Friday, May 21, 2010

Free consulting webinar 6/17/2010 &c: IEEE-USA Today's Engineer E-Mail Update: May 2010

"IEEE-USA Webinar: Consulting 102
In this new webinar for consultants who want to improve their practices, Gary Blank picks up where he left off in his previous webinar "Consulting 101," which focused on how to get started in consulting. This webinar will address the most important challenge facing consultants: how to find clients. In this free, one-hour webinar, Blank will present several proven methods for finding clients, and how to make it easy for clients to find you."

Other topics also covered at:


Cheers,
Connie O'Dell

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Daniel Nenni on the EDA Vendor Survey

"After ..., we find Denali, Atrenta and Springsoft rising above everyone else" ...
"Are we seeing a new "fault line" forming in EDA between chip definition and chip implementation?"

Good insights:

Of course this article predates the acquisition of Denali by Cadence, but it also may have predicted it...   :-)

Cheers,
Connie

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

"TSMC Conference Call is a 6.5 on the Richter Scale" - Daniel Nenni

"TSMC continues to drive the economic recovery with impressive Q1 numbers and an even more impressive Q2 and Q3 outlook. TSMC is my economic bellwether due to its diverse customer base and shear volume of consumer electronics silicon. The big surprise in the 1 hour Q1 conference call is a new Giga Fab (#15) ground breaking this year for added 40nm and 28nm production. This is TSMCs 3rd Giga Fab which can produce 100,000+ wafers per month. So the TSMC strategy is clear, economies of scale, out produce your competitors and prepare for a wafer price war like no other."
...
"Unfortunately, with all electronics sectors showing stronger than seasonal demand, wafer rationing is amongst us."

Nice analysis - more at:  http://danielnenni.com/2010/04/27/tsmc-conference-call-is-a-6-5-on-the-richter-scale/

Cheers,
Connie O'Dell
--------------------
Make a Small Loan, Make a Big Difference - Check out Kiva.org to Learn How!

Monday, May 10, 2010

May 2010 Employment Outlook for Design Verification Professionals from DVClub:

"Large engineering firms are going to a new workforce composition of about 20 percent contract."
DVClub has an update on this every month, seem to have done their homework.

Cheers,
Connie 

Friday, May 7, 2010

CoSpgs,CO digital, mixed signal, analog/physical design, AE, verification (also Austin/Dallas/Portland/Nashua)

In case of interest, contact the recruiter directly...  Feel free to forward.

Cheers,
Connie O'Dell (P.S. The recruiter doesn't know me directly, he contacted one of my former Cadence coworkers)
--------------------
Hi Tim: 

This is Kal Luben, semiconductor recruiter in Austin. I thought you may be able to help me with a few of the positions I am working on. I am recruiting senior digital, mixed signal, and analog design positions in Austin, TX; Sunnyvale, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Portland, OR and Nashua, NH. I am also working on applications positions, verification, and physical design opportunities in Austin/Dallas, TX and Colorado Springs, CO. Please let me know if there are any engineers who would care to explore. 

Thank you, 

Kal 
kal.luben@gmail.com


Thursday, May 6, 2010

Free conference exhibit pass for jobseekers (Design Automation, Anaheim), limited time:

If you are jobseeking in hardware design/EDA/whatever, and need to hunt up some job leads or some technical updating, technical conferences are a good deal.  This free DAC exhibits pass makes it better, but you have to beat the deadline.  
For hotels in Anaheim, I have had great luck with low-ball Priceline offers (there are a lot of hotels there) if you don't mind a bit of a walk or taking the bus.  If you would fly there, don't forget to check Southwest for fares, they might not appear in airline price searches like Bing or travelocity.  And if you are trying at all, you can get *a lot* of free food during the conference...

Cheers,
Connie "The Cheapskate" O'Dell
(from http://www.deepchip.com/wiretap/100420.html )
Subject: Atrenta/Denali/Springsoft buy everyone's DAC passes this year!

> Hi, Mike, David, Rob,
>
> I've heard that Atrenta, Denali and SpringSoft plan to again give away
> 600 free full week exhibit passes to DAC this year. Is that true?
>
> And what about unemployed users? Can they get in like last year?
>
> - John Cooley
> DeepChip.com Holliston, MA


From: Mike Gianfagna <mikeg=user domain=atrenta.com>

Hi, John,

Yes, we're doing it again, but with a twist. This year, instead of 600,
the number of free full exhibit passes will be *unlimited*. As long as
you're an EDA user or an out-of-work user OR out-of-work vendor, you're
in. Here's how to register:

http://www.DeepChip.com/FreeDAC10passes.html

Please pass the word to your readers -- if you're an EDA user, getting into
the exhibits at DAC will be free this year, period.

- Mike Gianfagna
Atrenta, Inc. San Jose, CA

---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

From: David Lin <davidlin=user domain=denali.com>

Hi, John,

Yes, we're doing it again. One thing Mike forgot to mention is that the
first 500 people to register are put into a raffle drawing for a free
16 GB Wi-Fi Apple iPad -- which seems to be the new toy everyone in the
valley wants this month.

- David Lin
Denali Software, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA
...
(apologies for re-running this item, but it seems kind of important...  :-)    )

Monday, May 3, 2010

Prepare For Your Next (Design Verification) Job Interview

On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 5:02 PM, Connie L. O'Dell <c.odell@ieee.org> wrote:
Nice article: http://www.thinkverification.com/tips/50-prepare-for-your-next-job-interview.html , very relevant for DV/design types...

Cheers,
Connie

Prepare For Your Next (Design Verification) Job Interview

Nice article: http://www.thinkverification.com/tips/50-prepare-for-your-next-job-interview.html , very relevant for DV/design types...

Cheers,
Connie

Verification Engineer in COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Feel free to forward, contact recruiter if of interest.  Considering their rush and the combination of experience requested, I bet some of the experience requirements or the rate is negotiable...  I do know which company it's at.

Cheers,
Connie
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <Deepti_Mishra@artechinfo.com>
Date: Mon, May 3, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Subject: Need Verification Engineer in COLORADO SRPINGS, CO
To: c.odell@co-consulting.net


Job Title:  Verification Engineer
Location: 
 COLORADO SRPINGS, CO 
Duration:
   3-6 Months

Job Description:

Please note this is a high priority req for a special project.  Contract length is for 3 months and the manager is looking to start someone as soon as possible.  The manager has specified specifics he is looking for below:

Experience with highly randomized TestBenches and SystemVerilog is required.  OVM experience preferred.  Must have experience with assertions, functional coverage points, and code coverage.  Questa simulator experience is preferred.  Experience with SAS/SATA protocols is a plus.


DUTIES >>
  

The engineer will be a member of a SAS Expander verification team. Typical activities would include understanding scope of system verification and verifying IP as per specifications. The engineer is responsible for ensuring the IP is functionally correct through the creation of test plans and test cases using an OVM based verification environment. Participation in peer verification reviews will also be involved.

SKILLS >>
  

Experience with highly randomized TestBenches and SystemVerilog is required.  OVM experience preferred.  Must have experience with assertions, functional coverage points, and code coverage.  Questa simulator experience is preferred.  Experience with SAS/SATA protocols is a plus.
Experience in verification/validation. This candidate would have been through the IC development flow from start to finish on more than one project. Typical background would include SOC testbench development using advance verification techniques such as VMM or OVM, development of test plans and test suites, regression execution and analysis and compliance testing. Proficiency in a high level programming/verification knowledge such as; OVM, VMM, C/C++, Verilog, System verilog and assembly level language. Experience with storage serial protocols is a plus, e.g. ethernet, PCI-Express, SAS etc.

EDUCATION >>
  

Bachelors required.  Masters a plus
 
Deepti Mishra
Executive Staffing



240 Cedar Knolls Road, Suite 100
| Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927
Office: 973.993.9383 Ext. 3397 | Fax: 973.993.9366
Email: Deepti_Mishra@artechinfo.com | Website: www.artechinfo.com
 

Artech is the NMSDC National Supplier of the Year!


Sunday, May 2, 2010

Why did you leave your last job, Part 2? (2=Too Much Information)

"I once had a candidate tell me her last boss was a drug addict and did cocaine regularly. Talk about inappropriate disclosure. I am sure there was a much more tactful way to talk about why she left the job." - Raquel Garcia, president of Silicon Valley Human Resources

It's OK to vent about your old boss/job/company, but there are better people to tell... :-)

Cheers,
Connie
----------------------

The Worst Interview Faux Pas

Hiring managers give their worst experiences
Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer


Most job seekers have a case of the jitters before going on a job interview. Anxiety's normal, but almost always those butterflies were in your tummy for nothing. The interview goes well, you don't make any serious mistakes and you exhale the moment you walk out of the room.

Sometimes, however, the interview goes terribly wrong. We're not talking about little mistakes, like spilling coffee on your shirt while you're in the waiting room. No, we're talking about the odd behavior that 99 percent of us wouldn't commit. Hiring managershave given us some examples of the worst missteps they've seen in interviews, and we've compiled the best.

Here are eight interview faux pas that hiring managers have witnessed and that you should avoid if you want to get hired

1. Bad manners
"A cell phone goes off -- which you should just apologize for and turn off promptly, but I've had candidates look at the number, which really ticks off an interviewer." - Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio, co-founder of SixFigureStart Career Coaching

"[The candidate asks,] 'When can I start?' Presumptuous and inappropriate." - Will Robinson, co-founder of VirtualJobCoach

"'Do you have something to eat? I am hungry.'" -- Robinson

"One candidate opened his briefcase and started snacking on crackers while interviewing." - Kent Johnson, partner with Da Vinci Search

2. Being weird
"Strangest thing ever -- a [University of Chicago] MBA student was doing very well during an interview, when a tape recorder spilled out of his briefcase. Very, very odd. He would have gotten a call back for a second round, but not after we saw that tape recorder. We still don't know what that was about! But we stayed away -- big time!" -Thanasoulis-Cerrachio

"I've heard some interesting ones, but the most bizarre was a prospective hire asking me if I was Jewish. Any religion would have been weird to inquire about in that situation ... maybe she was trying to form a bond?" - Justin Seibert, president of Direct Online Marketing

3. Giving a bad reason for wanting the job
"One answer to a question about why the applicant was looking to change jobs left me speechless. The candidate, a 20-something with about five years of work experience, said, 'Well, I've been twiddling my thumbs for six months.'" - Dana Byrne, manager of talent acquisition and professional development at RMJM

4. Letting nervous tics control you

"You shouldn't repeat a phrase over and over again. I had one candidate say, 'There it is' at the end of about seven or eight responses. Very annoying and not impressive." -Thanasoulis-Cerrachio

"Nervous leg bouncing syndrome: I once had a candidate who rocked her leg so much that she was physically moving during the interview. We ended up hiring her, which was a huge mistake -- one of the worst hires ever." - Thanasoulis-Cerrachio

5. Too Much Information
"I once had a candidate tell me her last boss was a drug addict and did cocaine regularly. Talk about inappropriate disclosure. I am sure there was a much more tactful way to talk about why she left the job." - Raquel Garcia, president of Silicon Valley Human Resources

"[One candidate said,] 'I'm a little worried about the background checks. Do you guys do background checks? Because my credit is terrible. I'm trying to get it fixed, but the credit agencies are a joke.'" - Brett Coin, vice president of business development for Resume Donkey

"In response to, 'We'd like to offer you this job. When can you start?' [the job seeker] replied, 'I don't know what to say. I've been through 16 interviews and no one has offered me a job.' This came from the mouth of my junior designer, who was referred to us by one of our clients. Tip: Be ready to accept a job. Like the Oscars, you might want to practice your speech. Not every employer is as forgiving as we are." - Nance Rosen, CEO of Pegasus Media World

"[I was asked,] 'What is your drug-testing policy?'" - Robinson

6. Poor presentation
"Another candidate wore a skimpy sequin dress and fedora hat to an interview claiming she just came from a photo shoot. We all guessed it was a bit more of an X-rated photo opp." - Johnson

"Candidate: Hi, I'm [so-and-so]" (leans in toward us).
Recruiter: (leans ever so slightly away to minimize the odor)." - Mary H. Roome-Godbolt, HR recruiter for Cox Communications Northern Virginia

"I once had a recent graduate who looked fantastic on paper, but showed up wearing flip-flops. During the interview, he would lean back in his chair, flex his hands over his head and he even said several curse words in his responses. It was so bad I e-mailed him afterwards to point out his most obvious blunders!" - Nickie Doria, marketing director for Emmer Development Corp.

"One huge pet peeve is when an applicant comes in smelling like a smokestack! It is a free country ... but that is no reason to come in reeking of smoke. People get nervous and might want to puff a quick cigarette before the interview, which is understandable, but when they arrive smelling like smoke, it is a real turnoff." - Doria

7. Coming unprepared
"I happen to be hiring right now. One line that is a definite door-closer, that I have surprisingly heard several times: 'No, I haven't really had time to look at your Web site yet' or words to that effect. How interested should I be in a candidate with such a low level of interest in and knowledge about our company?" - Alexander Seinfeld, executive director at Jewish Spiritual Literacy Inc.

"In response to the interview question, 'So what do you want to do next?' The worst answer of all is to say, 'I'm totally open ... I'll do anything,' or 'I'm completely flexible ... I can go wherever the company's greatest needs are.' This answer leaves the hiring manager with the burden of figuring out where the candidate belongs in the organization, and no hiring manager has the time or energy to do that kind of work. And with the economy the way it is today, candidates are feeling the need to be flexible and keep their options open, and I am hearing from hiring managers [frustrated] over this kind of answer." - Jeanne Knight, career and job search coach

8. Forgetting to clean up digital dirt
"Of course, for those who are MySpace and Facebook junkies, make sure your pages are set to the private setting. We actually had a girl apply for a leasing position with one of our companies, and she did very well during the interview. Later, the manager wanted to learn more about her, and found that her MySpace name was ... well somewhat promiscuous at best! Needless to say, she never even got a call back! - Dori