My first piece of advice is to be honest - don't try to impress and don't put yourself down either. They want:

You either have some of those skills or don't, are willing to acquire them on the job or can't.

An interview is a two-way street, remember. They've outlined what they want in the quote above, but not how they expect you to apply those skills. Is there on-the-job training for specialty knowledge the job requires? What do they mean by 'Programming Languages'? Presumably you're familiar with Excel, can attest to being a self-starter, obviously have communication skills, and view yourself as a team player. Be honest about what else you know.

And keep in mind that we have a bit of an Employee's market going on here (if I recall). Nobody will just hand you a job, but you have plenty of options. Go in with a real intent to see if you even want the job, there are quite a few others around.

And another thing - money! Find out what graduating MEs with no experience are getting (ask your trusted classmates with jobs) and don't hesitate to ask for that much or a bit more. Remember that the company interviewing you has already made a significant investment in the folks being interviewed by sending the rep. They'd like to get on with it - they don't want the process to drag out, so a few bucks extra isn't going to break the deal. Don't be greedy - and don't bring it up as the first item, but don't forget that the reason you're going to work is to get paid.

Will do...thanks for all the help!

For the record, I seriously question the wisdom of allowing anyone – especially a first-time poster – to launch a survey like this.

Furthermore, the end beneficiary here is a commercial website.
Is this something the Forum should support?

– ArcticStones

Probably not.

So, how did it go?
 

How did the interview go?

Hey!

It went well. I was kind of nervous, but I think I handled myself fine. I spoke confidently, friendly, and honestly. I actually got a call a week later asking if i could make it to Philly for the 2nd round of interviews!

They told me for the first interview, they interviewed 100 people out of 850+ based on their resumés so that was pretty cool!

So i'll have to trek to Philly the day of my last final exam for the semester, since I told them i couldn't make it the previous week because of tests (the HR lady told me she didn't think it would be possible but called me the next day saying it could be done!)

Overall, it's been a pleasant experience. The only thing is a lot of my friends are getting offers for much more money than this place is offering. The HR lady i originally spoke to told me starting salary is around $42k/year. But all the offers i've heard of from engineering companies are anywhere from 55k-70k, so i'm not really sure what to think at this point.

I'm still just glad to make it to the second round though :)

That's great. Now you'll be less nervous for this next go-round, and for any other interviews that come down the pike.

Congrats, hope the last round goes well for you ;).

Good effort and I also trust that things will work out.

Money: It is easier to find a better paying job when you have a job.....

I also think that NovaScotian's first post advice was spot on. And don't forget to spit shine those shoes.... :-)

FWIW, I did a 5 year engineering apprenticeship as a Fitter-Turner (UK Ministry of Defence, Navy), doing the tickets at day-release and evening college. 21 years later, I am sitting in Thailand managing a small handful of millions of dollars of other peoples' (offshore) money, so you really cannot know where your life will take you.

Engineering > Portfolio Management? Go figure.

Best of luck with it.
Gavin

Thanks everyone! :)

Unfortunately, I got a call saying they won't need me to come in for the 2nd round after all. Not really sure what happened, they just said they don't need people with my background at this time. I wonder why they told me to come in for the 2nd round to begin with, then? Oh well...hopefully there will be more!

Ill keep you posted ;)

What happened is quite straight-forward (I've hired a lot of people in a variety of settings). They offered a few second visits, prioritizing them in order of closeness of fit to their requirements as judged in the first interview. Someone higher on the list accepted the job. Those remaining on the list got notices like the one to you.

I agree with Nova Scotian. You impressed them enough to get them to offer a second round, despite your background not meeting their needs. Had they not found someone who had, you would have been not just on the short list, but the extremely brief list. Good job.

Money isn't everything
 

Don't worry about how much other people are making, it will only depress you further. Be excited that you will receive and offer and then you can always negotiate a salary.

You don't want to begin your career on a money roller coaster. Besides, once you gain experience, you can command more money.

If you are going to worry about something, worry about doing your best and getting the job done on time and do the job to the best of your ability. Put in long hours, study off hours, and continue to educate yourself.

In terms of money, don't be short sighted because you can be making $42K to start but be making $110K ten years from now. Think long term and where you want to be.

Keep in mind that the pay in engineering has one of the largest pay range of any profession that I have ever looked at. I have been in companies where you have two people doing the same job, but there pay is separated by $60K. It all in how you negotiate.

kind regards
RLC

One way to look at the salary issue is this: If you go to a large company and there's a good chance that you'll stay there for a career, then your lifetime salary will be based on an incremental series of raises compounding on the first offer accepted. In return, you'll have job security (to the extent that that ever exists), and probably very good benefits. If, on the other hand, you take the course of zig-zagging up the ladder by looking for better positions when advancement where you are seems to have stalled, then first salary won't matter as much as performance at each level, but because you've switched a lot, benefits suck.

My brother spent his whole career in one industry, but he rose to become executive VP of a large company in that sector by doing a really good job at the bottom in a large company, making a big jump up by switching to a small one, excelling there, jumping laterally to the same position with more money in a large company, then another big jump up the ladder in a move to a smaller company in the next higher position, etc. Not much security and no great pension after the fact, but a very lucrative career.

I opted for a university professor's career, rose through the ranks in the normal progression, always paid less than engineers in industry, but had great job security (tenure), excellent benefits, solid pension plans, etc. I rose through the ladder: Assistant, Associate, Full Professor, Head of Department, Dean of Engineering, Principal of a College by doing a good job, and I loved the university environment and ran a small consulting company on the side. My lifetime gross was certainly less than my brother's.

Looking back over a few beers, both of us are content, both of us satisfied then and now. Money isn't everything in the equation. Satisfaction is more important.