u/SecurityNo5491

Someone asked me about my advice and experience so I thought I'd share:

Basic Info: T20 University, 4.0 GPA, Sophomore Mechanical Engineering

Experience: FSAE, ME Research, FIRST Robotics, Manufacturing/Design HS Pathway, Projects

Apps per Month: Aug: 2, Sep: 4, Oct: 20, Nov: 55, Dec: 77, Jan: 93, Feb: ?

Interviews: Tesla x5, SpaceX x2, Lanteris x2, Astranis x2, Red Bull F1 x1, Apple x1, Disney x1, Boeing x1, 10X Genomics x1, Vast x1, Hadron Energy x1, DropletPharma x1

Offers: SpaceX (Starlink), Disney (Ride/Show), 10X Genomics (Mfg. Automation)

Application Advice:

1. Definitely checkout the wiki first. Sending a poor resume is just asking for a rejection.
2. Having numbers (especially % improvement) throughout your resume matters
3. I only had one resume version and I had interviews in a variety of fields so IMO you don't need to tailor your resume to the job as long as you weave in keywords throughout your bullets.
4. I think a summary at the top is a waste of space and the skills section should be at the bottom but weave skills throughout your bullets. IMO its less cluttered if all experience from engineering clubs and intern/work experience is in one section but I know some think that club experience shouldn't be included in that section.
5. I DO still have high school experience on my resume (FIRST Robotics / Manufacturing and Design Pathway) as it's highly relevant.
6. If you have time, an engineering portfolio goes a long way. A Tesla recruiter told me it was one of the number one things she looked for on a resume.
7. I never used a cover letter as it seemed like a time waste
8. Apply early and often (I was sorting by date posted on LinkedIn).

Interview Advice:

1. Be confident. My first 10 interviews I caught myself downplaying my experience or skillset. Why would they hire someone who isn't even confident in themself?
2. Most of my interview were technical, and you should almost always pass a behavioral / resume / projects interview unless it is final round. Know an example for the following questions:
   1. Describe a project in detail.
      1. Know your project front and back. Sometimes they will spend 5 minutes, sometimes 30 minutes. Have numbers, engineering principles, etc. A portfolio helps
   2. Describe a time when something went wrong.
   3. When was a time when you worked with someone difficult?
      1. DO NOT BASH TEAMMATE!!
   4. Biggest weakness?
   5. Biggest strength?
   6. Describe a time when you were wrong / disagreed with a colleague who was right?
3. For MechE, taking serious notes on every video from the Efficient Engineer is truthfully 75% of the content you'll need for any MechE technical interview. Sit down and take 3 days to truly learn the content.
   1. Solid Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials, and Manufacturing/Design are the most important classes to be fundamentally strong in.
4. Write down the questions they asked after the interview. Super helpful to prep for future interviews if you have a database of past questions. Glassdoor is also helpful.

General Advice:

1. GPA matters to an extent but experience carries. >3.7 is enough for any company. >3.0 if enough if you have solid experience.
2. Have a life outside of engineering. It is so much harder if you aren't happy and motivated. Personally I am part of a performing arts club and a club sport.

Best of luck and feel free to ask me anything