Engineering InterviewsEngineering Interviews

Chris HoganChris Hogan

10/18/0810/18/08

I I interviewedinterviewed

……►Bob EkmanBob Ekman►Dr. ADr. A►Larry SchwartzLarry Schwartz

Human-Computer Interface

And Chose…And Chose…Larry SchwartzLarry Schwartz

OccupationOccupation►Currently retired.Currently retired.►Used to…Used to…

Work at a newsstand– middle schoolWork at a newsstand– middle school Run a paper route– high schoolRun a paper route– high school And eventually, became an And eventually, became an industrial industrial

engineerengineer

EmployerEmployer►Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin►Air forceAir force

Solved common problemsSolved common problems►White line dilemmaWhite line dilemma►Designed and built an entire cockpit control Designed and built an entire cockpit control

roomroom

► IBMIBM Programmed data base and network Programmed data base and network

systemssystems

Punch card– Programming in Fortran and Cobol

Academic Academic BackgroundBackground

►Bachelors and Masters in industrial Bachelors and Masters in industrial engineering at University of Floridaengineering at University of Florida

►Full minor in labor relations and economicsFull minor in labor relations and economics

Career PreparationCareer PreparationGetting a great educationGetting a great education

Advises towards real world Advises towards real world experience, internships, co-ops, etc., experience, internships, co-ops, etc., but never attended any (because they but never attended any (because they did not exist)did not exist)

Studying EngineeringStudying Engineering

►Why engineering?Why engineering? ““Teachers told [him] to”Teachers told [him] to”

►Why industrial engineer?Why industrial engineer? He wants a social jobHe wants a social job ““because they do all kinds of things”because they do all kinds of things”

►Incorporate many different types of Incorporate many different types of engineeringengineering

Mechanical, electrical, etc.Mechanical, electrical, etc.

Studying Engineering (cont)Studying Engineering (cont)►Career vs. Field Career vs. Field

of Studyof Study He incorporates He incorporates

his knowledge of his knowledge of industrial industrial engineering both engineering both at all his jobsat all his jobs

Why?Why?►Loves his jobLoves his job►Loves to learnLoves to learn

Job ProfileJob Profile►Worked for Worked for Air ForceAir Force after college after college► Then after only two interviews, worked for Then after only two interviews, worked for

IBMIBM► Eventually worked for Eventually worked for Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin

Life At Lockheed MartinLife At Lockheed Martin►No set hours per week– you have a No set hours per week– you have a

deadline for each project, you must work deadline for each project, you must work however long until the project is however long until the project is completedcompleted

►Check email firstCheck email first►Classified Work…Classified Work…

Work on current projectWork on current project Continue to develop any programs or softwareContinue to develop any programs or software

►Teach younger people how to lead at Teach younger people how to lead at Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin

Life Outside WorkLife Outside Work

►Very little take home work (because Very little take home work (because everything is classified and must be everything is classified and must be done in the building)done in the building)

►Less and less time with wife and Less and less time with wife and daughter (as he progressed through daughter (as he progressed through Lockheed)Lockheed)

►12 Holidays12 Holidays►2 weeks vacation time2 weeks vacation time

Reading, TV repair, Model Railroads, Reading, TV repair, Model Railroads, Sailing, TravelingSailing, Traveling

My Career GuideMy Career Guide

What kind of Engineer?What kind of Engineer?

►MechanicalMechanical I am interested in roboticsI am interested in robotics

►Computer ScienceComputer Science I also love to program and see code turn I also love to program and see code turn

into realityinto reality

Prospective JobProspective Job

► I would love to work for a company I would love to work for a company similar to Google…similar to Google… Great benefitsGreat benefits Pool table on each floorPool table on each floor Indoor poolIndoor pool Professional masseuseProfessional masseuse Encourage individual thinkingEncourage individual thinking

►2 hours each day on any individual project2 hours each day on any individual project

Prospective Job (cont)Prospective Job (cont)

►Or I would operate an program a Or I would operate an program a website such as ScienceDaily website such as ScienceDaily because…because… Work from homeWork from home About 3-5 hours a dayAbout 3-5 hours a day Learn a lot of interesting science news Learn a lot of interesting science news

(because I would edit the articles)(because I would edit the articles)

College/UniversityCollege/University

►CornellCornell Ivy League– great educationIvy League– great education Robotic advances such as Cornell Ranger Robotic advances such as Cornell Ranger

robotrobot

►Carnegie MellonCarnegie Mellon Work on DARPA challengeWork on DARPA challenge Great roboticsGreat robotics

►McGillMcGill Very real life experienceVery real life experience Campus is in the heart of MontrealCampus is in the heart of Montreal

Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

►Continue helping my parents with Continue helping my parents with family business (ScienceDaily)family business (ScienceDaily)

►Wherever I go to college, join the Wherever I go to college, join the robotics teamrobotics team

►Continue programmingContinue programming►Love my major and only do a job if its Love my major and only do a job if its

enjoyableenjoyable

Life At WorkLife At Work

►ScienceDailyScienceDaily Wake up at 9 a.m.Wake up at 9 a.m. Update ScienceDaily articles for 11am, Update ScienceDaily articles for 11am,

2pm, 5pm, and 8pm editions2pm, 5pm, and 8pm editions Go out to lunchGo out to lunch Walk dog or play with catWalk dog or play with cat Work on any hobbies, possibly hockeyWork on any hobbies, possibly hockey Update ScienceDaily articles for 11pm, Update ScienceDaily articles for 11pm,

2am, 5am, 8am editions2am, 5am, 8am editions

LeisureLeisure

►Vacations to Hawaii, Australia/New Vacations to Hawaii, Australia/New Zealand, France, Italy, Greece, etc.Zealand, France, Italy, Greece, etc.

►Play hockey in local adult leaguePlay hockey in local adult league►Program video games for funProgram video games for fun►Play with my dogPlay with my dog