Yeah, I was in a microsoft building years ago and they had posters everywhere saying there was a $10,000 bonus if you convinced a friend to come work there.
That said, this particular company seems to make a project management web-app. I don't think they need to hire top tier geniuses, probably didn't have any to begin with. Or am I underestimating the market value of a competant web dev?
project management web-app
I almost spit out my coffee laughing.
I guess I am mainly only talking about places that write systems level code, firmware, drivers, microcode, utilities, compilers, complex engineering and science applications, etc.
Yeah, I was wondering when you started talking about a windows hardware conference, didn't seem like productivity web app territory.
Incidentally, if you have any advice about how to get into that kind of field could I PM you? I've wanted to work with hardware level coding for years.
hardware level coding for years
avoid tinkering with arduino UNLESS targeting a very low volume run and can afford 22 dollar specs.
you want to learn ARM-32 (arm cortex) or 64 C programming (assembler not needed at first except understanding interrupt handlers and boot up and sleep)!!!!!! Then buy a easy to play with ARM based version similar to some arduino kits enhanceability and battery management.
you can learn ARM using a game boy advance emulator (ARM7TDMI) and a set of free compiler tools. no hardware, no cables, but not impressive.
remember to avoid ever wasting time on Thumb 16-bit instruction mode! Its not part of the world of 2021.
To impress a person hiring , you need to build a few hobby fun arm projects, (gyrosope, sound, led control, screen draw, fonts, battery management, etc). lots of "EVIL GENIUS" style robotics books exist and some are ARM based.
If you just want systems level ARM tinkering and daughtercard addon consider many cool projects for a powerful linux computer : https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/
50 bucks and you are set, then buy the cards to snap onto it to do DA, AD, relay button, 3d gryro , etc.
you cannot of course ever expect to use that proprietary shit firmware in a raspberrypi in a SERIOUS mass market ARM product.
Serious mass market products are final builds with just a 2 to 5 dollar ARM CPU, sometimes additional flashrom, and minimalist board. 2 to 5 dollars... not 45 dollars.
Serous hobby board to start out with would be :
STM32 Discovery(10$) a 10 dollar board with 32-bit ARM cortex running at 24MHZ with 8kb of RAM, or a 50 dollar with bells and whistles : https://www.amazon.com/s?k=STM32+Discovery
do a few cool projects using things similar to STM32 hobby boards and remember that the interviewer wants in a hiring meeting to know how you FIXED PROBLEMS and overcome engineering obstacles, and not just final success.
if self teaching, perhaps find free online collegiate courseware for DIGITAL ELECTRONICS. A couple years ago lots of universities allowed video of courses online.
books and even some textbooks can come from searching : https://booksc.org/
To get hired, start on a small contract LOCALLY and underbid and work at your own pace as a contractor, but its better to get hired fulltime and learn on the job because an older mentor can unstuck you if you act appreciative.
the only negative of being a hardware engineer is INCORRECT OR MISSING CHIP DOCUMENTATION or MISSING FIRMWARE DOCUMENTATION. I achieved jaw dropping reworks of existent circuit boards without one piece of paper of any documentation. Its never ever barely tolerable, but one day you will do the same. A high IQ can solve any computer or electrical problem.
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