away is that you want things to END well:
Environment:  find a shelter (safe haven), bring the right gear (emotional and mental intelligence), and tribe (surround yourselves with common direction and mindset)
Nourishment:  physical (take care of yourself to guard against fatigue and illness), emotional, intellectual, and spiritual
Destination:  always focus on where you are going instead of the sand dunes on the horizon (various hurdles you must face)

I took away a great deal from the various sessions and I encourage you all to attend the next conference!



 

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