Mechanic - al Engineer

by Eric
(Texas)

I once applied for a summer internship while in school working on my mechanical engineering degree. The head of the company described himself as a self educated engineer, and obviously looked down his nose at those uppity "college educated" engineers who thought they were so great. To prove how stupid and unqualified I was he performed what was obviously his standard interview test: He reached into his top desk drawer and produced a hand full of machine screws which he spilled out onto the table. He then asked me to identify the size and thread of each. I had no idea, and wondered if he was looking for an engineer or a mechanic... I have to admit I could pass that little test now after a dozen years designing devices myself, but the lesson here is that you never know what type of chip the interviewer is going to have on his shoulder. Sometimes a degree from a top notch university is a plus, and sometimes it makes you the enemy.