Help me engineer a great job

May 17, 2008 4:26 PM

My dream job is coming up but

I currently work for a wireless telecommunications company in sales admininistration which basically means I consult with our leadership team to develop and manage sales processes and major projects. One of these responsibilities involves working with our engineering teams on custom coverage solutions for large businesses. I work very closely with an engineer who is the technical project manager for these systems who is being promoted into a different role very soon (within 1-3 months). Based on discussions with the management and executive staff over the engineering teams I am being considered as a candidate to replace him. I started an electrical engineering program in college immediately out of high school but dropped out before completing any of my core classes so have absolutely no formal technical education

The current engineer’s role is almost entirely project management and vendor management however there is a small degree of technical work required for the position. I have significant project management and vendor management but am lacking in the technical knowledge. In order to help my chances of acquiring this position I want to do what I can to familiarize myself with RF engineering in preparation for the position. I am on very friendly terms with the current engineer and will be spending a considerable amount of time doing on the job training with him in regards to the technical aspects. However I would like to familiarize myself with the theories and applications of radio frequency engineering to solidify my chances.
On a personal note I have restarted my engineering education at a 4 year university but by the time this position comes open I will not have anywhere near the formal education normally required for this position in normal circumstances.

My questions are as follows:
1. What books, online resources, or other easily accessible media can you recommend that will increase my knowledge of radio frequency engineering.
2. For those that may already be in a similar position what advice can you give me to help convince the hiring manager that I have the knowledge needed for this type of position.

Note – Anonymous to prevent my company from tracing back to me. I will respond to specific questions via private messages.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (4 answers total)

I was in a (sort of) similar position, when I wanted to change my degree major from Accounting to Electrical Engineering. I needed to learn enough RF and basic electrical engineering theory to be able to convince the Head of Department to allow me to transfer without repeating two years of College. I worked through the UK Radio Amateur's Handbook, which gave me a crash course in radio theory at just the level that I needed (did not require a lot of preexisting technical knowledge). The nearest that I could find in the USA was the ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications. My advice would be to check out your local library - they are bound to have a copy - you won't need the very latest edition, because things don't change that quickly in RF ... :-)
posted by Susurration at 9:45 PM on May 17, 2008

On a personal note I have restarted my engineering education at a 4 year university but by the time this position comes open I will not have anywhere near the formal education normally required for this position in normal circumstances.

this may end up being much more important than your actual level of technical expertise. what qualifies you to be a manager is your ability to make autonomous decisions and your motivation. you have already begun continuing your education without being prompted to do so. bring that up in conversations about a possible promotion. show them that you are thinking ahead, trying to improve yourself to become the ideal candidate. this will help you massively.
posted by krautland at 9:03 AM on May 18, 2008

Got an email address you can send an admin, anonymous? We can't send you a private message if we don't have that.
posted by limeonaire at 6:29 PM on May 19, 2008

(Make it a throwaway email account...)
posted by limeonaire at 6:29 PM on May 19, 2008