[sdiy] Advice on finding Synth/IOT/AUDIO work? job boards etc

[brianw]

Still looking, Dan?

Another way to strategize the search is to know your limitations, and stick to your strong points.

I pursued a particular audio company for eleven months before landing work. I knew the VP and top people within the company because they were local and I would see them at music events testing new gear. For the longest time, they didn't have the budget or opportunity for me. When they finally said they had something where they needed an outside consultant, it turned out to be a project where I had basically no experience and certainly no interest in diverting my career path. It was very difficult for me to say, "No," but I explained that I was not the right person for that project. Later, they ended up hiring me to do iOS programming; then embedded firmware as well as digital circuit design. All told, I spent over four years consulting with that company, but it took almost a year to get that started.

Besides knowing your limitations as well as your strengths, it's important to meet people. I attended Audio Engineering Society meetings in the area, and there are many companies at those meetings who might have openings. Not only that, but many of the engineers at AES meetings have worked at many local companies and can tell you more about the market. Most AES meetings are free to attend, but I recommend joining AES anyway. You will learn a lot about audio technology and meet many people in the industry.

Brian Willoughby


On Mar 25, 2024, at 12:15 PM, Mike Bryant wrote:
> I used to be R&D director for a well known audio company and what I will say is, compared with non-audio companies I was director of before, you are over-whelmed with CVs from people who a) think they are the next Rupert and say so on their CVs, and b) f***king useless once you interview them.  But they'll all take salaries 20% below the market norms.
> 
> Thus chances of even getting an audio interview no matter how good you are is more down to chance.  Make your CV attractive to whatever companies around you are looking for, which may involve re-writing it to suit for each one, with a non-generic elevator pitch showing you have researched the company you are applying to.
> From: Dan Snazelle
> Sent: 25 March 2024 18:49
>  
> thanks all for these leads! I will happily apply whether audio related or not AND whether in NYC or not. 
> 
> On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 1:40 PM Chris McDowell wrote:
>> Agreeing with Ben and Grant here. I just went through this process! Having a decade of "Super Synthesis" on my resume confused everyone, especially when I had it listed as concurrent with the other jobs. I used ChatGPT to help me take my relevant experience and retarget as an embedded engineer, meaning circuits, layout, firmware, bring-up. I made sure to fluff it up nice, with references to specific technologies on each job listing and a very tiny narrative describing what the job was and why I was valuable.
>> 
>> Nobody ever gave two shits that I know how to design audio hardware. Knowing how to use Altium and STM32CubeIDE though, very valuable. 
>> 
>> Dan, thanks for the hard work on Snazzy. you were kicking butt and an inspiration when I started Super. 
>> 
>> If anyone here has advice on how to pay rent making modules, that would be welcome! lol  
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Chris 
>> 
>> > On Mar 24, 2024, at 10:58 AM, Ben Bradley wrote:
>> > 
>> > I agree with Grant's suggestion, I'd suggest you (re)write your resume
>> > as an embedded software engineer and you "just happened" to work on
>> > music-related devices.
>> > 
>> > There's the Music-DSP list, what little traffic it has is job
>> > postings, though they're mostly academic-area jobs that generally
>> > require advanced degrees.
>> > 
>> >> On Sun, 24 Mar 2024 at 10:53, Dan Snazelle wrote:
>> >> 
>> >> Hello there.
>> >> 
>> >> I am wondering if anyone has leads on good places to find jobs—websites, job boards etc within the domain of synth, stompbox, internet of things work. I have lots of experience designing modules, stompboxes, coding C/C++ with ESP32, STM32, Arduino, etc. And a couple years of working with GoLang at a Crypto Tax company.
>> >> 
>> >> I did nothing but run Snazzy FX for so many years that I am having the issue that many "normal" jobs see that as a mark against me, not as a good thing that I have worn so many hats over the years.
>> >> 
>> >> Even before Snazzy FX I had years of doing audio work, and over the last few years I had a programming job. The irony is that I took the job to bring some financial stability to my life. I did not think about the fact that tech is full of lay-offs.
>> >> 
>> >> Anyway long story short I would love to hear from others who might have leads on how to find work at other audio companies  OR who may be able to relate their experiences about how they went from synth work into a job that utilized those skills.
>> >> 
>> >> When I try to apply for programming jobs—they see I have two years of working at a tech company. Which they do not see as enough experience. Then they see I had more than 12 years manufacturing audio products. And before that a lot of audio work. Which just seems to confuse them. I am wondering if there is a search term that might work well for people with these skills?
>> >> 
>> >> Some people tell me my best bet is to start making modules again but as I live in NYC and have large rent it seems like that is not the quickest route to actually being able to get my rent paid.
>> >> 
>> >> 
>> >> Happy to share my resume with anyone who might be able to help or who may have advice.
>> >> 
>> >> I only have 6 more weeks of unemployment left so I am feeling as if I must figure something out quickly.
>> >> 
>> >> thanks!