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A hardware job with a college degree? Possible?

Tags:
  • Hardware
  • Computers
  • College
Last response: in Work & Education
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March 5, 2013 10:34:34 PM

Hello!

Thanks for taking a moment to look at my thread. I'm going to just get right into it!

I am a highschool student right now (Gr11) and will be going to college in a couple years. I have a great interest in computers and espiecally like hardware over software.

I have a great talent in both my computer courses that I've been taking the past few years in highschool and will continue to take ("Computer Engineering" which is more hardware based, and "Computer Science" which is more software based where we learnt VB, currently learning Java and will learn C++ next year.) So computer literacy and passion aren't an issue for me.

The issue that is there for me is that I really like computer hardware and want to get into it; unfortunately for me though, almost ALL jobs in hardware require atleast a Bachelor's degree from a University and previous work experience.

To put it frank; my marks are decent in everything except math. Math is really really bad for me, and I've tried tutoring and everything, but I just simply cannot seem to get a great mark. It just doesnt click with me. When I do math in Computer Science or Computer Engineering where I can directly relate it to an application, my math is flawless, but otherwise it's horrible; this sole disadvantage puts me out of the way of getting into a good university as all technical courses need a very high math average. So I decided to get into software instead as getting a college adv. diploma+co op in Software Engineering at Sheridan (if you're familiar with the place; it is the best reputable technical college in Ontario, Canada. It is second in Ontario for computer-based programs, second only to U of Waterloo.)

However, I was talking to a teacher a few days ago and he said that I can indeed get into hardware! He told me that I could get into programming drivers and BIOS's and such for computers, and that that'd give me both a software side and a hardware side.

So this made total sense to me as it is still technically software engineering when dealing with drivers...

So does anyone know if getting into hardware is possible with a software engineering adv. diploma+coop? If so, is programming drivers and BIOS's and the like the ticket through?

Thanks for reading this!

tl;dr - Can only get a software engineering adv. diploma+co op. Any way to get myself a job in hardware?

More about : hardware job college degree

March 11, 2013 10:22:22 AM

As an IT Recruiter of 6 years in the Silicon valley, I can tell you that getting a Hardware Engineering job without a degree, while isn't impossible, is very difficult.

This is opposite of Software Engineering, let me explain.

In Hardware Engineering, the complexities of working on a board level typically require expertise that cannot be, again "TYPICALLY", learned on your own time. This usually requires the expertise of someone going through rigorous classes and projects usually attained through school plus a co-op program to get started. Again, while not impossible, it's definitely not common.

Software Engineering, especially anything web related (whether website programming or web applications programming) can for the most part be self taught as it requires no actual hardware to learn other than a computer to program on and some sort of hosting service to try out your projects you've created. Making a portfolio in Software Engineering is much easier and I've had PLENTY of folks come my way with zero degrees or certs but with an outstanding portfolio, mind, and attitude landing great jobs at awesome companies.

Math though is going to be a part of your programming life whether you like it or not. Better start studying extra hard!
March 13, 2013 9:49:01 AM

borisof007 said:
!


Thank you very much for your reply! It's definitely true that learning this stuff on my own time is very equipment limited. Though I still have a question:

What about writing drivers? That seems to be possible with any computer and that would still get me a job in a hardware company; so would that be a possibility?

Sorry for replying late, but nonetheless, thanks again for your reply!
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March 13, 2013 1:51:00 PM

elemein said:
borisof007 said:
!


Thank you very much for your reply! It's definitely true that learning this stuff on my own time is very equipment limited. Though I still have a question:

What about writing drivers? That seems to be possible with any computer and that would still get me a job in a hardware company; so would that be a possibility?

Sorry for replying late, but nonetheless, thanks again for your reply!


Driver creation is definitely a viable job, it just happens to be pretty specific to what you're working with (drivers for hard drives, video cards, printers, etc.). But yes, there's definitely jobs here in the U.S. for Engineers specializing in Drivers.
March 13, 2013 3:19:05 PM

borisof007 said:
elemein said:
borisof007 said:
!


Thank you very much for your reply! It's definitely true that learning this stuff on my own time is very equipment limited. Though I still have a question:

What about writing drivers? That seems to be possible with any computer and that would still get me a job in a hardware company; so would that be a possibility?

Sorry for replying late, but nonetheless, thanks again for your reply!


Driver creation is definitely a viable job, it just happens to be pretty specific to what you're working with (drivers for hard drives, video cards, printers, etc.). But yes, there's definitely jobs here in the U.S. for Engineers specializing in Drivers.


Oh good!

Yeah I wont put all my eggs into one basket with this one, but I'll definitely try to practise writing up drivers and BIOS's and stuff like that. Then just get a Software Engineering diploma with a portfolio of drivers/etc. and see what I can get. If I just get a software job, thats fine, if I get a driver/BIOS job, then thats perfect!

Thanks for answering!
March 14, 2013 3:12:59 PM

I know you said math isnt your strong suit, but if you want to get that degree, make sure you study the hell out of math. You'll take more math than you ever thought you'd need, plus some more.

Sorry for not actually being helpful, just one college student giving advice to a future one
July 30, 2013 6:14:28 PM

Learn some eastern languages and move to China.
The margin on PC hardware is paper thin and the only way to make money from it is very large volumes.

Anyone can read a book and assemble a computer, or even diagnose problems without resorting to trial and error (although most people don't).

In the future large players (Dell, HP, Apple, etc.) will divide and conquer manufacturing giants like Foxconn (Hon Hai Pty Ltd) and Pegatron to play them against each other.

Eventually entire data centres will fit within a can of coke.

If you're going to study anything study the most advanced mathematics that you can and get into Software Engineering; even if you want to code drivers using C/C++.

There isn't a huge demand for driver developers regardless, so I wouldn't pin your hopes on a job doing a very specific task.
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