How do I get an internship that requires a programming language I don't know?

Ricemarine

Lifer
Sep 10, 2004
10,507
0
0
Guess this is where my lifer post goes :)laugh:)

So I applied to several internships via my university's job website, and one was willing to interview me, with my interview being tomorrow (I just got the call today). I started applying for jobs since April, and my other chance for an internship a month or two ago was denied because I did horribly on my first and hopefully my only phone interview. The one problem is, the internship asks for knowledge with Labview, with a desire for DAQ-interfaced programming of PSU's and test equipment. I have neither of those, with only experience with PSPICE and the basic electrical engineering knowledge about circuits. National Instruments though is holding a workshop for Labview on 6/30, while my interview is tomorrow. So, is there anyway I can use the workshop as a means to saying I will have knowledge of Labview? Or is Labview too complicated to be fit into a workshop? Also, is there anything I should bring to an interview? (my first).

Thanks.

Cliffs:
- Company wants to interview me for an internship tomorrow (first in person for a job/internship)
- Asks for knowledge with Labview, I have none
- There will be a workshop on Labview on 6/30

Update 6/26:
So I went in hoping they wouldn't emphasize too much about LabVIEW. Luckily, it went as such. Three interviewers began asking me about my previous experiences, what kind of projects I did, what was my least favorite class, what kind of software development I've done, etc etc. I was kind of amazed that the interviewers knew basically what I was
talking about most of the time, with some of them knowing about AT, Engadget, etc. I told them straight up I don't know LabVIEW, but since I found learning Java so fun, Labview would probably be just as exciting for me too. Apparently this was the first part.

The second part consisted of me going through a packet by myself for 20 minutes to see how much I understood. The packet was on Labview and their Genetic Algorithm. So, I had to summarize what the Genetic Algorithm did and how it could be applied. To me, it wasn't too bad, but I won't know how bad or good I did until I hear my results. After the interview, I asked the interviewer why they would give me a packet that introduced LabVIEW. The interviewer responded that most of the people that submitted applications had little experience or none at all, in which she said it was because LabVIEW was more used in the industry than in colleges. Thus, they sort of lessened their requirements, which was how I was given the opprotunity to apply for this internship.

Overall, I think it was a good opprotunity for me to gain experience in interviews. Thanks to all the people that helped :). I'll update if they respond!

Update 7/6:
Got my offer letter 7/1! YEEHAW! I went to the workshop for labview hosted by National Instruments and it didn't seem that bad... I hope it isn't!.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
I've done that Labview workshop. You will not be prepared for using Labview after taking it.
 

Ricemarine

Lifer
Sep 10, 2004
10,507
0
0
Originally posted by: Leros
I've done that Labview workshop. You will not be prepared for using Labview after taking it.

Yeap, kind of figured. How much experience did you think was necessary until you considered yourself knowledgable about labview?
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,085
766
126
Originally posted by: VAisforlovers
just bullshit your way through
I did that all the time and look how successful I am!

WWYBAYABA?
 

orakle

Golden Member
Nov 28, 2002
1,122
0
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You can learn the basics of Labview in a matter of hours.. find some tutorials online and just play with it for a bit. We did basic DAQ in school (mechanical engineering) and it wasn't THAT complicated.

You just need to know enough that you can stumble through setting up some instrumentation, and I'm sure they are willing to teach you everything you need for the job. Thankfully there is *really* good interactive help built into the software and a search function for finding all of the blocks (hell if I know which category a sine wave generator is in!).
 

Locut0s

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
22,205
43
91
Personally I don't have the balls to do that kind of thing but I know lot's of gutsy people fake knowledge during interviews to get jobs then do crash courses and wing it when they land the position.
 

Red Irish

Guest
Mar 6, 2009
1,605
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I would learn as much as I could before the interview, but I would be honest about things in the interview.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Originally posted by: Locut0s
Personally I don't have the balls to do that kind of thing but I know lot's of gutsy people fake knowledge during interviews to get jobs then do crash courses and wing it when they land the position.

Depends what it is. I'm currently doing an internship where I'm using C#, .Net, MEF, WPF, and a few other things which I have never used before. My experience with other programming methods allowed me to pick them up in about a week. I would say I'm about 80% proficient after 2 weeks as somebody who has been working on it for 2 years.

 

LordSnailz

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
4,821
0
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Is labview more of the industry standard or matlab? I know there are a lot more drivers created for labview and seems like there is a more active community for it. We mainly use matlab here for any instrument programming.
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
From my experience, what they say you will be doing during your internship is a lot of bullshit. Just say you are familiar with them and you are doing a workshop and you will be fine if otherwise qualified
 

sciencewhiz

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
5,885
8
81
Originally posted by: LordSnailz
Is labview more of the industry standard or matlab? I know there are a lot more drivers created for labview and seems like there is a more active community for it. We mainly use matlab here for any instrument programming.

I think LabVIEW is much more the industry standard for data acquisition and instrument control. Matlab is better at heavy number crunching. We use both at my company for those different tasks.
 

Locut0s

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
22,205
43
91
Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: Locut0s
Personally I don't have the balls to do that kind of thing but I know lot's of gutsy people fake knowledge during interviews to get jobs then do crash courses and wing it when they land the position.

Depends what it is. I'm currently doing an internship where I'm using C#, .Net, MEF, WPF, and a few other things which I have never used before. My experience with other programming methods allowed me to pick them up in about a week. I would say I'm about 80% proficient after 2 weeks as somebody who has been working on it for 2 years.

That's sort of the kind of thing I mean. But in the interview when asked about these languages you would say "yes I'm proficient in all the above" and perhaps even mention number of years worked with them. Then when you get the job learn them on the go as you mention. I didn't mean someone faking something they had no hope of learning in a reasonable amount of time.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Originally posted by: Locut0s
Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: Locut0s
Personally I don't have the balls to do that kind of thing but I know lot's of gutsy people fake knowledge during interviews to get jobs then do crash courses and wing it when they land the position.

Depends what it is. I'm currently doing an internship where I'm using C#, .Net, MEF, WPF, and a few other things which I have never used before. My experience with other programming methods allowed me to pick them up in about a week. I would say I'm about 80% proficient after 2 weeks as somebody who has been working on it for 2 years.

That's sort of the kind of thing I mean. But in the interview when asked about these languages you would say "yes I'm proficient in all the above" and perhaps even mention number of years worked with them. Then when you get the job learn them on the go as you mention. I didn't mean someone faking something they had no hope of learning in a reasonable amount of time.

I would say "I am proficient in X, Y, Z and I have had some experience with A, B and C. However, I am a fast learner with experience several languages and would be capable of quickly learning a new language"
 

CanOWorms

Lifer
Jul 3, 2001
12,404
2
0
Congrats.

It is not only what you know that is important to being an engineer. It's your capability to learn new knowledge. Any time you shift into a new position, you will have to adapt and learn new things.