Career advice
 

Thought i'd ask on here, because, though i may get called a ------ or a spic, or simply a ----, at least it'll be honest.

I've had an interview today, for a job working on diesel engines. Essentially, the job requires me to get an engine specification from a client and create mathematical models of their requirements. These are then used by the software department to create the functions/features required.

Now, I went in and chatted alot of ---- about what i can do, but failed to mention how crap i am at using the software package the majority of my work will be done in. For those of you who know its called Matlab. I really suck hard at producing PID loops, but the job seems pretty cool and i get to work with 16ltr truck engines.

the company has 7 engine dyno cells and a scanning electron microscope. Oh and a complete machine shop. So its a pretty cool place to work and a pretty cool job (i'll get to test the final product on the engine dyno cells). I'm just worried i'll suck so hard at doing the job, that i'll find it no fun....

Re: Career advice
 

I'd say the only thing holding you back is your willingness to learn the program. If you really put forth the effort to get used to Matlab and have others help you, then you should be fine.

If they feel you are not up to par they'll let you know by firing you. The matter of having fun at your job will come with getting comfortable with what you're doing and who you work with.

I'd say go for it and really try to learn the program and if it doesn't work out it won't be because you're incompetent.

Re: Career advice
 

Is this in Canada cause thats what my buddy does for a living.

Re: Career advice
 

The job is based in the UK.

I saw the development rig they're using to life cycle test their new high pressure injection pump. It runs at about 2500 bar!

I'm going back through all the stuff i can remember from uni. And spending some time working through a few tutorials online. I will see how i get on. I know in the long run i'll probably blag my way through. But i have sucked at jobs before and its not very much fun.

Re: Career advice
 

most likely you won't really be using straight mtalab it will be tool boxes called simulink and stateflow. I'm guessing you are a mechanical engineer, and if you have realatively little experience, I'm guessing they will be willing to teach you. Man I hate that ---- too,Block diagrams, laplace domain all makes my head hurt. But I'm guessing once you get the syntax down it will be as repetitive as anything else.

Re: Career advice
 

Yeah, your right about simulink. I'm an electronic engineer by degree, but did a mix of civil, mech, electrical during my first 2 years then specialised. I did control engineering for 3 out of 4 years of my degree, but I never paid it the attention it deserved. When i started looking through some matlab tutorials, it didn't exactly come flooding back, but i am at least beginning to get there.

Re: Career advice
 

Do laplace domains have anything to do with laplace transforms? I hated those in differential calc...

Oh well, I'm a business major now :P

Re: Career advice
 

Whatever you decide to do make sure you will have the option to advance in the company, then bust your ass and work hard, people will notice, fi they don't then get a new job. You will eventually get into a supervisor role, then manager role, etc... that's where you want to be no matter where you are working at.

Re: Career advice
 

Kenny, Laplace domain is a way of graphing system response in terms of real and imaginary numbers. From what i remember.

The company i interviewed for stated they have alot of promotion within the company as they find it a struggle to recruit people with the expertise they require externally. Lack of promotion is the reason i'm leaving my current job.

Re: Career advice
 

just take a little time and read a few tutorial for the program. I did some matlab in my Engineering class last year. At first I thought it was really hard. but after going through and ------- up a few times. It started comming to me. Its not too bad now.