Week 6

Group Discussion on Capstone Ideas

This week my teammates and I discussed possible projects we could do for the capstone project. Each of us showed the capstone project ideas we had from last time.

Interestingly, there were a few common themes between us. Most of us suggested project ideas involving AI, with some of us suggesting multiple. Most of us also suggested project ideas that related software that helps with organization. Given how much they were suggested, it is very possible that our capstone project will include AI or organization.

Among the topics my teammates suggested, there were a few that stood out to me.

  • Appointment Booking System for small business - This is a booking system aimed at small business, which would feature automatic reminders and a calendar, and would be mobile-friendly. This idea looks very doable, and it would probably be easy to work with a small business for the project.
  • Smart Navigation System/App for public spaces - This would be a mobile app that assists with navigation of crowded, public spaces by showing how crowded paths are based on foot-traffic. This idea is incredibly interesting, but it seems like it would be hard to implement.
  • AI-Driven Agriculture System -  This software would help agriculture by using AI to help with tasks such as irrigation, fertilization, and pest control. I could see a software like this being very useful and popular in agriculture.

What companies are looking for in new hires

This week we watched a video called What companies are looking for in new hires by Dr. Eric Tao, which discusses what qualities companies are looking for in new hires. The video lists ten qualities:

  1. Dependable - Companies want employees who can consistently deliver on-time and quality work.
  2. Communication - Companies want employees who can communicate effectively. This includes communicating ideas or when something is wrong, and being able to make presentations.
  3. Solve Problems - Companies want employees who are able to innovate and solve problems in creative, efficient ways.
  4.  Teamwork - Companies want employees who can effectively work in teams. This includes being a team leader, being able to work with a team leader one does not like, being able to encourage others, and being able to help others.
  5.  Proactive - Companies want employees who will propose solutions or contribute even when they are not required to do so.
  6.  Integrity - Companies want employees that they can trust, that tell the truth and do not hide things.
  7.  Flexibility - Companies want employees who can accomplish a variety of tasks.
  8. Confidence - Companies want employees who are confident in their field. This means employees that are up to date on the trends in the field, and employees who practice new things and ideas.
  9.  Learn - Companies want employees that are able to adapt and learn new things. This means employees that are proactive about learning and practicing new things.
  10. Tech Skills - Companies want employees that have the necessary technical skills. This means employees who keep up with programming languages, platforms, and tools.

Software Engineer Mock Interview

 This week we watched a video called Software Engineering Job Interview - Full Mock Interview by the freeCodeCamp.org Youtube channel. The video featured a mock interview of a software engineering interview between two software engineers. The interview was split into two parts. The first part focused on designing the foundation of a library application, and the second part focused on designing an algorithm to detect plagiarism.

Watching the video was very informative. I had heard about code interviews many times, but I didn't understand much about them before watching this video. It is also commonly said that one of the most important skills in software engineering is being able to break a problem into smaller problems. This video is a perfect showcase of how important that skill is. By breaking the design of the library app into multiple, small problems, the interviewee was able to tackle it much more effectively.

Resumes

This week we read about how to create resumes. We learned the following about making resumes:

  • It is important to tailor a resume to the specific job or type of job one is looking for. This will help keep irrelevant information out of the resume.
  • It is important to keep a resume free of errors. This is one of the first things companies look for to rule out applicants.
  • Resumes should be about one page. A company may not get around to reading longer resumes, so it is important to keep it short.
  • It is important to balance the text and white-space on a resume. A resume doesn't look appealing if it is all text or white-space, or if all of the text is on one side or in one area. Balancing the text and white-space, so that there is an balance of both across the entire page, will make a resume more appealing.
  • Resumes should have 0.5-1 inch margins, a font size of 10-12, and Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier font.
  • Resumes shouldn't have abbreviated words or acronyms, flashy graphics or fonts, text in the first person, or information about high school achievements.

Cover Letters

This week we read about how to create cover letters. We learned the following about cover letters:

  • Cover letters typically consist of three, short paragraphs. 
    • The first paragraph introduces yourself. This includes information such was what you are studying and your progress on your studies. It also includes why you are applying for the job, and why you believe you are a good candidate.
    •  The second paragraph gives a some reasons, usually three, of why you are a good candidate. This could include past experience or projects, or how the job or internship aligns with their interests.
    •  The third paragraph restates your interest and thanks the reader for considering your application.
  • Cover letters should identify a specific person, list their position, and list their place of work. This makes the cover letter more impressive.
  • Cover letters should be customized for the specific job, should not be exaggerated, and should be concise.



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