FAQ
TL;DR: With 10+ years in IT, your fastest EE transition combines visible side projects and an internship; "Persistence pays off." [Elektroda, Cody Miller, post #21659600]
Why it matters: This FAQ helps career-changers turn interviews into offers by showing recent, hands-on EE capability.
Quick Facts
- Intern-to-offer path is proven: a test-equipment internship led directly to a full-time EE role. [Elektroda, Cody Miller, post #21659600]
- Recency signals matter; the longer you’re out of school, the more interviewers expect real projects you built. [Elektroda, Olin Lathrop, post #21659604]
- First-rounds may stay non‑technical, so bring your own project narrative and artifacts to shift gears. [Elektroda, Jorge Andrade, post #21659607]
- 10+ years in IT can be reframed as systems, tooling, and debugging depth that complements EE roles. [Elektroda, Jorge Andrade, post #21659599]
- Working 60+ hours while studying shows grit; convert that into shipped builds and measured results. [Elektroda, Jorge Andrade, post #21659607]
What’s the best strategy to shift from IT to electrical engineering now?
Prove you’ve “done stuff.” Build and document side projects that match target roles. Show passion, judgment, and results in interviews. Hiring managers weigh hands-on evidence over grades, especially as time passes after graduation. Aim to discuss design choices, trade‑offs, and what failed first. [Elektroda, Olin Lathrop, post #21659604]
Do internships actually convert to full‑time EE jobs?
Yes. An EE intern in a semiconductor test‑equipment group demonstrated value and was retained full‑time. Internships let teams assess your skills while you learn their stack. Accept trade‑offs in title, pay, or location to gain the right experience quickly. "Persistence pays off." [Elektroda, Cody Miller, post #21659600]
How should I build and present a side‑project portfolio?
Pick a challenging build, finish it, and package evidence. Take photos, keep a brief report, and rehearse the story. Lead with the hardest bug you fixed and the measurements that proved success. "A great interview question is then 'what was your biggest challenge and how did you solve it?'" [Elektroda, John David Heinzmann, post #21659612]
What if interviewers only ask about coursework and past jobs?
Steer the conversation. Bridge from a class topic to your recent project and explain design choices. Offer artifacts—schematics, scope captures, code—to invite technical discussion. This demonstrates you do electronics because you want to, not just for a grade. [Elektroda, Olin Lathrop, post #21659604]
How many projects do I need before applying?
Have several completed builds you can demo in five minutes each. Depth beats quantity. Aim for at least one end‑to‑end design you can explain from requirements to test results, plus smaller focused experiments. Interviewers look for evidence you learn by doing. [Elektroda, Olin Lathrop, post #21659604]
How do I handle 'entry‑level' postings that still ask for experience?
Use internships and targeted projects to satisfy the experience screen. Signal flexibility on job type, salary, or location to open doors. Show deliverables that match the job description so a manager can imagine you on their team next week. [Elektroda, Cody Miller, post #21659600]
How can I keep my skills from going stale while I search?
Stay current by building, reading, and shipping small improvements. Set a cadence for learning new tools and parts. Target rapidly evolving areas so you can outpace longer‑tenured peers with fresher knowledge and demos. Keep frustration low; momentum matters. [Elektroda, Scott Vickrey, post #21659610]
What should I highlight if I worked 60+ hours while studying and have a family?
Translate grit into engineering outcomes. Emphasize disciplined time management, follow‑through, and a recent project you finished despite constraints. Hiring managers value resilience when it produces tested, documented results they can review in minutes. [Elektroda, Jorge Andrade, post #21659607]
Who should I try to meet during the process—HR or the engineering manager?
Aim to reach the engineering manager who will judge design skill and problem‑solving. Prepare recurring examples and your answers. If you keep missing technical conversations, ask to present a brief design review of your project artifacts. [Elektroda, Olin Lathrop, post #21659604]
How do I talk about my Senior Design award in interviews?
Use it as credibility, then pivot to what you built since graduation. Describe the system, your role, test evidence, and what you’d improve now. Awards open the door; current hands‑on work closes the offer. [Elektroda, Jorge Andrade, post #21659599]
What’s a quick 3‑step way to turn a project into an interview story?
- Capture photos, schematics, code links, and a one‑page summary.
- Rehearse the biggest challenge and your fix.
- Lead with measurements proving success, then lessons learned.
End by inviting questions on trade‑offs. [Elektroda, John David Heinzmann, post #21659612]
What edge case should I watch for when switching fields after many years?
Teams may worry about retention if they invest and you later pivot again. One comment joked about someone leaving after 10–12 years, reflecting that concern. Address it directly: share your long‑term EE goals and commitment. [Elektroda, Gary Crowell, post #21659605]
Is it too late if I graduated in 2009 without EE work yet?
No, but you must show recent builds. As time passes, employers expect evidence beyond grades. Create and ship projects now, then use them to drive technical discussion and demonstrate judgment. [Elektroda, Olin Lathrop, post #21659604]
How do I frame relocation or pay trade‑offs early in the transition?
Treat them as investments to gain domain experience fast. Indicate flexibility on pay or location when the role aligns with your learning goals and portfolio path. Prioritize mentorship and scope over compensation at first. [Elektroda, Cody Miller, post #21659600]
