So I Got a Job

[sunzt]

Heya ATOT,

So I will graduate with my Masters in Space Engineering at University of Michigan this semester and accepted a job a few months ago. My undergrad was in Electrical Engineering at the same place. I was interviewing for a Systems Engineering or Avionics position relating to space satellites, exploration, instrumentation, or vehicles (anything related to space really). If anyone is interested in any of these companies, their projects, my experiences at these places, or want to know about how I felt about their job hiring processes, feel free to ask. Almost all of the companies I talked to had extremely interesting projects to work on. I ended up accepting a job that actually payed ~$15k less than my top offer.

I interviewed with the following companies/institutions in flyouts:

Orbital Sciences
Raytheon: Integrated Defense Systems
Raytheon: Space and Airborne Systems
John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
MIT Lincoln Labs
Northrop Grumman: Electronic Systems
Northrop Grumman: Space Systems
Bigelow Aerospace

I also interviewed with the following companies:

Space Exploration Technologies (Space X)
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Boeing: Space Systems
LockMart: Space Systems


Since I'm paranoid, I'm yet not willing to share where I accepted, but will say that it's from the following places:

MIT Lincoln Labs
Space X
Bigelow Aerospace
Northrop Grumman
Orbital Sciences

Anyway, please ask questions if you're curious about any of those places.

:beer:

Edit:
I took out the # of offers I had, because I didn't want to give the impression I was just here to brag. I know there's a world of people smarter, richer, and more talented than me, but I would have to list the companies I talked to for others to ask about my experiences. I'm trying to help other job seekers by sharing my insights into potential companies that they might be looking to apply at and hope that it will help them make a more informed decision.

Granted, my job choices aren't for everyone, but to the many people on ATOT who are qualified to apply to these companies, my experiences can be valuable.

Besides, I'm pretty sure most Master's degrees would be making more $ than me by a good margin.

 

[KB]

Who did you have to sleep with to get the job?

For real, what was the hardest interview question asked of you?

 

[ViviTheMage]

ok. . . . .

 

[ExPFC Wintergreen]

Hmmm, I work for one of those places. Maybe we'll be co-workers...

 

[Baked]

You're a liar! Payed? Seriously?

 

[LuckyTaxi]

You forgot to include your salary! We dont care about what you're doing, we wanna know how much you're going to make. And if you're so paranoid, why are you on the interweb? You know there are ways of tracking your IP and then we can google earth your location. Either way, the interweb owns you

 

[isekii]

Brag & Moan ?

 

[chuckywang]

What sort of things does MIT Lincoln Labs do?

 

[da loser]

MIT Lincoln Labs - that's pretty impressive

 

[sunzt]

Originally posted by: KB
Who did you have to sleep with to get the job?

Well..... honestly.... I feel much more relaxed and comfortable around female interviewers than guys. I usually hope for a female interviewer since they're usually less intimidating and much better to look at. Hehe...

Originally posted by: KB
For real, what was the hardest interview question asked of you?

Ok to be clear, there were no "How do you move mount Fuji" or random BS questions asked at any of my interviews. All the questions related to my experiences and how I handle team situations. It pretty much got to the point where I was answering the same old questions and giving the same old presentations over and over again to everyone, but just framed differently with different emphasis targeted to different people, companies, and positions. I knew EXACTLY what 80-90% of the questions would be.

For example:

Q: What was your biggest contribution/role/challenge/achievement in [insert project/internship experience on my resume].

A: [Insert generic explanation about that experience] while emphasizing the parts that relate to the job/person I'm applying to/with and cut out the part that doesn't relate.

 

[jme5343]

Originally posted by: da loser

MIT Lincoln Labs - that's pretty impressive

Isn't that the company that makes those wooden toy things you can stack to make cabins and cool stuff?

 

[KeithTalent]

Bah, beaten by jmebonner

KT

 

[sunzt]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
What sort of things does MIT Lincoln Labs do?

It's defense/national security/civil space from what I know. They got like hundreds of groups from when I was there. The group I talked to was doing simulation/modeling of space assets around the globe. Like picking out what each country's space asset strengths and weaknesses were (including the US). The group would have to project what future strategies of each country were. They would then recommend how to fill in gaps in the US space segment. It was a pretty small group and they seemed to just start their project. It was pretty cool i thought.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Baked
You're a liar! Payed? Seriously?

:laugh:

 

[sunzt]

Originally posted by: jmebonner

Originally posted by: da loser

MIT Lincoln Labs - that's pretty impressive

Isn't that the company that makes those wooden toy things you can stack to make cabins and cool stuff?

Maybe? I wouldn't doubt it if they did. They're involved in lots of areas.

 

[sunzt]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Baked
You're a liar! Payed? Seriously?

:laugh:

Payed, it's a word. Near the bottom though

 

[Semidevil]

reason for accepting 15k less than top offer?

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

You know there is one thing you never learned in college, it's called modesty.

 

[Xstatic1]

what do u think about using duct tape for minor repairs during space travel?

:laugh:

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: sunzt
Payed, it's a word. Near the bottom though

Only you used it incorrectly.

or( Obsolete except for defs. 12, 24c) payed
12. Nautical. to let (a ship) fall off to leeward.
30c. to let out (a rope) by slackening

I assume they meant 30c instead of 24c seeing as there is no 24c and payed would be correct for 30c.

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: sunzt

Originally posted by: jmebonner

Originally posted by: da loser

MIT Lincoln Labs - that's pretty impressive

Isn't that the company that makes those wooden toy things you can stack to make cabins and cool stuff?

Maybe? I wouldn't doubt it if they did. They're involved in lots of areas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Logs

 

[randay]

do you have any clearance yet? and how much will you pay me not to tell OPM about your secret cyber-life?

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
You know there is one thing you never learned in college, it's called modesty.

LOL, I was thinking the same thing.

It find it strange that people would think it's a good idea to post their job offers on the interwebs. Whatever boosts your ego!

 

[SSSnail]

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
You know there is one thing you never learned in college, it's called modesty.

LOL, I was thinking the same thing.

It find it strange that people would think it's a good idea to post their job offers on the interwebs. Whatever boosts your ego!

I was born at a very young age. My penis is only 8 inches, but it's vicious. I'm handsome, articulate, sexy, and very modest.

 

[jme5343]

Originally posted by: Aluvus

Originally posted by: sunzt

Originally posted by: jmebonner

Originally posted by: da loser

MIT Lincoln Labs - that's pretty impressive

Isn't that the company that makes those wooden toy things you can stack to make cabins and cool stuff?

Maybe? I wouldn't doubt it if they did. They're involved in lots of areas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Logs

I hope you're kidding.