-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
Article Highlights
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Must Work Well on a Team; CID a Bonus
June 7, 2017 | Kelly Dack, CID+Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Throughout my decades-long career in PCB design, I have been fortunate. I’ve only had to search for a job out of desperation once. I had no idea my IPC Certified Interconnect Designer credentials would come in handy when I hit the pavement.
This was during the telecom industry downturn around the year 2000. Suddenly, I found myself laid off for the first and only time in my life.
Prior to being laid off, I’d moved around a bit. I’d worked nine years for an aerospace company; nine years for medical products company; three years for a small product development company; eight months for a PCB design software VAR, and then three years at a telecom company in Southern California. Whew!
During the early years of my career, I’d changed jobs on my own terms, typically by following my engineering peers to new opportunities. My PCB design experience had become suitably diverse. I loved working on design teams and experiencing department camaraderie.
Come performance review time, my evaluations often cited that, “Kelly works well on a team.” It was the dotcom era and electronics companies were rolling in cash. I felt on top of the world and I was bringing in more income than ever, until the electronics industry’s economic bubble burst. It was unbelievable at the time; maybe you had a similar experience. A lot of designers did.
After a week or two, I realized that I was totally unprepared for a layoff. I had no engineering peers to follow to another local job. The few local companies that were hiring were destined to be under water before long. I had to begin looking for a job on my own. I began reading advice on how to update a resume. “I work well on a team,” I wrote. But needless to say, flaunting that you work well on a team is of little value if there is no work. I began searching for jobs out of state.
Soon, I came across a lead for a PCB design job in Reno, Nevada. The job description stated, “Must work well on a team.” I though, “That’s me!” I sent off my application.
Before long, my phone rang. It was the human resources manager from the company in Reno. She mentioned that she would like to schedule a phone interview with me. I was hoping she would mention something about the PCB design team in Reno, but she didn’t. Great! I responded.
A week or so later, I answered the phone and was introduced to the Reno company’s engineering services manager and principle electronics engineer. We talked extensively about my work history and the types of printed boards I had designed, but they seemed particularly interested in a certification I’d received the previous year from IPC, the Certified Interconnect Designer (CID).
To read this entire article, which appeared in the May 2017 issue of The PCB Design Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Boeing's Janene Stinson Earns IPC Excellence in Education Award at IPC APEX EXPO 2024
04/22/2024 | IPCThe IPC Excellence in Education award was presented to Janene Stinson, Boeing, at IPC APEX EXPO 2024 in Anaheim, California, in recognition of her significant contributions to workforce development and leadership.
Zentech’s Board of Directors Announces the Return of Matt Turpin as President and CEO
04/22/2024 | Zentech ManufacturingTurpin draws upon over 35 years of experience in the electronics industry and has an 18-year history with Zentech. He previously served as President and CEO from 2006 to 2019 after which time he has remained active in the EMS industry as an advisor to Zentech and other industry organizations.
IDTechEx Report Unveils 3D Electronics Status and Opportunities
04/22/2024 | PRNewswire3D electronics is an emerging manufacturing approach that enables electronics to be integrated within or onto the surface of objects. 3D electronic manufacturing techniques empower new features, including mass customizability, greater integration, and improved sustainability in the electronics industry.
IDTechEx Examines the Opportunities for Wearables in Digital Health
04/19/2024 | IDTechExIDTechEx’s report, “Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence 2024-2034: Trends, Opportunities, and Outlook”, covers this ongoing trend in the consumer health wearables market and includes analysis of the opportunities and roadmap for biometric monitoring.
ZESTRON Welcomes Whitlock Associates as New Addition to their Existing Rep Team in Florida
04/19/2024 | ZESTRONZESTRON, the leading global provider of high-precision cleaning products, services, and training solutions in the electronics manufacturing and semiconductor industries, is thrilled to announce the addition of Whitlock Associates to its esteemed network of sales representatives.