New job (hopefully)

Snap

thomasross20 said:

Scary thing is this could be a bad decision. I left once before and it was a disaster, so it was good to get taken back on. This time, there's no going back.

Time to man up and live up to my potential (or live down to!  )

good luck Tom. You've had enough going on in your life to make you think "what if", so I appluad your attitude. Bitter people's lives are full of what ifs, so you go for it mate. SoCal is ace as well!

J

Kebabkid

Good luck and keep your flies zipped up!

thomasross20

Jay-sus... That was one of the toughest interviews ever. Second to my interview with Apple (who "threw me a curve ball" and asked me mechanical engineering questions for an electronics job). 

First half was fine but the second half... The guy was a genuine genius. He was very specific about my post-graduation project, going into complicated alternative architectures, and asking the "why" questions (why did you choose the spec for this parameter etc). I did better answering questions about the high voltage motor driver side of things but even that was tricky. In general there was a focus on system questions as opposed to block design, which is what I'm really strong at. However being a small mature-phase startup, they need their guys to go to customers and extract specs, so that's fair enough. Not many designers do that, though - it's often left to marketing and systems engineers. But no excuse, that's something I need to improve upon.

They're really wanting people and my block design work is pretty solid so I think I can expect an offer but even I'm not confident I can ask what I was going to, and it's a total risk and move away from the safe situation I'm in now. Total confidence killer! I think part of it is those CalTECH guys are super smart and REALLY into it. I'm into it, but it's not my life - I have  other passions like guitar. Now I'm talking shi!te lol , but you get my drift. While I'd love to be a level above, I really value not spending all my time on work. Not for the first time I'm wondering if it's the right industry for me!

thomasross20

A good sign was that nobody was in the office at 6.30. Though one guy did come in at 10pm as I was leaving!

An example of the tough questions:
- why choose a 2-bit sub-ADC vs and RSD scheme in pipeline ADCs?
- why the 12b 400MHz spec for a LB ADC in an OFDM wireline system?
- why are people using interleaved SARs as opposed to pipelines these days?
- describe how you go about LIN transmitter and it's ESD design.

Jeezo lol.
It's made me realise how much of a comfort blanket my current company is - and when you have a lame interview like that, first thing you want to do is wrap that blanket around you lol

Snap

Tom, I've completely no idea what you are on about. Those questions may as well be in Thai

thomasross20

Hmm. Maybe that means I'm too specialised. I'd love to do something different, like board design or professional busker  

Nitefly

So when do you hear from them?

thomasross20

Within a few days, I'm guessing.
Part of me wouldn't mind 6 months off and then get stuck into something totally different. Especially after last year - we've not had a proper holiday for yonks.

thomasross20

Right! Got the call today. 

As we knew, the second part of the interview didn't go great and so they "weren't sure" - the first wants to hire, the second guy undecided. The team here want me to chat to the 2nd guy when he's here in March. It was just an unfortunate interview - I'm almost principal engineer doing entire integrated circuits myself so it's not like I can't do the job- I think a 45 min conf call is a poor way to interview. 

Saying that, I'm now not so sure. At the time I wasn't 100% - it's risky but I'd learn more and it's in CA (woohoo), my girlfriend's not long finished chemo so I wouldn't really want to change job if further scans showed re-growth, it is more pressure.. maybe since they also weren't sure, it's like a sign. I was a little hesitant of them calling to say "come join us" as I felt I'd have to go for it. I was almost relieved to get the outcome of the call there. I think I prefer mid-sized companies where there is a structure and existing knowledge instead a small team working a shedload (I already did that right after graduation and it was exhausting). Maybe if I stayed at my current place and "made it work"... even another 3 years is only 10 years at the one place - not too long. And it'd give me time to think about where else I could work or what else I could do. 

I think it may be prudent to forgo this chat in March. It'd be really poor if I never got it even after that, too. They're also hiring a lot of fresh grads so a senior engineer represents more of an investment for a mature start-up. Hmm. My current place isn't bad - it's just that it used to be so so so good. Maybe I should man up and "make it work."

Ach well!

Moe_Zambeek

Do the manning-up but talk to them in March too, would be my suggestion. Keep your options open.

thomasross20

Problem is taking to them in March signifies I want to take the job but I'm more unsure than ever. Also, it'd be a disaster if I didn't get offered it after that point.
Time to crawl into a corner..

ThePrettyDamned

Nan man, a tough interview and another chance - that's a success. 

olafgarten

The most important part about working in a Startup is stock options!  What are they giving you? 

My cousin got a job in Youtube before it was bought out by Google and then Google bought his stake in the company for £500,000 which is quite a tidy bonus after working for just a year. 

thomasross20

Woah jebus! 
That's amazing!

I worked in a start-up post-graduation while doing a second MSc. Unfortunately I left before they got bought out by Broadcom. However! I heard the payout wasn't quite worth it.

Thanks @ThePrettyDamned , I'll think on it for a week but I'm pretty sure I'll pass.

There are no stock options (or very few) with this one - it's privately owned with no plans to sell. 

I feel exhausted. I actually thought about taking 3 months off if girlfriend's next "cancer scan' shows the all clear. Probably won't, just talk. Thing about it, I learned a lot at the startup but I've enjoyed working in a medium size company a lot more (large scale company was a bit pants). There's some security, people to learn from, it's not too mental and not too much red tape.

hubobulous

One thing that strikes me is that you're backing away from this new opportunity whilst then trying to convince yourself that you can make another go of it in your current job. Screw that. Your head is already out of the door, so if it's not this new opportunity, start looking for others.

Staying where you are doesn't sound like it will make you happy. It sounds like you want to be surrounded by people that inspire you, or that you can learn from. Keep that at the front of your mind.

thomasross20

You're right. It's definitely time to learn some more things. I think if I went for this chat in March and could draw some schematics on a whiteboard, I'd probably be "in" but things have got off on the wrong foot and I feel totally uncomfortable about it now. I think it'd be a move away out of this country - there's a nice company in Graz. I'll finish this project and see if my boss sticks to his word to promote me to principal and at least I'll have another full project under my belt. Thanks