Surviving and Thriving in Technical Interviews

January 13, 2010

Engineering Career Services is excited to present guest writer, Gabe Brown, who is a System Center Configuration Manager at Microsoft...

Technical interviews are the cornerstone for most employers to evaluate candidates in just about any field of engineering. These interviews test your technical knowledge in a short period of time to ascertain your current potential and ensure that your resume matches your abilities. However, walking in and demonstrating your knowledge isn’t as straightforward as most engineers think.

"Tell me why doubly linked lists are useful?" "What are the advantages of LIFO versus FIFO?" "How would you build an application to store the contents of a major library in digital format?" If a candidate is not prepared, it can be easy for them to stumble over these questions or go down a rabbit hole of details that the interview doesn’t care about. By using a structured method for answering questions, candidates … 

A Jobseeker's New Year's Resolutions

January 5, 2010

As you know, 2009 was characterized by one of the most difficult job markets in decades. If you’re ready for a fresh start in the New Year, consider these resolutions to gear up for a successful search in 2010.

• I will review which tactics did and did not yield results last year, and I will work to understand how I might improve in those areas that did not do as well as I had hoped.


• I will set myself weekly goals during my job search and keep to their deadlines. I will organize my job search time, structuring my daily and weekly calendar with specific activities.


• I will prioritize my job search above television, video games, or recreational internet use.


• I will not spam my resume to companies where I am seeking employment. Instead, I will tailor my resume to each company, so that my relevant skills are stressed for …