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<div class="markdown-heading" dir="auto" style="text-align: left;"><a id="user-content-free-to-engineer-portfolio-template" class="anchor" href="https://github.com/leea12/free-to-engineer-portfolio-template#free-to-engineer-portfolio-template" aria-label="Permalink: Free to Engineer Portfolio Template"></a></div>
<p dir="auto" style="text-align: left;">With the growing emphasis on practical skills, more companies are looking at portfolios alongside traditional resumes when evaluating engineers. I would highly recommend putting one together. A well-crafted portfolio can showcase your projects, technical abilities, and problem-solving approach in ways that resumes alone cannot. This is a free portfolio template. You can host your site for free in Github in&nbsp;<strong>15 minutes</strong>! Check out the&nbsp;<strong>demo&nbsp;<a href="https://leea12.github.io/" rel="nofollow">here</a></strong>. In order to publish the projects, you need to know how to write in markdown format. I have the basic instructions below so feel free to give it a try.</p>
<div class="markdown-heading" dir="auto"><a id="user-content-adding-projects" class="anchor" href="https://github.com/leea12/free-to-engineer-portfolio-template#adding-projects" aria-label="Permalink: Adding projects"></a></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">For detailed instruction, check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://github.com/leea12/free-to-engineer-portfolio-template">page on github</a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://img.plasmic.app/img-optimizer/v1/img?src=6f0789a1f357164c273d1caa95ccf890.png&amp;f=webp&amp;q=75" width="362" height="223"></p>

Screenshot 2025-02-22 at 1.06.11 PM.png

Free portfolio website template you can use to host for free on Github. 

Free Portfolio Template

<p>First, I wanted to explain why I think exercises like this are valuable. The problem sets I&rsquo;ll share simulate a range of mechanical design challenges that are highly relevant to product development at companies designing instruments with optics, thermal, and mechatronic components. Many innovative companies&mdash;especially startups&mdash;assign these kinds of tasks to assess your critical thinking and your ability to apply core physics and engineering principles to solve problems or refine designs. In the following problem sets, I&rsquo;ll aim to cover diverse topics and technologies.&nbsp; You will be able to recognize your strengths and pinpoint areas for growth.</p>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Usual Format</h2>
<p>These challenges typically come in two forms: real-time or take-home.</p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Real-Time:</h3>
<p>Since you&rsquo;ll tackle the questions live, CAD modeling won&rsquo;t be involved. Expect a mix of problems testing engineering principles, your understanding of design constraints, and simple conceptual design skills.</p>
<h3>Take-Home:</h3>
<p>You&rsquo;ll usually have a set time limit&mdash;often around 2 hours. It may include some CAD design tasks.&nbsp;Years ago, a major 3D printing company had me complete a challenge in the third interview round, followed by a discussion with their head of engineering. It was a fair and insightful process.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><strong>Warning:</strong> I&rsquo;ve seen small startups assign tasks that took 8&ndash;10 hours, which I consider excessive and a warning sign. In some cases, it felt like they were using interviews to brainstorm solutions to their own problems&mdash;something to be cautious about.</p>
<div class="__wab_flex-container &rho;fc">&nbsp;</div>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>Structure</h2>
<ol>
<li>Theoretical questions in topics like (statics / dynamics / thermal / fluids)</li>
<li>Simple concept design sketch</li>
<li>Evaluate the given design for manufacturability / rough cost estimate / material selection. How would you improve the design? How would the volume of production change the way you approach the design?</li>
<li>Simple conceptural design to see the ability to come up with most simple and cost effective design</li>
<li>More complicated CAD design that will challenge the understanding of enginering constraints and recent technology developments. could cover topics like vibration, required assembly precision, optics performance, thermal performance, power transmission</li>
</ol>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>What&rsquo;s the Point of All This?</h2>
<h3><br><strong>I think companies are increasingly using this approach for these key reasons:</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Resumes Aren&rsquo;t Enough</strong>: It&rsquo;s tough to gauge someone&rsquo;s real abilities from a resume alone. I&rsquo;ve spoken with candidates who had stellar resumes, only to learn the work wasn&rsquo;t theirs ask I asked detailed questions. Hiring is a big deal&mdash;especially for small teams&mdash;since training and onboarding can shake up workflows.</p>
<p><strong>This Mirrors Real Work</strong>: These tasks replicate actual job scenarios. You&rsquo;re welcome (and encouraged) to ask questions, revealing how well you&rsquo;d mesh with a team. Also, often, many companies look for "specific skills" that were identified as a gap in the team. So, often times, the questions would geared towards that specific skills.</p>
<p><strong>Communication Is Key</strong>: Even for engineers, clear communication is non-negotiable. We rely on teamwork and trust in each other&rsquo;s work. Visual communication, especially, is vital&mdash;your sketches, explanations, and notes don&rsquo;t need to be artistic, but they must be crystal clear to anyone reading them.</p>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2><br>Conclusion</h2>
<p>I&rsquo;m convinced this interview style will grow more common, particularly among smaller startups. I encourage you to invest time and effort in sharpening these skills&mdash;it&rsquo;s an investment that will pay off in the long run.</p>

problem-set-1.avif

Sharing the perspective of hiring manager: Why these exercises are valuable

Why The Problem Sets Matter (Please Read This First)

<h2 data-start="86" data-end="135"><strong data-start="89" data-end="133">Crack-the-Code: Navigating Career Series</strong></h2>
<p data-start="206" data-end="271">Job applications can feel overwhelming. You might be wondering:</p>
<ul data-start="273" data-end="457">
<li data-start="273" data-end="336">What skills and qualifications ?</li>
<li data-start="337" data-end="396">How can I learn about the job&rsquo;s daily tasks and challenges beforehand?</li>
<li data-start="397" data-end="457">How can I tell if a company&rsquo;s job posting is legitimate?</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="459" data-end="578">To help, I plan to break this down into smaller bite-sized insights based on company size, hiring practices, and real-world trends.</p>
<h3 data-start="136" data-end="204">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="136" data-end="204"><strong data-start="140" data-end="202">Topic #1: Identify Legitimate Job Opportunities by Company Size</strong></h3>
<hr data-start="580" data-end="583">
<h3 data-start="585" data-end="643"><strong data-start="589" data-end="641">1️⃣ Big Companies (Boeing, Boston Scientific, Lockheed,&nbsp; , etc.)</strong></h3>
<p>These companies tend to have "regular" hiring cycles.</p>
<p data-start="644" data-end="840"><strong data-start="644" data-end="660">Internships:</strong> &nbsp;✅ Name value matters in resume. Great opportunities, but competitive. Internship/co-op Hiring season runs from <span style="text-decoration: underline;">November to February</span>. High emphasis on grades and communciation skills<br data-start="750" data-end="753"><strong data-start="753" data-end="774">Entry-Level Jobs:</strong> &nbsp;⚠️ The chances are extremely low. Open "entry-level" positions are basically <span style="text-decoration: underline;">reserved for past interns</span>. I&rsquo;ve never come across a fresh entry-level hire who wasn&rsquo;t a former intern or have a couple of years of experience under the belt. The only exception is when there is a brand new site openings due to investment incentives.</p>
<p data-start="842" data-end="1112"><strong data-start="842" data-end="860">Key Points:</strong><br data-start="860" data-end="863">🔹 If you&rsquo;re looking for an internship/co-op opportunities, career fairs are your best bet. For internship this summer, you have missed it already.<br data-start="934" data-end="937">🔹 If you missed the internship opportunity, move on&mdash;entry-level jobs are scarce.<br data-start="1012" data-end="1015">🔹 <strong data-start="1018" data-end="1032">Exception:</strong> Watch for brand-new site openings (e.g., manufacturing expansions in the US).</p>
<hr data-start="1114" data-end="1117">
<h3 data-start="1119" data-end="1174"><strong data-start="1123" data-end="1172">2️⃣ Mid-Sized Companies (Some Big Names Too!)</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1175" data-end="1351"><strong data-start="1175" data-end="1191">Internships:</strong> ✅ More hands-on experience, but onboarding can be unstructured.<br data-start="1255" data-end="1258"><strong data-start="1258" data-end="1279">Entry-Level Jobs:</strong> Job posttings are actually looking for candidates. High responsibilities and skill-building opportunities. I this this is the <strong>best bet</strong> right now. They will be looking for practical skills and experience.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="1353" data-end="1571"><strong data-start="1353" data-end="1371">Key Points:</strong><br data-start="1371" data-end="1374">🔹 Expect more responsibility and faster learning.<br data-start="1424" data-end="1427">🔹 Look for mentorship in small teams but <strong data-start="1469" data-end="1497">avoid toxic environments</strong> (check turnover rates).<br data-start="1521" data-end="1524">🔹 Build a portfolio to showcase your skills.</p>
<hr data-start="1573" data-end="1576">
<h3 data-start="1578" data-end="1600"><strong data-start="1582" data-end="1598">3️⃣ Startups</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1601" data-end="1795"><strong data-start="1601" data-end="1617">Internships:</strong> ❌ Not ideal&mdash;fast pace means little training and focused mentoring<br data-start="1662" data-end="1665"><strong data-start="1665" data-end="1686">Entry-Level Jobs:</strong> ⚠️ Highly competitive because they would be willing to pay more to hire the right candidate. They prefer <strong data-start="1722" data-end="1737">generalists</strong> with various expertise (e.g., hands-on prototyping, CFD, simulation, etc.). They will not hire candidates with a limited skills and experience.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="1797" data-end="1997"><strong data-start="1797" data-end="1815">Key Points:</strong><br data-start="1815" data-end="1818">🔹 Even for entry level hires, expect to compete with experienced hires.<br data-start="1862" data-end="1865">🔹 In addition to being a generalist, develop a niche skill that matches job descriptions of the position that you are applyibg for (e.g., injection molding, CFD, FAE, or mechanism design).<br data-start="1928" data-end="1931">🔹 Demonstrate <strong data-start="1946" data-end="1970">technical excellence</strong> with portfolio projects.</p>
<hr data-start="1999" data-end="2002">
<h3 data-start="2004" data-end="2029"><strong data-start="2008" data-end="2027">4️⃣ Small Firms</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2030" data-end="2154"><strong data-start="2030" data-end="2046">Internships:</strong> ❓ Limited formal programs. Depends greatly on the mentor and company<br data-start="2088" data-end="2091"><strong data-start="2091" data-end="2112">Entry-Level Jobs:</strong> ✅ More laid-back but most small firms specializes in a niche field so growth is very limited. &nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="2156" data-end="2371"><strong data-start="2156" data-end="2174">Key Points:<br></strong>🔹 Internship experience depnds on the mentor and company&nbsp;<br>🔹 G<strong data-start="2203" data-end="2230">rowth plateaus quickly</strong>.&nbsp;Plan to move on to a new opportunity after couple years to prevent career stagnation.<br data-start="2303" data-end="2306">🔹 Use it as a launchpad before moving to a faster-growth role.</p>
<hr data-start="2373" data-end="2376">
<h2 data-start="2378" data-end="2426"><strong data-start="2381" data-end="2424">Final Thoughts: Where Should You Focus?</strong></h2>
<p data-start="71" data-end="292">1️⃣ <strong data-start="75" data-end="95">For Internships:</strong> If you missed the cycle, focus on <strong data-start="242" data-end="265">mid-sized companies</strong> and work on getting hands-on experience.</p>
<p data-start="294" data-end="503">2️⃣ <strong data-start="298" data-end="323">For Entry-Level Jobs:</strong> <strong data-start="324" data-end="347">Mid-sized companies</strong> offer the best opportunities right now&mdash;<strong data-start="387" data-end="428">practical skills matter more than GPA</strong>. Avoid betting on big companies unless they have a <strong data-start="480" data-end="500">new site opening</strong>.</p>
<p data-start="505" data-end="726">3️⃣ <strong data-start="509" data-end="526">For Startups:</strong> You <strong data-start="531" data-end="557">must be highly skilled</strong>&mdash;generalist knowledge + a specialty (e.g., CFD, injection molding).&nbsp;Build a <strong data-start="690" data-end="710">strong portfolio</strong> to stand out.</p>
<p data-start="728" data-end="846">4️⃣ <strong data-start="732" data-end="752">For Small Firms:</strong><span data-start="732" data-end="752"> Okay for </span><strong data-start="763" data-end="783">first job</strong>, but plan to <strong data-start="797" data-end="823">move on after 2 years max</strong>&nbsp;to avoid stagnation.</p>

interview_1.jpg

How can you focus the right job opportunities in this down market?

 Crack-the-Code: Spot the Right Opportunities

<p>How ready are for for a technical assessment interview? Test your design skills!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe style="width: 650px; max-width: 85%; height: 900px; min-height: 800px; border: 0px; display: block;" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vu89_bVsRvm1-wgNqkVyVQPxqF_P46cE/preview" allow="autoplay"></iframe></p>
<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>

dlxmedia-hu-pakTZIspHO0-unsplash.jpg

This set will include on static, thermal, manufacturing development, and optics design

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