caketastydelish
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- Apr 12, 2008
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I finally got a job. It wasn’t the job I was originally talking about, but a job is a job. I report to work tomorrow for my first day.
So after two days, how's it going?I finally got a job. It wasn’t the job I was originally talking about, but a job is a job. I report to work tomorrow for my first day.
To begin, what are the job requirements in the ad? If there are none there, you should check with the company to see what they are expecting an applicant to know if they will be serious considered. Also you might check with a local Community College to see what skills are typically required for such jobs. Once you know what they are expecting in good candidates, you can compare your skills to those and maybe seek out some training to fill in gaps.I was looking though indeed and I became interested in the electronics assembler position. I’ve come across a few issues even before moving forward to apply.
The last time I ever done anything electronics related was in high school 15ish years ago (ergo, haven’t touched a sodering iron in 15 years). Are there any resources to get me up to speed at the basic level? I’ve only recently gotten reinterested into electronics after having to replace my hard disk drive and upgrading my video card.
I’ve larely have some office admin background and retail background from a hardware store and I don’t have the slightest clue on where to narrow down any sort of relevant transferable skills.
Should I leave off my worthless degrees off my Resume and Job Application? I’m asking since my co-worker suggested that I don’t list my college degrees in my job application.
Well, here's a snippit of the job descriptionTo begin, what are the job requirements in the ad? If there are none there, you should check with the company to see what they are expecting an applicant to know if they will be serious considered. Also you might check with a local Community College to see what skills are typically required for such jobs. Once you know what they are expecting in good candidates, you can compare your skills to those and maybe seek out some training to fill in gaps.
Performs production assembly operations on electronic or electro-mechanical components or sub-assemblies.
1. Performs electronic or electro-mechanical production subassembly and assembly operations to build up and assemble units of moderate complexity such as printed circuit boards, modules, chassis drawers, cable harnesses, and other electronic sub-assemblies.
2. Uses visual aids, wiring lists, schematics, blueprints, and verbal and written instructions to assemble, modify, rework or reassemble units.
3. Identifies and selects components to be integrated into subassembly and assembly units.
4. Participates in special projects as required.
Well, it can't get any closer to entry level with the minimum education requirements lists "High School Diploma or GED". I'm just concerned that my useless degrees would hurt me and lump me into the overqualified pile.Is the position entry level?
In a weird way, the company is part of a conglomerate (It's a defense contractor) which another company I tried to get a job into but failed epicly in my interviews belongs to.Do you know the name of the company? Can you figure it out?
How local is it? Could you drive by it?
If I do land an interview, it's gonna be part of my questions to ask. Though I don't want to scare the interviewer/hiring manager that I plan on going into something like an electrical engineer. That sort of overachivement goal bite me in the butt when I had in a previous interview that I said that "I plan to go back to school to become a draftsman/engineer" when it came to my five year plan. A mentorship program of some sort is becoming my big importance as part of training since I don't like being left in the cracks to fend on my own in terms of career growth and development within the company (Tired of the empty promises that big box stores say that you can advance when in reality just care about their bottom line and only pick from the best of the crop in the retail world). Since I do like any sort of training that would lead me advancement within the company. I don't expect to be a grand master at day one.Does the company provide any training?
They do seem to have a skill set in mind which you lack. First, I'd find out if there is training to do that kind of work at a local CC or other facility. If there is, you can tell them that you are willing to enroll to make sure you have the necessary skills.Well, here's a snippit of the job description
Well, it can't get any closer to entry level with the minimum education requirements lists "High School Diploma or GED". I'm just concerned that my useless degrees would hurt me and lump me into the overqualified pile.
It's how I can translate my 4 years of retail (in a big box hardware store) and 4 years of office administration (basically, secretarial work) into 1-3 years of related assembly experience for a resume is my sticking point. I may have some exposure with electronics assembly by taking an electronics course in High School, but I feel it's outdated aside from the bare bones basics of using a soldering tool and a multimeter. Non-formal education largely came from watching YouTube videos of other people doing their own projects (mostly refurbishing old vintage computers or emulating them with Raspberry Pi) and my own experiences from diagnosing my own computer to replace a faulty piece of hardware (like a year ago when my HDD was corrupting itself cause it's aging and replaced it) or upgrading (like a video card). So I'm not sure how DIY projects can help since it's more from a self-taught avenue instead of a formal route like taking a class.
In a weird way, the company is part of a conglomerate (It's a defense contractor) which another company I tried to get a job into but failed epicly in my interviews belongs to.
If I do land an interview, it's gonna be part of my questions to ask. Though I don't want to scare the interviewer/hiring manager that I plan on going into something like an electrical engineer. That sort of overachivement goal bite me in the butt when I had in a previous interview that I said that "I plan to go back to school to become a draftsman/engineer" when it came to my five year plan. A mentorship program of some sort is becoming my big importance as part of training since I don't like being left in the cracks to fend on my own in terms of career growth and development within the company (Tired of the empty promises that big box stores say that you can advance when in reality just care about their bottom line and only pick from the best of the crop in the retail world). Since I do like any sort of training that would lead me advancement within the company. I don't expect to be a grand master at day one.
Well, here's a snippit of the job description
Well, it can't get any closer to entry level with the minimum education requirements lists "High School Diploma or GED". I'm just concerned that my useless degrees would hurt me and lump me into the overqualified pile.
It's how I can translate my 4 years of retail (in a big box hardware store) and 4 years of office administration (basically, secretarial work) into 1-3 years of related assembly experience for a resume is my sticking point. I may have some exposure with electronics assembly by taking an electronics course in High School, but I feel it's outdated aside from the bare bones basics of using a soldering tool and a multimeter. Non-formal education largely came from watching YouTube videos of other people doing their own projects (mostly refurbishing old vintage computers or emulating them with Raspberry Pi) and my own experiences from diagnosing my own computer to replace a faulty piece of hardware (like a year ago when my HDD was corrupting itself cause it's aging and replaced it) or upgrading (like a video card). So I'm not sure how DIY projects can help since it's more from a self-taught avenue instead of a formal route like taking a class.
In a weird way, the company is part of a conglomerate (It's a defense contractor) which another company I tried to get a job into but failed epicly in my interviews belongs to.
If I do land an interview, it's gonna be part of my questions to ask. Though I don't want to scare the interviewer/hiring manager that I plan on going into something like an electrical engineer. That sort of overachivement goal bite me in the butt when I had in a previous interview that I said that "I plan to go back to school to become a draftsman/engineer" when it came to my five year plan. A mentorship program of some sort is becoming my big importance as part of training since I don't like being left in the cracks to fend on my own in terms of career growth and development within the company (Tired of the empty promises that big box stores say that you can advance when in reality just care about their bottom line and only pick from the best of the crop in the retail world). Since I do like any sort of training that would lead me advancement within the company. I don't expect to be a grand master at day one.
I've never worked with unions or a union workforce, but I suspect that a union apprenticeship program would be tightly managed. I certainly wouldn't hire a person without a face to face meeting, so I doubt the union wants to add a person to one of their programs without a face to face meeting too. Having to show up on person at the start ensures the applicant is the one who is actually enrolled. Such programs might be in high demand and having to show up in person would cut down on any fraud too.A relative in the US shared a job spec on social media for an apprenticeship offered by a union: one of the requirements was that the application form had to be collected in person and submitted in person. Is this common in the US? Is it a not very subtle way of filtering out people who don't look, talk, think right straight away?
Also is it unusual for this job to be administered by the union itself? - I presume it is a closed shop of some sort.
I'll add to Birdjaguar's suggestions.
You might want to use Linkedin to try and find current employees in that position. If you can't find people with the job title "Electronics Assembler," look at people with more general titles like "Electronics technician."
While the job description lists only a high school diploma or GED for educational background, I would guess successful candidates tend to fall into one of two categories: 1) ex-military (the military does a good job giving people the skills needed to be a technician) or 2) technical/trade school (I'd bet a decent number of employees even have both backgrounds). There are however employees who likely have only a diploma and have held technician roles.
Cold calling and cold emailing have worked very well for me in the past. Just don't be a jerk about it!Yes and I would probably again suggest doing that by looking for people in a similar role in that location on LinkedIn if you can’t readily locate managers. I can’t speak for others, but if someone messaged me saying “Good morning Mr. X. I’m interested in working at your company blah blah blah. I had questions about ... and would love to get in contact with the appropriate manager” I would most likely give them the email of who to talk to. Again, can’t speak for everyone but the worst that can happen is that they ignore you.
Studies have shown that people who are able to pursue their passions at work experience flow, a euphoric state of mind that is five times more productive than the norm.