Advice

Applications

• Apply for every position, even if you're not interested in it; you'll gain valueable experience if you get to do an interview with them (don't feel bad, as it's an opportunity for them to market the position to you as well, to make it more interesting to you)
• Minimize time spent writing cover letters, just ChatGPT them; even the APSC Coop ones do not read your cover letter
• There are browser extensions that will autofill your info onto applications and also complete the race, gender, disability, visa, etc. questions for you

Interviews

• Have five or so experiences to discuss as answers to behavioral questions
• Know how to do leetcode easies under pressure (generally they'll help you with more difficult ones)
• Be able to explain your resume projects in detail (I forgot what I did for some of the earlier ones)
• Don't be afraid to ask for clarification on questions or help with technical questions, they've interviewed far more idiotic people than you, and the urge to learn is appreciated
• Know basic linux shell (perhaps play BashCrawl)
• For ASIC positions, actually review digital design, and not just review Verilog
• Know the basics of all popular programming languages (i.e. do a few leetcodes in each language); some positions require specific languages to be used for technical questions
• Have a solid scripted self-introduction prepared (i.e. what you've done, what you're interested in, what you want to do in the future)
  

Applications

Stats

• ~120 applications (25 through UBC APSC Coop)
  • ~15 rejections (3 through UBC APSC Coop)
  • rest are pending/never heard back

Companies

Basically every company in existence

HR Screens

Stats

• 2 HR Screens
  • 1 Never heard back
  • 1 Arranged interview

Companies

• Aspect Biosystems: Software Engineer (Arranged interview)
  • Basic questionaire
• LMI Technologies: Sensor Software (Never heard back)
  • HR person told me to give technical answers for them to take notes on

# Interviews ## Stats - 6 Interviews (5 through UBC APSC Coop) - 2 Rejections (2 through UBC APSC Coop) - 2 Never heard back (2 through UBC APSC Coop) - 1 Moved on to OA (1 through UBC APSC Coop) - 1 Offer

Companies (in order of interview)

• Intel: ASIC IP Verification (Never heard back)
  • digital design components, designing logic in Verilog, Verilog quirks/testbenches, Leetcode easies, in-depth explaination of FPGA resume projects
• Metro Vancouver: Project Research Assistant (Rejected)
  • my experience, volunteering (why?), why I wanted to work for them, behavioral questions
• Creative Energy: General Engineering (Rejected)
  • my experience with IoT stack, behavioral questions
• Aspect Biosystems: Software Engineer (Never heard back)
  • Leetcode medium, behavioral questions
• NZ Technologies: Embedded Software (Moved on to OA)
  • bash, debugging, software design, behavioral questions
• AMD: ML Software (Offer)
  • 2 leetcode easies leading to a leetcode medium in C++, behavioral questions