Advice for an Entry Level DSP Engineer

I am finishing my Masters (MSEE) program this upcoming May and here's
my problem. I NEED A JOB. However, I am not sure where to even begin.

I was a student athlete so I never had time for true engineering jobs,
internships, or coops, so all of my experience is theoretical. And I
have even fewer professional contacts (kicking myself for not listening
to advisors).

My fiance is going to be a pharmacist and really needs to accept an
offer soon. I am from Memphis, TN, so my opportunities here are
basically nil.  My career goal is to work in some form of signals
intelligence, and most of my job search keeps bringing me back to the
Washington D.C. area.  I do not want to just take some software or EE
job that just comes along (though worst case scenario ill just have to
take something), I want to do something with what I have gone 6 years
of school for and I dont want to waste years just for job experience
that may not lead me anywhere.

My fiance and I are discussing the possibility of just setting up in a
new city (like D.C.) even if I don't have a job lined up, with the
hopes of getting a job in the area that I want.  I am confident that I
could find a job regardless if it is in the area I want, however, that
is a difficult decision to move to a place like D.C. from Memphis on a
whim. We have pretty much limited the distance that we want to go in
the South and up as North as Maryland.

However, in reality, we only have about 2 months before it is really
too late for my fiance to start accepting positions. That is one of our
big problems, the fact that pharmacies hire so early, and it is
difficult to find engineering firms to hire so early.

The only place that has really communicated with  me had me for an
interview that ended up not working out. So I am back to square one. I
have applied with several of the big name recruiters in this field,
(e.g. Lockheed, NSA, Raytheon, etc) and many other places. I seriously
probably have my resume out to about 75 different places at the moment.

So here's my point.

I am looking for advice for people in the DSP and Communications
industry about how to get my career started.

I am also looking for advice about doing something like moving to D.C.
and setting up shop there.

I appreciate any advice that anyone has to offer. Many Thanks.

~ Desperate Grad Student

Welcome to the world.

Inline


whatever.I.fear@gmail.com wrote:
> I am finishing my Masters (MSEE) program this upcoming May and here's
> my problem. I NEED A JOB. However, I am not sure where to even begin.
> 
> I was a student athlete so I never had time for true engineering jobs,
> internships, or coops, so all of my experience is theoretical. And I
> have even fewer professional contacts (kicking myself for not listening
> to advisors).


Duh. They are there for a reason. Your appreciation, although late show 
hope.


> 
> My fiance is going to be a pharmacist and really needs to accept an
> offer soon. I am from Memphis, TN, so my opportunities here are
> basically nil.  My career goal is to work in some form of signals
> intelligence, and most of my job search keeps bringing me back to the
> Washington D.C. area.  I do not want to just take some software or EE
> job that just comes along (though worst case scenario ill just have to
> take something), I want to do something with what I have gone 6 years
> of school for and I dont want to waste years just for job experience
> that may not lead me anywhere.
> 

Life will lead you where it will. Few jobs are 'wasted' - they all give 
experience.

> My fiance and I are discussing the possibility of just setting up in a
> new city (like D.C.) even if I don't have a job lined up, with the
> hopes of getting a job in the area that I want.  I am confident that I
> could find a job regardless if it is in the area I want, however, that
> is a difficult decision to move to a place like D.C. from Memphis on a
> whim. We have pretty much limited the distance that we want to go in
> the South and up as North as Maryland.
> 

In which case you have limited yourself. If you choose to limit 
yourself, so be it.


> However, in reality, we only have about 2 months before it is really
> too late for my fiance to start accepting positions. That is one of our
> big problems, the fact that pharmacies hire so early, and it is
> difficult to find engineering firms to hire so early.

Engineering firms will eagerly hire great candidates. See below for more.

> 
> The only place that has really communicated with  me had me for an
> interview that ended up not working out. So I am back to square one. I
> have applied with several of the big name recruiters in this field,
> (e.g. Lockheed, NSA, Raytheon, etc) and many other places. I seriously
> probably have my resume out to about 75 different places at the moment.
> 

and you probably have zero chance with all of them, from the tone of 
your missive.


> So here's my point.
> 
> I am looking for advice for people in the DSP and Communications
> industry about how to get my career started.
> 
> I am also looking for advice about doing something like moving to D.C.
> and setting up shop there.
> 
> I appreciate any advice that anyone has to offer. Many Thanks.
> 
> ~ Desperate Grad Student
> 



Apply for jobs that *you are qualified for* even if it's not DSP / 
Communications. You never know what you might learn. Leave your 
expectations behind; you are now in the nasty real world, where you will 
be in competition for jobs.

Realistically, you should look at all jobs you are qualified for; not 
the ones you want.

Cheers

PeteS

whatever.I.fear@gmail.com wrote:
> I am finishing my Masters (MSEE) program this upcoming May and here's
> my problem. I NEED A JOB. However, I am not sure where to even begin.
> 
> I was a student athlete so I never had time for true engineering jobs,
> internships, or coops, so all of my experience is theoretical. And I
> have even fewer professional contacts (kicking myself for not listening
> to advisors).
> 
> My fiance is going to be a pharmacist and really needs to accept an
> offer soon. I am from Memphis, TN, so my opportunities here are
> basically nil.  My career goal is to work in some form of signals
> intelligence, and most of my job search keeps bringing me back to the
> Washington D.C. area.  I do not want to just take some software or EE
> job that just comes along (though worst case scenario ill just have to
> take something), I want to do something with what I have gone 6 years
> of school for and I dont want to waste years just for job experience
> that may not lead me anywhere.
> 
> My fiance and I are discussing the possibility of just setting up in a
> new city (like D.C.) even if I don't have a job lined up, with the
> hopes of getting a job in the area that I want.  I am confident that I
> could find a job regardless if it is in the area I want, however, that
> is a difficult decision to move to a place like D.C. from Memphis on a
> whim. We have pretty much limited the distance that we want to go in
> the South and up as North as Maryland.
> 
> However, in reality, we only have about 2 months before it is really
> too late for my fiance to start accepting positions. That is one of our
> big problems, the fact that pharmacies hire so early, and it is
> difficult to find engineering firms to hire so early.
> 
> The only place that has really communicated with  me had me for an
> interview that ended up not working out. So I am back to square one. I
> have applied with several of the big name recruiters in this field,
> (e.g. Lockheed, NSA, Raytheon, etc) and many other places. I seriously
> probably have my resume out to about 75 different places at the moment.
> 
> So here's my point.
> 
> I am looking for advice for people in the DSP and Communications
> industry about how to get my career started.
> 
> I am also looking for advice about doing something like moving to D.C.
> and setting up shop there.
> 
> I appreciate any advice that anyone has to offer. Many Thanks.
> 
> ~ Desperate Grad Student
> 
Orlando, Florida has a lot of defense related work, as does Texas.  I'm 
not sure that either of these places qualify with you as being in the 
South, but they kinda talk that way to my northern ears...

Technically, San Diego is way south of where you are, but in this case 
'south' doesn't mean 'South'.

My first job with an MSEE was selecting parts to install in PCs and 
turning the screwdriver to do it.  That kept food on the table long 
enough for me to get my second job which included both signal processing 
and embedded control.  My second job gave me enough experience that when 
they ran out of money and laid me off I could get my toe in the door at 
my third job which (with a small interruption) led to my current gig as 
a consultant.

Don't despair at doing a job that's not your 'focus'.  Get something 
that's as close as you can, and keep your career goals pointed at what 
you want to do.  I suggest (a) moving to where you want to be, and (b) 
getting a copy of "what color is your parachute".

Good luck.

-- 

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Posting from Google?  See http://cfaj.freeshell.org/google/

"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" came out in April.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

Pete,

Take a serious look at the government labs.  They have great opportunities 
to gain the experience you seem to lack.  There are quite a few around the 
D.C. area:
Naval Research Lab
NSA
Army Labs
Navy Labs
I believe that all of them recruit new grads.

Fred 

Fred Marshall wrote:
> Pete,
> 
> Take a serious look at the government labs.  They have great opportunities 
> to gain the experience you seem to lack.  There are quite a few around the 
> D.C. area:
> Naval Research Lab
> NSA
> Army Labs
> Navy Labs
> I believe that all of them recruit new grads.

Add NIST, Formerly the Bureau of Standards.

Jerry
-- 
Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get.
�����������������������������������������������������������������������

"Fred Marshall" <fmarshallx@remove_the_x.acm.org> writes:

> Pete,
>
> Take a serious look at the government labs.  They have great opportunities 
> to gain the experience you seem to lack.  There are quite a few around the 
> D.C. area:
> Naval Research Lab
> NSA
> Army Labs
> Navy Labs
> I believe that all of them recruit new grads.
>
> Fred 

Pete,

I heartily second Fred's recommendation. I worked for GTE Government Systems
for the first nine years out of school and it was an excellent place for a 
young engineer. 

Good luck!
-- 
%  Randy Yates                  % "Ticket to the moon, flight leaves here today 
%% Fuquay-Varina, NC            %  from Satellite 2"
%%% 919-577-9882                % 'Ticket To The Moon' 
%%%% <yates@ieee.org>           % *Time*, Electric Light Orchestra
http://home.earthlink.net/~yatescr

>Welcome to the world.
>
>Inline
>
>
>whatever.I.fear@gmail.com wrote:
>> I am finishing my Masters (MSEE) program this upcoming May and here's
>> my problem. I NEED A JOB. However, I am not sure where to even begin.
>> 
>> I was a student athlete so I never had time for true engineering jobs,
>> internships, or coops, so all of my experience is theoretical. And I
>> have even fewer professional contacts (kicking myself for not
listening
>> to advisors).
>
>
>Duh. They are there for a reason. Your appreciation, although late show 
>hope.
>
>
>> >> My fiance is going to be a pharmacist and really needs to accept an
>> offer soon. I am from Memphis, TN, so my opportunities here are
>> basically nil.  My career goal is to work in some form of signals
>> intelligence, and most of my job search keeps bringing me back to the
>> Washington D.C. area.  I do not want to just take some software or EE
>> job that just comes along (though worst case scenario ill just have to
>> take something), I want to do something with what I have gone 6 years
>> of school for and I dont want to waste years just for job experience
>> that may not lead me anywhere.
>> 
>
>Life will lead you where it will. Few jobs are 'wasted' - they all give 
>experience.
>
>> My fiance and I are discussing the possibility of just setting up in a
>> new city (like D.C.) even if I don't have a job lined up, with the
>> hopes of getting a job in the area that I want.  I am confident that I
>> could find a job regardless if it is in the area I want, however, that
>> is a difficult decision to move to a place like D.C. from Memphis on a
>> whim. We have pretty much limited the distance that we want to go in
>> the South and up as North as Maryland.
>> 
>
>In which case you have limited yourself. If you choose to limit 
>yourself, so be it.
>
>
>> However, in reality, we only have about 2 months before it is really
>> too late for my fiance to start accepting positions. That is one of
our
>> big problems, the fact that pharmacies hire so early, and it is
>> difficult to find engineering firms to hire so early.
>
>Engineering firms will eagerly hire great candidates. See below for
more.
>
>> 
>> The only place that has really communicated with  me had me for an
>> interview that ended up not working out. So I am back to square one. I
>> have applied with several of the big name recruiters in this field,
>> (e.g. Lockheed, NSA, Raytheon, etc) and many other places. I seriously
>> probably have my resume out to about 75 different places at the
moment.
>> 
>
>and you probably have zero chance with all of them, from the tone of 
>your missive.
>
>
>> So here's my point.
>> 
>> I am looking for advice for people in the DSP and Communications
>> industry about how to get my career started.
>> 
>> I am also looking for advice about doing something like moving to D.C.
>> and setting up shop there.
>> 
>> I appreciate any advice that anyone has to offer. Many Thanks.
>> 
>> ~ Desperate Grad Student
>> 
>
>
>
>Apply for jobs that *you are qualified for* even if it's not DSP / 
>Communications. You never know what you might learn. Leave your 
>expectations behind; you are now in the nasty real world, where you will

>be in competition for jobs.
>
>Realistically, you should look at all jobs you are qualified for; not 
>the ones you want.
>
>Cheers
>
>PeteS
>
>Hi,
   A piece of advice from me..(By the way I'm not into DSP!)...
   DSP is not a domain or field by itself.....It is a "Solution" to so
many problems in so many other domains/fields...like Mechanical,
Electrical,Communication..etc....If U don't realize this U can never get
int DSP!...So take up any job in engineering...But always keep thinking
how to apply DSP in that job....that's the way to DSP!...
(Any comments on this opinion is eagerly awaited...)

Regards Shakes_ck.

>

shakes_ck skrev:
>    A piece of advice from me..(By the way I'm not into DSP!)...
>    DSP is not a domain or field by itself.....It is a "Solution" to so
> many problems in so many other domains/fields...like Mechanical,
> Electrical,Communication..etc....If U don't realize this U can never get
> int DSP!...So take up any job in engineering...But always keep thinking
> how to apply DSP in that job....that's the way to DSP!...
> (Any comments on this opinion is eagerly awaited...)

Agreed. DSP in its own right is a somewhat twisted way of doing
maths and statistsics, combined with some esoteric HW.

DSP as a dicipline only makes sense when used to solve real-world
problems.

Rune

I disagree completely. If you want to do DSP get a DSP job.  It might
be in any of a number of application areas that you will have to come
up to speed in, but the focus should be the application of DSP. If you
'take any job in engineering' you are not apt to do much/any DSP.  You
don't get good at DSP by doing a little of it. People who infrequently
dabble in DSP often make a mess of things.

Dirk

shakes_ck wrote:
<snipped>
> >Hi,
>    A piece of advice from me..(By the way I'm not into DSP!)...
>    DSP is not a domain or field by itself.....It is a "Solution" to so
> many problems in so many other domains/fields...like Mechanical,
> Electrical,Communication..etc....If U don't realize this U can never get
> int DSP!...So take up any job in engineering...But always keep thinking
> how to apply DSP in that job....that's the way to DSP!...
> (Any comments on this opinion is eagerly awaited...)
> 
> Regards Shakes_ck.
> 
> >

Engineering careers often take many turns and spins. Most of us came to 
DSP from different backgrounds and probably practice DSP in different 
ways. We have guys who work largely with FPGAs, others with DSPs 
(processors). We have algorithm guys, some are mainly software, etc. You 
get the point....

I also think that we tend to divide up a little as generalists and 
specialists. Our individual views probably reflect this as well.

I think the responses assume you want to be a design engineer. I'm not 
sure that you have said this specifically. My advise is to find a company 
that does interesting things that will let you contribute. I would look 
at the people you would work with and try to determine if this is an 
environment where you will learn things. Most guys right out of school 
have enthusiasm, a little education and less skills that they think. You 
learn to become an engineer in your first 5 years after school. You want 
an environment that is going to grow your skills.

It doesn't have to be DSP. I started out as an analog engineer. Jerry 
Avins, our most active comp.dsp'r, learned DSP late in his career.

DSP has a way of finding its way into lots of applications. You might 
look at companies that clearly could/do use DSP as an ingredient to their 
products. They may not specifically be looking for a DSP engineer, but 
could benefit from someone with this bent (or desire).

I also am a big believer in continuous education. This does not mean 
going to school forever. It means constantly reading, solving problems, 
interacting with others in your field, etc. I spend a lot of money on 
technical books. Your job is one place to learn, once you stop learning 
at a job, it is time to move on.

-- 
Al Clark
Danville Signal Processing, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Purveyors of Fine DSP Hardware and other Cool Stuff
Available at http://www.danvillesignal.com





"dbell" <bellda2005@cox.net> wrote in news:1165425793.902938.183720@
80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com:

> I disagree completely. If you want to do DSP get a DSP job.  It might
> be in any of a number of application areas that you will have to come
> up to speed in, but the focus should be the application of DSP. If you
> 'take any job in engineering' you are not apt to do much/any DSP.  You
> don't get good at DSP by doing a little of it. People who infrequently
> dabble in DSP often make a mess of things.
> 
> Dirk
> 
> shakes_ck wrote:
><snipped>
>> >Hi,
>>    A piece of advice from me..(By the way I'm not into DSP!)...
>>    DSP is not a domain or field by itself.....It is a "Solution" to so
>> many problems in so many other domains/fields...like Mechanical,
>> Electrical,Communication..etc....If U don't realize this U can never 
get
>> int DSP!...So take up any job in engineering...But always keep 
thinking
>> how to apply DSP in that job....that's the way to DSP!...
>> (Any comments on this opinion is eagerly awaited...)
>> 
>> Regards Shakes_ck.
>> 
>> >
> 
>