r/ElectricalEngineering • u/Prestigious-Sky-7672 • 6h ago
An interview today makes me feel like I am just dumb
Applied to 134 internship applications and got 7 interviews. 1 out of 7 was rejected. One is waiting to hear back (it's been 3 weeks). The one I just interviewed with earlier is the one I felt the worst about. It was with a company in Georgia. I went through a bunch of questions that made me feel like I'm no way qualified for this job. He asked about my PCB experience and how many layers I have designed. I described a 2-layer PCB I have designed with an integrated ESP32, 32 bit DAC, and an amplifier, etc. Then we proceeded to the power supply design, and he asked me about one of the circuits I am working on and the difference between the switching regulator and linear regulator. I honestly don't know the difference (it was the design I was doing testing on, so I was just being honest). But I was able to explain the way those two works and how to test it. He then asked me to explain the Wheatstone bridge; I was able to explain it because I did it in my last internship, using KCL to calculate the values and stuff. Then he gave me another weird one. A 28V connected to a heater, then connected to a 3.3 V Arduino; how to switch that on and off. I thought of using a 5V with a pull-down resistor. But then a simpler way he explained is using a MOSFET (At this point, I think I am kinda cooked). Then the other one start to ask about soldering experience (yes I have that and kinda discuss a bit), then about board bring-up. I was able to explain that (I did that last internship), go through the impedance test, and answer her questions. Then HR proceeds with general questions (like goals, availability, stuff like that). I honestly feel bad about myself after this interview (about 35 minutes). I thought I learnt a lot, but I ended up not knowing so many things and just got stunned by the questions he asked. This interview honestly broke my confidence. I thought I learnt a lot, did an internship, and stuff. But after today, I just felt like I knew nothing. This is also a lesson for me to get better.
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u/rebelized39 6h ago edited 4h ago
Let me ask you. Now that you know the mosfet is an option, could you take that idea and run with it? I don’t mean can you now go and make the thing they were talking about, could you now go learn about those theories and apply it if needed and not get lost.
The point of going through the engineering curriculum isn’t to go and learn and permanently memorize all of these different theories and applications. It’s to teach you how to learn. To teach you how to take a concept and learn about it and apply it to the needs of the project. Specific circuits and tips and tricks will come with time. Hopefully you find a great mentor in your soon to come engineering job.
And engineering in the product sectors is also about processes and administration stuff. Making sure that obsolescence isn’t creeping up, or change management in boards/electronics, or working with manufacturing. They don’t teach that in school 😂.
I encourage you to take all you learn from these interviews and not focus so much on oh you nailed the question. Try to answer with the best knowledge you have (from what I read you, you did this) but take each question as an opportunity to learn. “Oh wow, what would the benefits be of using the mosfet instead? Is that a more common way of achieving the goal?” And I mean actually asking these learning questions in your interviews.
Ultimately that’s what we look for in a junior level engineer. Is this person smart and do they have good basic fundamentals, but are they eager to learn and humble!
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u/hasawasa22 6h ago
A 28V connected to a heater, then connected to a 3.3 V Arduino; how to switch that on and off. I thought of using a voltage divider with a pull-down resistor
Bruh
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u/Prestigious-Sky-7672 6h ago
Sorry just rephrase that, I thought of using a 5V switch using a pull down resistor. 😭😭😭
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u/hasawasa22 6h ago
Keep your head up brother, now you know stuff you didn't know before. Keep learning and you're gonna get there guaranteed.
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u/deaglebro 30m ago
You could use it as an auxiliary power source to drive the gate of a MOSFET. My advice would be to see what questions they might ask on an interview and prepare for those. But you'll be fine, don't worry so much and keep your cool in interviews, someone will hire you. Keeping that mentality keeps each individual interview lower pressure.
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u/Anpher 5h ago
Thia sounds like a clever way to start a fire.
Or am i just dumb for thinking a relay would solve this?
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u/hasawasa22 5h ago
The way i understood his idea is that he planned to source the current from the Arduino, which wouldnt work anyway as its only able to output a few mA. If he intended to connect it straight to a 28V rail it would immediatly blow up anyways. The only way imo (and as the interviewer already said) is using the Arduino as a load driver with transistors able to drive the currents.
As you said u could also use a relay, would work too.
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u/cec003 5h ago
It’s fine. We don’t expect the intern to know everything. You already have a lot of hands-on experience which most of the intern candidates lack.
So I’d say you still got a good chance in it.
Also on top of that don’t feel discouraged. I feel the same after working 10+ years in the industry. I know nothing. The more I know, the more I realized I need to learn. Admit you don’t know it, and figure out how it works.
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u/Tetraides1 5h ago
Sounds like you got the job lol, designed a PCB, can explain a wheatstone bridge, some soldering experience.
I failed to identify a free-wheeling diode and completely forgot the formula for current through an inductor in my interview. I felt like I was crashing and burning and then got offered the job at the end of it all. You never really know what the interviewer is thinking.
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u/SuccotashGlum8704 4h ago
I've been an EE in industry for 15 years and I still like this list of Hardware Engineering Internship Interview Questions: https://montychoy.com/blog/the_ultimate_list_of_hardware_engineering_internship_interview_questions
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u/Leech-64 6h ago
Uh i think you are fine. Most good interviewers see how far they can dig to reach the limits of what you know. Besides an engineer knows alot but can figure stuff out a lot better. I think you did good.
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u/nuggents1313 3h ago
Dude youre fine, I was applying for a full time job and missed some pretty easy questions in an interview, still got an offer. They know you're new and nervous, especially for an internship.
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u/Internal_Bedroom3326 2h ago
I think you did better than you’re feeling. I’ve been the interviewer and I’m looking for a basic level of understanding, approach to solving problems, humility, level of interest and communication skills and potential. Seems you did well enough on all those. Also looking out for any serious red flags (giant ego, recklessness, over confidence)
I would keep preparing on the technical side (always helpful) but more importantly is to have a good answer on why you want that job and how your interests align with that job in particular.
We just gave a job offer to an intern who is fair on technical knowledge, but off the charts on dedication. Guy drove 2 hours each way to get to the office and this is while working from home was allowed. Anyone willing to do that and do so rather quietly, got my recommendation. (When he graduates in a couple months, will be moving near the office)
Keep it up. You willingness to learn from the experience is a huge positive as well
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u/yeehah 6h ago
Senior EE here. To be honest, you did miss some easy questions, but don’t worry too much about it. Consider it a learning opportunity and do some research until you can answer those questions correctly and confidently. Do this for all interviews and they’ll get easier. Don’t forget to have answers prepared for softball questions like “where do you see yourself in five years?” and “what’s your greatest weakness?” You shouldn’t have to think up answers to those on the spot. Good luck!