How College Helped a Staff R&D Application Engineer at Broadcom Succeed
To achieve career success, Rasheek emphasizes building a strong support network of friends and mentors early in undergraduate studies, describing this as crucial for developing a strong work ethic. The interviewee also highlights the importance of foundational computer science coursework, particularly "intro to programming, matlab, object oriented programming, data structures," and impactful capstone projects, like the team's "autonomous RC car," which provided invaluable hands-on experience in product development.
Teamwork, Project Management, Technical Skills, Networking, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Rasheek Noor
Staff R&D Application Engineer
Broadcom
UC Davis
UCLA Anderson - MBA
Engineering - Electrical
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
None Applicable, Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Develop a strong support network: Build relationships with peers who share similar career aspirations. This collaborative environment fosters motivation and helps develop a strong work ethic.
2. Focus on fundamental coursework: Master core subjects like introductory programming, data structures, and object-oriented programming, as these are frequently assessed in interviews.
3. Engage in hands-on projects: Participate in projects that allow you to build a product from the ground up, such as a capstone project or extracurricular activity. This experience provides invaluable practical skills and showcases your abilities to potential employers.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad that set you up for success in your career?
First things first, developing a good group of friends is crucial. You want people you can relate to, who can also serve as mentors and best friends.
This is really important, especially early in undergrad. Many of my friends were in engineering or med school, all focused on developing a niche. Being around that kind of drive helps build a work ethic. It's especially helpful when your parents aren't there to push you to get homework done.
When it comes to classes, I took many that were important. I majored in electrical engineering, so I didn't take all the same computer science classes as a CS or CE major. However, I completed core lower-division courses like intro to programming, MATLAB, object-oriented programming, and data structures.
These foundational classes are very important for interviews. They come up in almost every interview, regardless of the seniority or level of the position.
Other things I wish I'd stuck with more were joining professional clubs, fraternities, sororities, or professional projects. I did dabble in building a Formula F1 car with the mechanical engineering department, but only for a week or two.
Outside of that, I made sure the classes I took were valuable and would be important for my career. Specifically, on the hardware side of computer science, embedded systems and computer architecture were very important.
Finally, I took the final project very seriously. For many engineering degrees, you have to complete a final project and often compete with it. We built an autonomous RC car for a race and competition. Building a product from the ground up and understanding how any product or application is developed is very important for being impactful in your industry.