It's all about convincing people

Hey, my Name is Mahmoud and I will give you further insights into my career path and my job as project manager.

Which professional project do you particularly enjoy looking back on or are you currently enjoying working on?

Frankly, I do not have a specific project. I enjoy working on technologies and products a few years before the rollout in the market to the end-users. It is always a pleasure to work on innovative projects and industrialize new developments. Also, a supportive project team is essential to enjoy the journey of a project, and you can always learn new skills from every project. 🤝

What are the challenges of your job?

Convincing people! 🗣️ One of my primary tasks is to promote and qualify new ideas and products. Presenting new ideas can be challenging, especially to audiences with diverse interests such as sales, quality, production and so on. Sometimes it is not easy to put yourself in someone else's shoes. 

What do you like the most about your job?

I like to bring new concepts to life and help the world go where it should be going. By developing smaller, reliable and more efficient boards, we allow our customers to push their limits and stretch capabilities. I work on projects which directly and indirectly enhance many new technologies in everyday life. For example:

• electric vehicles with a higher driving range 🚗
• data clouds with lower energy consumption ☁️⚡
• medical devices with faster and more precise results 🎯

How much do graduates have to know when they start their careers? Is the knowledge from your studies sufficient or is the knowledge used in companies so specific that you have to acquire it anyway?

It always depends on your profession. Surgeons need 100% of the available knowledge and practical experience before starting their careers. As an engineer, I believe both is required to succeed. In my opinion I need about 60% of my knowledge from university such as the technical basis, scientific thinking and soft skills and 40% work experience to thrive in my job, since engineers usually work on specific and complex projects. 🧠

Which knowledge and subjects from your studies are you particularly happy about today? And why?

I am pleased with all the soft skills and management courses that I studies at the university. I believe management is essential for most professions, not only engineers, to succeed. Project Management is a valuable skill. It can be used on a smaller level to project different activities. Moreover, on a personal level, studying abroad was one of the best decisions I made as I have learned so many life skills. 🌍

What knowledge do you need more today that you first had to acquire?

Producing PCBs is a sophisticated task and it takes many processes to produce a single board. Since I come from a very different background, it was necessary to attend a few trainings to get an overview. However, thanks to our experts, I do not need to know everything in detail as I can rely on them whenever I need a technical consultation. 💡💭

Your assessment of Bachelor, Master & PhD degrees: What degree is absolutely necessary in your area and are there differences in the positions?

In my area it's required to get the highest possible education. I believe a Master's degree is necessary to work on innovation or develop new technologies. On the other hand, I do not see a big difference in the position's level. If you could get the work done, you are already a good catch for recruiters. 🎓

Spend more time at university! I enjoyed almost every minute at the university and sometimes I wish that I could travel back in time for a few days! 🚀

Do you want to know more about Mahmouds' exciting everyday work at AT&S? In the Talto Talk he explains what exactly PCB is and how it unconsciously helps you in your everyday life. Additionally, he shares numerous tips on how to start a career in technology.

👉 Have a look at the Talto Talk with Mahmoud.