How useful is a course in microprocessors for finding a job?

[SeductivePig]

As an EE senior who's graduating this fall I'm trying to get an edge in any way I can; I have the opportunity to take a course on microprocessor systems.. would this be extremely useful when looking for a job, or should I skip it and stick to a regular EE course that's less time consuming?

Upon graduation I'm expecting a 2.7 cumulative and 3.1 major gpa.. no experience because of budget cuts, I had two very solid chances for an internship at two engineering firms this summer but I was told by a CEO and a director that they started a hiring freeze.. my bad luck.

Just hoping for an internship upon graduation, even unpaid..

FYI I'm trying to work in the power distribution industry.

 

[busydude]

I dont think it will matter since you are into power distributions. Maybe an advanced course in control systems might be more useful.

 

[busydude]

Or circuit design.

 

[shortylickens]

I never had a course in microprocessors and I got a job at Hynix.
I should think it would be even less useful in your desired community.

 

[foghorn67]

more importantly, any good flat bread in M.O.?

 

[Analog]

As an EE senior who's graduating this fall I'm trying to get an edge in any way I can; I have the opportunity to take a course on microprocessor systems.. would this be extremely useful when looking for a job, or should I skip it and stick to a regular EE course that's less time consuming?

Upon graduation I'm expecting a 2.7 cumulative and 3.1 major gpa.. no experience because of budget cuts, I had two very solid chances for an internship at two engineering firms this summer but I was told by a CEO and a director that they started a hiring freeze.. my bad luck.

Just hoping for an internship upon graduation, even unpaid..

FYI I'm trying to work in the power distribution industry.

As an electrical engineering professor, I find it amazing that you could graduate from an EE program without a microprocessors course. Our curriculum requires three separate microprocessor courses.

So my answer is absolutely yes, you do need it.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Math

 

[SeductivePig]

I never had a course in microprocessors and I got a job at Hynix.
I should think it would be even less useful in your desired community.

Suppose I start looking for jobs in any branch of EE, then would it help? I'm not picky with regards to any position postgrad.. I just geared my resume, coursework, and interests towards power but if anything else popped up I'd gladly do it.

As an electrical engineering professor, I find it amazing that you could graduate from an EE program without a microprocessors course. Our curriculum requires three separate microprocessor courses.

So my answer is absolutely yes, you do need it.

It's a very time consuming course though.. I'm taking 21 credits my final semester with senior design, 15 of which are EE credits.. (6 credits are retakes for grade improvement and 2 credits are a joke), and 3 of which are senior design. I'd have to replace 4 of those credits with the micro course.

I dont think it will matter since you are into power distributions. Maybe an advanced course in control systems might be more useful.

I have however taken a course in controls, and have the option of taking digital controls.. hmm.

 

[Gibson486]

I am not one to comment about GPA's (I barely got a 3.0), but when it comes to microprocesser stuff, they want people with 3.2's and above. I have not seen a company that deals with microprocesser design that did not want that requirement.

If you are in power system, stay in it. It may not be the best paying (or most exciting), but it's by far the easiest EE field to get into and the whole industry is getting ready to break because they cannot find people to do power systems. Controls is another field that is dealing with shortages. See if you college offers a PLC course (unfortunately, most 4 year colleges do not).

Oh...BTW....get your EIT cert. If you have it, it will make getting a job in power so much easier.

 

[SeductivePig]

I am not one to comment about GPA's (I barely got a 3.0), but when it comes to microprocesser stuff, they want people with 3.2's and above. I have not seen a company that deals with microprocesser design that did not want that requirement.

If you are in power system, stay in it. It may not be the best paying (or most exciting), but it's by far the easiest EE field to get into and the whole industry is getting ready to break because they cannot find people to do power systems. Controls is another field that is dealing with shortages. See if you college offers a PLC course (unfortunately, most 4 year colleges do not).

Personally I find the power industry fascinating but it seems like there's a ton of competition in it.. either that or I was looking at the wrong companies. The pay is decent from what I've seen, it's just that the starting pay isn't that great.

While we're on the topic though, if I don't take the microprocessor course I'll end up having to take a course on electromechanical machinery, and it's lab.. basically a course on motors. Is that useful at all? Seems completely irrelevant to my field, apart from the fact that they may talk about transformers and generators.. not sure.

 

[Gibson486]

As an electrical engineering professor, I find it amazing that you could graduate from an EE program without a microprocessors course. Our curriculum requires three separate microprocessor courses.

So my answer is absolutely yes, you do need it.

What kind of courses were they? I am thinking that he did take courses, but they just did not have "microprocesser" in the title.

I mean, I never took a microprocesser course. However, I did take an computer architecture course, which talked about stacks, applications of digital logic, timing of frequency etc....

 

[Gibson486]

Personally I find the power industry fascinating but it seems like there's a ton of competition in it.. either that or I was looking at the wrong companies. The pay is decent from what I've seen, it's just that the starting pay isn't that great.

While we're on the topic though, if I don't take the microprocessor course I'll end up having to take a course on electromechanical machinery, and it's lab.. basically a course on motors. Is that useful at all? Seems completely irrelevant to my field, apart from the fact that they may talk about transformers and generators.. not sure.

Ummm..yeah, take that. There is microE and macroE. You want to go into macroE. What kind of internships were you doing? Transformers and generators are everyday core application of power systems. Also, the course is easy. Since you did not know that, I take it that you mostly did power distribution at main feed?

What state are you looking in? From what I have experienced, the whole power field has no competition at all in terms of jobs.

 

[SeductivePig]

Ummm..yeah, take that. There is microE and macroE. You want to go into macroE. What kind of internships were you doing? Transformers and generators are everyday core application of power systems. Also, the course is easy. Since you did not know that, I take it that you mostly did power distribution at main feed?

What state are you looking in? From what I have experienced, the whole power field has no competition at all in terms of jobs.

I haven't interned yet.. not trying to make excuses but I knew some people very high up in two companies and they were trying to get me an intern position this summer but they both started to have a hiring freeze..

I knew transformers and generators were core applications in the industry.. I took a course on power systems so I already learned in depth about those, that's why I feel that the motors course isn't that useful. It is easy though.

I live in Missouri but I'm looking all over the country for jobs.. pretty much any aspect of the industry, such as power system planning, substation operation, transmission line planning, scada monitoring, etc.. I guess I've been applying to too many big name companies because I haven't even gotten a reply back.

My resume is spot on though, I have several relevant projects and I took time to read some graduate level books on things like distribution/transmission planning, power system protection, and automation/control/stability/reliability studies..

I don't really know how to apply at the smaller level for jobs though, except for finding out the utility companies in every state/city and grinding out applications..

FYI I go to Purdue so it's definitely up there in terms of rankings.

 

[OCGuy]

If you want an honest answer, I would PM the member Idontcare, and direct him to this thread (he stays in the techinical forums).

If he has time and feels like it, he may be able to provide you with a good answer to your question.

 

[josh0099]

I work in power distribution...A course in microprocessor probably won't go very far unless you work for a manufacture of power distribution equipment, where you might work on designs of relays type equipment.

PM me and we can talk a bit more...

 

[Gibson486]

I haven't interned yet.. not trying to make excuses but I knew some people very high up in two companies and they were trying to get me an intern position this summer but they both started to have a hiring freeze..

I knew transformers and generators were core applications in the industry.. I took a course on power systems so I already learned in depth about those, that's why I feel that the motors course isn't that useful. It is easy though.

I live in Missouri but I'm looking all over the country for jobs.. pretty much any aspect of the industry, such as power system planning, substation operation, transmission line planning, scada monitoring, etc.. I guess I've been applying to too many big name companies because I haven't even gotten a reply back.

My resume is spot on though, I have several relevant projects and I took time to read some graduate level books on things like distribution/transmission planning, power system protection, and automation/control/stability/reliability studies..

I don't really know how to apply at the smaller level for jobs though, except for finding out the utility companies in every state/city and grinding out applications..

FYI I go to Purdue so it's definitely up there in terms of rankings.

Look for civil consulting firms and do not be afraid to go past #100 on the list. They are all pretty successful and well funded.

http://enr.construction.com/toplists/designfirms/001-100.asp

I have been contacted by a bunch of these companies. problem is, I want to get out of the industry and back to microE. Also, keep in mind that lots of these companies have multiple offices is multiple states.

PM me if you want to talk more. I may have some contacts.

 

[josh0099]

https://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE/...seInfo?courseid=37.0&show=true&type=undergrad

If you haven't taken this course I would highly suggest it if Power Engineering is the route you really want to take...

 

[Gibson486]

I work in power distribution...A course in microprocessor probably won't go very far unless you work for a manufacture of power distribution equipment, where you might work on designs of relays type equipment.

PM me and we can talk a bit more...

It will not get him far at all. All that equipment is based on PLCs and PACs.

 

[brianmanahan]

software > hardware

 

[SeductivePig]

https://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE/...seInfo?courseid=37.0&show=true&type=undergrad

If you haven't taken this course I would highly suggest it if Power Engineering is the route you really want to take...

Yep I took it last year but for some reason I bombed the first exam and that bought my grade down to a C-.. despite getting a 90 on the final I am retaking that course now purely to refresh my memory and learn more because the professor teaching it is simply awesome, and I can also easily improve my grade in the course.

Look for civil consulting firms and do not be afraid to go past #100 on the list. They are all pretty successful and well funded.

http://enr.construction.com/toplists...ms/001-100.asp

I have been contacted by a bunch of these companies. problem is, I want to get out of the industry and back to microE. Also, keep in mind that lots of these companies have multiple offices is multiple states.

PM me if you want to talk more. I may have some contacts.

Very helpful, this will be useful once I start sending out applications this winter. Sent a PM btw.

 

[PhaZe]

6 credit hours for grade improvement? Damn.. I wish we had that where I graduated. I guess we DO have that, but it doesn't really improve much because they average the grades, not straight up replace. So you if you got a C the first time, and you get a straight A the second time, you end up with a B. Most of the time people don't get a straight A the second time so they barely improve anything.

I have to agree with Analog that it is surprising that you can graduate without some kind of microprocessor course. Perhaps you have taken it, our straight EE degree has 1 "intro to microprocessor" course that teaches the fundamentals of embedded systems like interrupts, handshaking, I/O, interfacing, memory map, assembly, that kind of crap. Most students take the second course "embedded systems" which includes a lot of robotics.

If you are looking to get into the technology industry, into low level design like firmware development at dell, hp, amd, etc, then I would imagine it would help a lot. Perhaps not a ton in your actual work, but at least in the interview.

 

[SeductivePig]

6 credit hours for grade improvement? Damn.. I wish we had that where I graduated. I guess we DO have that, but it doesn't really improve much because they average the grades, not straight up replace. So you if you got a C the first time, and you get a straight A the second time, you end up with a B. Most of the time people don't get a straight A the second time so they barely improve anything.

I have to agree with Analog that it is surprising that you can graduate without some kind of microprocessor course. Perhaps you have taken it, our straight EE degree has 1 "intro to microprocessor" course that teaches the fundamentals of embedded systems like interrupts, handshaking, I/O, interfacing, memory map, assembly, that kind of crap. Most students take the second course "embedded systems" which includes a lot of robotics.

If you are looking to get into the technology industry, into low level design like firmware development at dell, hp, amd, etc, then I would imagine it would help a lot. Perhaps not a ton in your actual work, but at least in the interview.

I did have a course with digital design:
https://engineering.purdue.edu/ece270/

Yea the grade retaking policy is nice though. I guess I won't take the microprocessor course as it seems from several people in this thread that it's not a very useful thing to have for my industry.. and even less of a useful course to consume my time and risk bringing my other grades down.

 

[busydude]

I know like 6-7 Praveens all studying EE, but none in Purdue though.

 

[RedCOMET]

My undergrad ECE department had a course called Intro to Nuclear Engineering under the EE Power concentration, perhaps your school has a similar course?

 

[edro]

I remember my micro classes with much loathing.
They were fairly useless, because it was all about assembly language, which is too archaic to be useful.
PLC (Controls) would be a good class to take, but they are fairly simple to learn. Any EE could learn them in less than a week. The tough part is knowing the exact language of the brand you are designing for.

Post the curriculum of the micro class and we can tell you if it is worthwhile or not.