Category Archives: Professional Development

The Work Learn Experience at UBC Mechanical Engineering

Hey everyone,

As the term winds down, it’s time to say goodbye—not just to this role, but to UBC itself. This is probably my last blog post—not just as a Work Learn student, but as a student. It’s a strange, bittersweet feeling as I count down the final days here. Through these blogs, I’ve tried to share useful insights—whether that was about project ideas, Co-op, or research. I’ve also shared moments of joy, anxiety, fear, and even imposter syndrome. But today, I’m turning the focus inward. This post is about what this experience has meant to me.

Why I applied for this role

First off, I’m incredibly grateful to UBC Mech and my supervisor for giving me the opportunity to work as a Student Web Assistant in my final year. Last summer, I was looking for a part-time job—something flexible that could work around my chaotic Mech schedule. As anyone in the program knows, Mech is intense. School comes first, but bills don’t wait. I needed a role that could handle projects and last-minute assignment scrambles. And luckily, I found one that felt close to home.

I call UBC Mechanical Engineering my home because this department has given me so much! It’s where I did my first research internship. It gave me the chance to dive into my favorite specialization. It introduced me to some of the coolest, most talented people—many of whom I now call my friends. It provided couches for naps between classes (my naps >>> any pending assignment or a class) and microwaves for quick meals. When I saw the opening for this role, I applied without a second thought, and I’m so glad it worked out and here I am working as Web Assistant!

My Nap Spot

What the work was like

When I first joined this role, I thought it would mostly revolve around maintaining the website, front-end bug fixes and search engine optimization. And to be fair, that was a big part of it. But what I didn’t expect was how much more I would learn along the way. I got the chance to improve my Photoshop skills, explore Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, and sharpen my design abilities. And when an engineer picks up design skills? That’s always fun!

An image of working on Indesign to get promotional content ready for the website.

As many of you know, I love photography, and these skills will definitely help me take my hobby a step further—maybe even towards creating digital art someday. But beyond the technical skills, this job gave me something far more valuable: the ability to organize my thoughts.

This past year has been a whirlwind. Between an intense course load, job applications, constant rejections, trying to stay healthy, work, manage expenses—just life in general—it felt like my mind was always racing in a million directions. As a man, expressing emotions isn’t always easy. There’s this unspoken expectation to always be strong, to have it together. Before university, I used to sketch a lot—character portraits that reflected my thoughts and emotions. But as academics took over, I stopped, and over time, I think I lost that outlet. I kept pushing my feelings aside, telling myself that a great workout or a game of soccer would be enough. While those things do help, the question on lack of communicating emotions still remains.

Writing these blogs changed that. When I wrote about prioritizing mental health before exams, I think I wasn’t just writing for you all—I was reminding myself of it too. With the rise of generative AI, I’ve barely written anything by hand in years. But these blogs forced me to slow down, to gather my scattered thoughts, and to give them direction. And in doing so, they gave me back a piece of myself I didn’t even realize I had lost.

The best part of the role

Hands down, the people. First and foremost, my incredibly talented coworker and friend, Rachel—whether it was running tours, filming Mech promo videos, or just goofing around, it’s been an absolute blast working together!

Filming promotional content for Mech Spaces

Beyond that, it was the student team—running events together made the job more dynamic and fun. And then there were all the faculty members I met at events. Seeing them outside the classroom, hearing their stories and humor—it gave me a whole new perspective on the people teaching us.

Me representing Mech at First year Networking Event (my facial expression looks terrible cause I’m in the middle of speaking something haha)

Meeting students at tours, networking nights, and open houses was another highlight. Your curiosity and excitement reminded me of my own first year. Back then, I didn’t get to connect with seniors—COVID had just hit—so being on the other side now and getting to be that resource for others has meant a lot.

Wrapping up

As I wrap up this blog series, it’s hard to believe this chapter is coming to a close. But even as I step into the next phase of our lives, I’ll always carry a piece of UBC Mech with me. This department has shaped me in ways I never expected, and I hope it continues to be a place of inspiration, community, and, of course, those ever-essential nap spots for future students.

To anyone who’s been following along with these blogs: thank you. I hope something I wrote helped, even a little. Wishing you good fortunes in the wars to come 🙂

Until next time,
Meet

Research or Industry: What is the right choice for me?

As graduation approaches, many of us face a big question: Should I pursue a career in research or dive into industry? Both paths offer rewarding experiences, but the right choice depends on your passions, goals, and desired work environment.

Why Choose Research?

If you’re deeply curious and passionate about diving into a specific area, research might be the perfect fit. Academic research allows you to explore uncharted territories, develop new knowledge, and contribute to solving global challenges. In Canada, research roles—especially in universities—are often well-supported through grants, encouraging innovation in various fields, including clean energy, materials science, or advanced robotics.

Advantages of Research:

Deeper Exploration: You can pursue a topic you’re truly passionate about, with the freedom to experiment and innovate.
Academic Environment: Surrounded by experts, you’ll have mentorship opportunities and the chance to collaborate with leading scholars.
Flexible Schedule: While research demands dedication, academic environments often offer more flexibility around work hours.

Challenges of Research:

Deadlines & Funding: Research timelines are tied to funding cycles and grant approvals, which can add pressure. But this also fosters project management and proposal-writing skills.
Long-Term Focus: Research outcomes may take time to materialize, so patience and persistence are key.

Why Choose Industry?

On the other hand, jumping into industry gives you hands-on experience in applying what you’ve learned. Industry roles bring a dynamic pace, where you’ll work on real-world projects and see immediate impact. Canada’s booming sectors—such as renewable energy, automation, and AI-driven technologies—offer diverse opportunities for mechanical engineers.

Advantages of Industry:

Immediate Impact: You’ll apply classroom concepts directly and quickly see the tangible results of your work.
Broader Skill Development: In industry, you’ll gain skills beyond engineering, like project management, teamwork, and communication. Industry also pushes you to solve complex, multi-disciplinary problems, broadening your expertise.
Structure and Deadlines: If you thrive in a fast-paced environment with clear deliverables and timelines, industry will keep you engaged and motivated.

Challenges of Industry:

Tight Deadlines: While exciting, industry roles come with structured deadlines and fast turnarounds. You’ll need to prioritize efficiency and adaptability.
Less Flexibility: The focus is on delivering results, which can mean less freedom to explore side interests compared to academia. But this can be a great way to master time management.

Ultimately, choosing between research and industry comes down to understanding what excites you. If you’re passionate about deep dives into specific topics and don’t mind delayed gratification, research will let you push the boundaries of knowledge (You can read more about undergraduate research opportunities undergraduate-research-in-mech. If you want to apply your skills immediately and see direct results, industry offers an exciting, fast-paced environment to grow in. Alternatively, you could pursue a role in Research and Development (R&D), where you get to experience the best of both worlds. Many companies are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technologies, combining deep research with practical industry applications. During one of my co-op terms, I had the privilege of working at an R&D company focused on developing the world’s first nuclear fusion reactor (Can read more about my co-ops at my-coop-experience. It was an incredible environment where research directly translated into tangible industry results—a perfect balance of innovation and impact.

Both paths offer incredible opportunities, and the best part is, Canada’s engineering landscape supports both transitions. Ultimately, it’s all about what drives you—so think about what environment energizes you most and makes you happy :))

Undergraduate Research in Mech

If you’re a Mech student, you probably love solving problems and asking questions. That’s what research is all about—except, this time, you get to ask the questions and figure out the problems. Unlike your typical assignments where you’re given all the instructions upfront, research is the deep end of open-ended problem solving. You’ve had a taste of it with the MECH 2 design challenge or your Capstone project. But what if you’re eager for more?

If you’ve ever thought about research or grad school, you might have felt like it’s just out of reach. I’ve been there, too. Balancing the intense workload of Mech with thoughts of future research or grad studies can seem daunting. But after a few paid and voluntary research terms, I’ve learned that research isn’t as out of reach as it seems. Thanks to the guidance of some amazing faculty and staff, I realized it’s very possible—and now, I want to help you see the same. Below are a few tips to help integrate research and grad school into your undergrad life, even with a hectic schedule.

1. Ask Your Professors About Their Research

This is the golden rule of getting started in research: talk to your professors. After-class chats with profs are criminally underrated. Profs are not just there to teach but are often involved in exciting research projects. Many of them are on the lookout for curious and motivated undergrads who want to get involved.

A great way to start is by visiting the Mech department website and looking up your professors’ research areas. Find something that piques your interest? Stay after class or shoot them an email asking about their work. Not only will this give you insight into their research, but it also opens the door to potential opportunities for you to join their lab.

2. Present Your Work at the Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference (MURC)

Every March, UBC hosts the Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference (MURC), where undergrads present their research to their peers, family, and faculty. This event, run by students for students, is a celebration of undergraduate research with workshops, presentations, and keynote speakers.

If you’re working on any UBC-affiliated research, this is your chance to present it to the world—or, at least, the UBC community. It’s also a great place to volunteer or just attend to network with fellow students and researchers. Either way, MURC is a fantastic way to get inspired and find out what kinds of research are happening around campus.

3. Check Out CREATE-U

For Mech students specifically, the CREATE-U program is a perfect introduction to research. This summer program allows you to earn six credits while getting paid to work in a Mech lab. It also counts as a co-op work term, so you can gain valuable experience without delaying your graduation.

The program includes two courses: one on academic research methods (MECH 497) and the other on academic writing (MECH 498). These courses are designed to support your summer research project, which takes place under the guidance of a graduate mentor and a faculty supervisor. The research you do can even count toward a Master’s or PhD at UBC, giving you a head start on grad studies if that’s the direction you want to go.

4. Enroll in MECH 493 or MECH 410C/F

When you reach your final year, consider signing up for MECH 493 or MECH 410C/F. These are research-based courses where you’ll spend the term working on a project instead of attending regular lectures and exams. Every year, professors post research projects that undergrads can apply to join. You’ll need to contact the professor directly to gain approval, but once you’re in, you’ll spend your semester tackling real-world research problems.

MECH 493 is a two-term, 3-credit course, while MECH 410C/F is split into two one-term, 3-credit courses. The kind of research you’ll do will depend on the lab you join, so it’s a good idea to ask professors what to expect before signing up.

5. Keep an Open Mind

The most important thing you can do is stay curious and open to new possibilities. Research is all about discovery, and sometimes that means finding excitement in unexpected places. You never know what might spark your passion until you dive in. By exploring research as an undergrad, you’ll not only gain invaluable experience but also potentially secure reference letters for grad school and build connections with faculty members.

So, if you’re thinking about research or grad school but feel overwhelmed by the idea, know that it’s more accessible than you think. With a bit of curiosity and a willingness to ask questions, you can find research opportunities that fit into your busy schedule and give you a whole new perspective on problem-solving.

My co-op experience with the Vancouver Airport

For my second co-op position, I was offered a job at YVR. Now, I’m not one of those people who knows every type of plane, but come on, who doesn’t think planes are cool?

My role was in the Engineering Services department, which mainly deals with building and alteration permits. The department often gets involved with little side projects as well, which always kept things interesting! My primary task was reviewing HVAC and plumbing drawings, as well as doing site visits to ensure the construction was consistent with submitted drawings. Before working at YVR, I had zero experience with HVAC and plumbing. Because of this, I was a bit nervous to start. However, I quickly realized that the point of co-op is to learn, you’re not expected to be a professional in your field.

At YVR, I really appreciated that the staff wanted you to get as much out of your experience as possible. Even though I was mostly reviewing drawings, almost every week I would get a chance to be in the terminal building, airside, or in other cool places. Some of the highlights include:

A tour of the baggage system
Sitting airside and watching planes take off
Many visits to the secure side of the airport
Getting a tour of the Air Canada hangar (which included lots of pictures with the planes)
Going on a big construction site for a pump station replacement
A tour of the Ground Run-Up Enclosure

Many wires, tubes, small tanks, and more inside the compartment.

Underneath and inside of the plane… so much to look at!

I would love to say that through this co-op I discovered my passion for HVAC and plumbing, and ever since have been excited to learn more, but I’d be lying. I’ve since realized that my interests are more geared towards robotics and applications in the medical field, which is quite different than the work I was doing at the airport. So am I sad about spending my four months learning about systems that are not directly relevant to my future goals? No way! Any co-op and work experience you get is worth it, even if you end up hating that industry. Maybe I would’ve spent my entire degree thinking I wanted to work with HVAC systems, but that four month co-op saved me time by telling me no, HVAC is not my calling. No co-op term is a waste of time. In addition, I gained many transferable skills that are very beneficial when applying to future jobs. Scanning these plumbing drawings for small flaws requires being very detail oriented, and having to pick up so many new skills and programs in such a short time forced me to become a fast learner.

All in all, remember that no experience is bad experience. Despite not finding my passion in HVAC and plumbing, I very much enjoyed my co-op at YVR, and gained so many useful skills. Don’t feel discouraged if you are not enjoying the technical aspect of a work term as much as you thought you would. We are all just students trying to figure out what we want to do after our degrees, and sometimes that involves some trial and error.

Making the most out of your co-op experience

So here we are with our first co-op position using the advice given by my previous MECH ambassadors! Like anything else, being able to put your best foot forward always helps. Over my five co-op terms, I’ve noticed that the mindset to make the most of your co-op more or less remains the same.

Keeping an open mind

It rarely happens that we get our dream job as our first co-op, and that’s perfectly alright. Any experience is helpful even if we can’t figure out how immediately – “Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

My very first co-op was with a client-facing software position. As a second-year Mechanical engineer, I didn’t know how working in software would help. But the experience I got working with clients here was essential to my ability to negotiate and collaborate with other engineering teams and suppliers. Similarly, there were always tasks that needed to be completed to keep the lights on, like tabulating data or creating operating procedure documents. Working on processing the raw data usually gave me an insight into the workings of processes that I wouldn’t have been able to get otherwise. In the majority of my co-ops, I found my term project by identifying quirks in data that would have been unattended otherwise.

Dress like the person you want to be

Most engineering jobs do not have a set dress code, but being appropriately dressed never goes unnoticed. It might be a bit clichéd, but first impressions make a difference! Sometimes being dressed for the job you want is the easiest way to show that you’re interested in the work that you’re doing.

Don’t be afraid to take initiatives

I think this was one of my more revolutionary revelations – our supervisors and mentors are human too.

Till that realization dawned upon me, I was always a bit more nervous than I should have been and second-guessed myself before contributing to discussions. It might take a week or so to settle into the team, but it’s helpful to remember that they wanted you on the team, so you shouldn’t second guess yourself in a position that you’ve earned!

There are always more things that need to be done at a workplace than there is time to do them. If something catches your eye and you want to look into it, do it! It’s a valuable experience to identify potential projects and see them through. I’ve always found supervisors supportive of projects you want to undertake provided your regular responsibilities are looked after.

Connecting with People

One of the most exciting things about co-op is meeting several individuals with similar engineering interests. Apart from gaining friends and getting to know people from all over the company, learning more about the various departments and the types of challenges they undertake is always helpful.

Co-op is an opportunity to try out different types of positions and industries at a lower risk compared to a full-time job. Starting it’s hard to know where you’d be four to five years down the road. So trying to make the most out of the opportunities that come to you might help you eventually decide where you want to be and where you don’t.

Student Experiences

The Department of Mechanical Engineering houses several sub-specializations, and the difference between them isn’t always clear when choosing a program in the first year. Around the end of 2022, we had a student experiences panel with upper-year MECH students from each specialization to answer questions and try to demystify the program. Here are a few things they to say!

But before we get started here are our panelists:

Janet Sun – Mechatronics
Ahijit Banerjee – Thermofluids
Phoebe Cheung – Biomedical

Why did you choose MECH?

Janet: I have always been very interested in robotics and how things move the way that they do, I am now furthering my studies with a Master’s in Kinematically Redundant Parallel Robots which is very exciting. My choice stemmed from pure interest and curiosity, wanting to know the why and how behind mechanical movements in addition to what I could do to control those motions. Hence, I have specialized in Mechatronics which was also a factor as to why I chose MECH.

Ahijit: I come from an ECE and CS-dominated background and I was naturally inclined towards it from a young age. But during my first year here, I loved the hands-on projects we had – building the cardboard chair and seeing it support 17 sandbags or the metal claw trying its best to pieces of pasta from the floor. I hadn’t had much exposure to hands-on projects prior to coming to UBC, but I knew I wanted much more and that’s why I choose MECH.

Phoebe: Back in the first year, I was introduced to the concept of biomechanics, and the synergy between mechanical and biomedical engineering quickly became something I was interested in learning more about. Through the First Year Program Fair and the Mechanical Engineering First Year Networking Event, I had the opportunity to learn more about MECH and talk to current students about their experiences. As MECH offers a biomedical specialization, I discovered that a MECH degree would be the best choice for where my interests lie. I wanted a strong foundation in a core engineering discipline while still being able to gain experience in the biomedical industry. My goal was to build my toolbox of skills and knowledge through my degree to be able to design and develop medical devices in my future career.

Opportunities in the program

Janet: There are so many various way to be involved. Either through design team, student council, work learn positions in the mech offices, volunteering in labs or joining various clubs on campus. There are infinite ways of enriching your degree. If you would like to gain technical experience, joining a design team would be the best way to apply what you learn in the classroom to a tangible project and also allow you to polish those team working skills. During my time on both SUBC and Orbit, I have really enjoyed watching our design concept come to life with the combined efforts of the entire team. If you would like to develop professionally and or practice your interpersonal skills while taking on a leadership role, I highly encourage you to apply as a work learn student or join the mechanical engineering student council. I have been part of the council since my second year, having taken on roles such as 2nd Year Rep, Academic Rep, Secretary, and my two terms as President. These roles have taught me so much and I enjoyed being able to work closely with an amazing supportive team to ensure that all mechanical engineering students have access to a wide array of social, academic and professional development opportunities. I was also fortunate to be able to take on a few work learn positions during my undergraduate career and it was a really nice way of improving my soft skills such as technical communications. Being a work learn student gave me so many more opportunities to interact with staff, faculty and also incoming students. From my various roles in the department, I was able to interact with profs and I was able to volunteer in the CARIS lab working on a really cool controls project leading me to my master’s degree. There are so many opportunities that may creep up on you without you even knowing.

Ahijit: MECH has several opportunities for students to get involved outside of classes, the most common being design teams. Working on larger projects with technical and non-technical folks with different backgrounds is some of my favourite and most exciting moments in school. They helped me develop my technical and communication skills, and it is a fun way to meet new people.

The department is also very supportive of undergraduate research. MECH has the CREATE-U program exclusively for MECH students interested in research, I had initially asked my professor if they had any opportunities in their lab for an undergrad student, and I was able to complete a co-op term at their lab through this program. The department also has paid opportunities like teaching assistantships and work-learns. I found the time I spend TA’ing or helping out with work learn tasks to be a refreshing change from the technical projects and a way to give back to the community.

Phoebe: In addition to coursework, I had a multitude of opportunities to gain experience outside of the classroom. One of the highlights of my degree would be my time on UBC AeroDesign. It was my first time working on a large-scale team project, and it was very rewarding to watch our airplane take off for the very first time! In addition to the technical experience, I’ve also gained experience with project management during my time as Team Captain. Navigating the team through the pandemic and the transition back to in-person work was a unique challenge, and it has undoubtedly taught me important leadership and communication skills.

The MECH Community

Janet: One of my passions is to build community and as such I have taken up roles such as Mech Prez and Residence Advisor. I really enjoy hosting events and bringing people together through common interests and providing opportunities for skill development. The mechanical engineering community is very diverse, with students from vastly different backgrounds but we all come together under CEME or Rusty working on our projects, labs or course work knowing that our classmates will always lend a hand to help when they can.

Ahijit: The MECH community is a tightly knit one. Starting from the days of MECH 2, we see each other all the time from classes during the week and at design teams over the weekends. But it’s the days when things don’t go according to plan or it’s the day before the competition and we’re still at Home Depot picking up parts, is when I made my closest friends whom I knew I could count on. Alongside seeing everyone for school nearly every day, club MECH hosts events frequently that are an amazing opportunity to detox and relax.

Phoebe: Although 2nd year (“MECH2”) is as challenging as every upper-year MECH student claims, reflecting back on it now, it has certainly helped me build a strong academic foundation and become a better future engineer. The variety of courses and labs allowed me to get a taste of what mechanical engineering has to offer for the rest of my undergraduate degree. Because of its rigour, MECH2 has also allowed me to learn how to better manage my time and prioritize my tasks. The overall MECH community is also very welcoming, which allowed me to build a strong support system of peers and professors.

Additional Comments

Janet: Being involved in not only the mechanical engineering community but also the greater engineering community to show our mech pride has been a highlight of my undergraduate career. From winning E-week this year with all the hard work from very dedicated and committed mech community to competing in the ball model in my second year with a small group of friends. We went from design conception to sourcing materials and building the overall contraption. I was finally able to realize my dream of building a claw machine. I am super thankful for my friends joining my team and their dedication to the project. There is nothing quite like building something from scratch, getting your fingers superglued onto the project and getting a burn from the activator. This experience will forever be engrained in my memory as a very stressful but thrilling time.

How to Prepare for Interviews and Tips to Ace Them (Part 2)

The biggest fear that most interviewees have are about how to best answer interview question. I will talk about certain questions I’ve received during interviews. Some of these are also from sites listed in the reference.

1. Why did you pick engineering?

The interviewer is trying to determine your motivation for the job. You should be engaging in your answer. Try to sell engineering as the best career choice. In the past, I would have said that I liked Physics in high school, but that’s not a very great motivation. A better answer would be that engineering makes a large impact in the world we live in. Especially since engineering by definition is to design and improve on technology and systems to better society. You should also tailor this question towards the job, in terms of how you could make the biggest impact through the position in the company.

2. When did you start your job search? Have you been offered any positions?

This goes back to my other blog, Mechanical Engineering Job Search, where the job you are searching and applying for should fit your interests and career path. The interviewer can discern whether you’re simply applying to get employed or applying because you want to work in the position. A worker with keen interest is preferred over one who will simply drone on day-to-day. So to answer this question, explain honestly and clearly that you are trying to find the “right job” and what that means to you. Even if you have been offered positions, don’t brag about them, simply answer a yes or no.

3.Tell me about the most challenging engineering project that you have been involved with during the past year.

If you have a portfolio of projects you have worked on (which I strongly recommend), pull it out now. It’s always better to show than talk. Explain the problem solving process using Situation, Task, Action, Result, Transfer (START) technique. For me, one of the most challenging engineering project I had been involved with was developing payload dropper attached to a multi-rotor drone for a solar farm-simulating competition (Situation). There was no precedent system that I could optimize, so I had to design, from scratch, a device to drop off markers onto damaged solar panels (Task). I looked for inspiration on a project-sharing platform, then found a button dispenser to base my marker dropper on. After modelling the marker dropper to fit within the limited space on the drone, I printed and assembled it for testing. As we attempted to test, we encountered unforeseen problems such as wind generated by the drone veering the payload from dropping straight down. With only one day left before competition, we improvised with the available material to make the dropper more stable (Action). Because of this device, we are now able to achieve an important task in the competition (Result). These research, design, prototyping skills will help me transition into any fast-paced workplace and solve engineering problems encountered in the job (Transfer).

4.What new engineering specialty skills have you developed during the past year?

There is no doubt that continual learning is one of the most important aspects in life. Your interviewer wants to know that you’re proactive in acquiring and updating your skills in the ever-changing engineering industry. This question also serves as a great opportunity to show your eagerness to learn on the job. Talk about any skills that are relevant to the position, and how you mastered (or got better at) them. Important skills to Mechanical Engineering include ANSYS, CFD, CAD, and CAM. This semester, I learned how to use Siemens NX 12 software develop CAM programs by assigning appropriate tools, operations and parameters to properly manufacture parts.

There are many more potential interview questions. Take a look at the links provided below. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to comment them. I look forward to hearing from you! Happy job-hunting everyone.

References:

How to Prepare for Interviews and Tips to Ace Them (Part 1)

As many of you know from Co-op program, interviews can be daunting, but if you prepare sufficiently, then you’ll at least take comfort in knowing you’ve done all you can, the rest is up to fate! From the previous interview experiences I’ve had, I can tell you they were all not completely as horrible as I had imagined. There were many interesting ones as well, stimulating due to the type of brainstorming you get to have. As there are other scenarios that I have not personally experienced, I will be referencing the Interview Toolkit written by UBC Engineering Co-op program.

Interview Appropriate Outfits

First thing you should definitely prepare for is getting an appropriate outfit, especially if you’re on a budget like me. I couldn’t get a complete suit, so I found pieces that fit together from various stores. I got an anti-wrinkle collar shirt and straight-cut black pants from Banana Republic, added a blazer from J Crew, and a pair of black work heels from Aldo. A great store to start off at would be Uniqlo, since they have a variety of very affordable working clothes. Just remember you should get everything neat and clean, meaning ironing out wrinkles and creases and polishing your shoes. These thing should not be left last minute, cause they take time and is crucial to your interviewer’s first impression of you.

Types of interviews

Imagine the scenario of the actual interview, will the interview be one-on-one or will you be placed in a group? If any of the information is unclear, it’s highly suggested that you contact the interviewer or the HR personnel responsible for arranging interviews. I’ve had mostly panel interviews, where two or more interviews take turn asking questions, often about different aspects of the company. One interviewer was usually the higher up manager, while the other was my direct supervisor. This is done so that my supervisor had a chance to see how well they’d work with me. I’ve had one group interview, where about 5 other engineering students were interviewed at the same time as me. We sat around a circular conference table and the interviewers started asking questions. We answered questions voluntarily. As to keep the interview shorter, not everyone was forced to answer each question. I used this opportunity to listen to other interviewee’s responses and tweak mine. Sometimes I felt strongly about an answer so I started first. In this format, try to avoid being aggressive or demeaning, rather, be helpful and agreeable, but at the same time lead conversations where you’d like them to go. Other types of interviews include telephone, live video, and taped video. The expectations aren’t all that different between these formats, and I would say treat them as you would an in-person interview.

Online Networking

When you’re searching for information about the interview, try using LinkedIn. You should know your interviewer’s names, if not, once again I suggest you contact the company. By searching them on LinkedIn, you understand their background, be it in human resources or the technical field. HR professionals will tend to ask non-technical questions related to your soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and ability to overcome obstacles. On the other hand, interviewers who are engineers, or managers with technical backgrounds will ask about your technical abilities, often in the form of a problem for you to solve. On a side note, after you’ve viewed their profile, they will be notified. This shows your initiative and puts your name in their mind even before the interview. They might even click back, checking your profile for more information about you, so this is also serves as an opportunity to stand out. Therefore, ensure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date. Writing a personal bio and putting up a professional photo are crucial.

That’s it for part 1, but please also check out part 2, where I’ll talk about the questions I’ve received during interviews, how I answered them using the START technique, and other general tips so you’ll be confident about your next interview!

Mechanical Engineering Job Search

When looking for a job, ask yourself three questions

What do I want to work in?
Where do I want to work?
Which company is most suited to my future career?

Do a simple search on LinkedIn for mechanical engineering jobs and you’ll see the diverse fields in which a mechanical engineer can work, such as product design, manufacturing, HVAC maintenance, piping systems design, etc… Since there are so many different types of jobs, I started evaluating my preferences. There are two fields that I’m really keen on, first is automation services that will enhance my control and system modelling skills. I also want to get more practice with logic programming and instrumentation coding. The second field is power systems regulation and management, particularly in the renewable energy sector, despite it being more related to electrical engineering. I also like to work on CAD/CAM, skills that are mostly related to product design, validation, and development.

Company size, culture and established locations are also very important to me. Jobs available in the United States and Europe intrigue me, but my top locations are Seattle, New York, and Toronto. In terms of company size, I prefer a global company with job openings everywhere in the world. A globalized company will also allow for more internal mobility, in case I want to switch jobs across departments. A dynamic work environment and a motivated and cooperative team are what I look for in company culture. All these contribute to which jobs I apply to.

A couple companies are on my radar. Siemens is a German conglomerate company with heavy emphasis on automation. Some of their notable divisions are industrial automation, energy automation, building technologies, and drive technology. They have major branch offices in Germany, US and China. They have a prominent division called Gamesa Renewable Energy that have provided wind turbines to offshore and onshore wind farms in the UK and Denmark. An exciting recent development that Siemens Canada acquired is designing the power grid for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, formally called the Smart Grid Atlantic Project. This project aims to analyzes challenges and opportunities involved in integrating renewables and improving the grid’s reliability and efficiency. I hope that by landing a job with Siemens Canada that I can transition to Siemens in US and participate in their engineering training programs. Another company I would be excited to work for is General Electric. GE is along the same lines as Siemens, a global product-focused company, except they started in the States. In terms of innovation, I think Siemens is a bit more sustainability centered.

There are also lots of regional and local companies I could apply to, not to mention the consulting field is another huge area for engineers to work in. I will explore these in the next blog.

Talk to you soon!

Engineering Mentoring: Tour of Corvus Energy

As I mentioned in the previous blog, my mentor is a senior engineer at Corvus Energy. This Monday, he showed me and another engineering mentee around their office and factory. Corvus Energy is a company that makes energy storage solutions, with their most novel product being arrays of battery banks for marine applications, from yachts to ferries. Their ingenuity comes from the robustness, reliability and modular ability of their product. Moreover, it has the flexibility meet different demands of various sizes of marine vessels, from small yachts to large ferries like Scandlines M/V Berlin, a Scandinavian fleet that travels between different ports of Denmark, Germany and Sweden. Seeing a Canadian technology emerge and be competitive in the global market was really impressive, especially when you consider the context. Scandinavia contains some of the world’s most sustainable countries that have made strides at implementing sustainable technology. Yet, it’s a Canadian company that has helped them make their ferries hybrid. Following this trend, I’m hoping that Metro Vancouver, with it’s Renewable City Action plan, will become one of Corvus Energy’s strong corporate client and partner down the road.

The tour gave me such an inspiration. The space was very bright, colorful, and full of energy. When I arrived at the office building, I could immediate tell it was an engineering work space. A section of the building was dedicated to testing and product improvement, with prototypes and instrumentation equipment laid out on work benches. What I also loved about the space was the openness. There was no barrier, no cubicle, allowing the engineers to exchange ideas, and to collaborate.

At the factory, my mentor showed us their product assembly line. On the roller table, there were numerous unfinished products, each representing a stage in the assembly process. Not only were the battery units assembled in the factory, they also underwent stringent testing and validation at every stage. A number of quality control gates were especially designed to ensure the final product will have zero defects before they are deconstructed and shipped off to clients. The cool thing about the factory was how it was expanding. Since Corvus Energy is a growing company, it required more assembly and storage space to accommodate new products. My mentor showed us how they had to build a second level in the warehouse and a new assembly line for new generation product.

With this sort of clean and organized work environment, both in the office and the factory, Corvus Energy employees can truly exert their full potential. My mentor also expressed the importance of connecting the office and factory so engineers can work more cohesively with the technicians on the floor. In my future work space, I would like to work not only with the products I design, but more importantly, establish a strong relationship with the people whose decisions I make affect.

If you want to check out Corvus Energy, here’s their website: https://corvusenergy.com. They have internships and Co-op positions available, so don’t be afraid to reach out!

Tune-in next time for more updates.