From: news@analogconsultants.com   
      
   On 11/26/25 7:01 PM, Edward Rawde wrote:   
   > "Don Y"  wrote in message news:10   
   8a9c$vrte$1@dont-email.me...   
      
   [...]   
      
      
   >>>>> There's also a difference between what is taught and what is needed in a   
   workplace.   
   >>>>> I could use a soldering iron when I got my degree, but most other   
   graduates couldn't.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I disagree.  Skills are easy to pick up -- how long do you think it would   
   take   
   >>>> to teach someone how to make a reliable solder joint?   
      
      
   Many skills are not easy to pick up. For example, trying to figure out   
   what's wrong with a complicated piece of electronics where the   
   manufacturer is unwilling to furnish schematics. This is a highly   
   valuable skill later in the job because there you usually get schematics   
   but then are way faster in diagnosing than others. Or maybe the only one   
   able to do it which can result in guru status, along with a commensurate   
   income.   
      
   One example, years ago: Discussion with a client, big meeting. The   
   problem was likely in a circuit with a very large tube. One manager   
   exclaimed "Well, good luck, nobody knows tubes anymore" ...  ... "Ahm, I've built some stuff with tubes when I was a   
   teenager because we could get those for free" ... "WHAT?!" ... and we   
   fixed it. No course work involved here, this was all self-taught. Had to.   
      
   >>>   
   >>> As far as making a reliable solder joint is concerned I've seen many   
   outcomes.   
   >>> This is from prototype testing not production.   
   >>> Here are some possible outcomes.   
   >>>   
   >>> 1. Perfect joint.   
   >>>   
      
   Don't let that person walk to the parking lot without an offer letter in   
   hand.   
      
      
   >>> 2. Perfect joint after being shown that keeping your wrist on the bench   
   while you   
   >>> make the joint will keep your hand steady.   
   >>>   
      
   Maybe ok to hire unless there is a #1.   
      
   >>> 3. Good effort but here's how to remove grime and oxide film from the   
   resistor's   
   >>> legs before you solder it.   
   >>>   
      
   Not a good candidate.   
      
   >>> 4. Deliberately poor joint because "I shouldn't have to do this".   
      
   Don't hire.   
      
   >>   
   >> So, put a number on how many HOURS it would take you to learn this.   
      
      
   You don't have to because it isn't done during lecture time.   
      
      
   >> Then, decide which hours of coursework you would forego to learn   
   >> this skill in school.   
      
      
   No need to.   
      
   >   
   > None. But plenty of present day students seem to have to have a job as well   
   as school.   
   > In my case I did partially have a job while at school because although my   
   father didn't   
   > specifically offer equipment repair to people off the street, I would often   
   find a   
   > non functional piece of electronics waiting for me to find out what was   
   wrong with it.   
   >   
      
   Exactly. Either that or have an electronics hobby. In my case that was   
   ham radio but I also repaired lots of radios and TVs. The point is, if   
   someone isn't doing any of this and thus hasn't acquired basic skills   
   such as soldering or trying to figure out how a circuit is supposed to   
   work but doesn't, maybe he or she should not head into an engineering   
   career.   
      
   [...]   
      
   --   
   Regards, Joerg   
      
   http://www.analogconsultants.com/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)