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No Budget for Dev Boards – Is Volunteering at a Repair Shop a Good Way to Start?

dorukan

Hey all,

I’m a Computer Engineering student, newly focused on cybersecurity and embedded systems. I don’t currently have the budget for gear like Raspberry Pi or dev kits, so I’m planning to look for a position at a local phone/laptop repair shop — even volunteering for free at first — just to get some hands-on experience.

Would this kind of work help me build skills relevant to electronics or embedded systems later on?

And if so, what should I try to focus on while I’m there to get the most learning value out of it?

Appreciate any guidance — I’m trying to take the long road, the right way.

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  • +1

    The employment opportunity has the potential to improve client relationships and problem solving skills?

    Ask yourself the question, how you would troubleshoot a device after the customer reports it doesn't work. How does your approach change depending on the familiarity with the device. What part does the customer play in the solution.

    One of my responsibilities before retiring was mentoring technology students hired for work terms. I've used the practice problem, whtieboard for me for me your methodology for troubleshooting and AM/FM radio that a customer has reported doesn't work. 

    What would you do when you have no idea what to do?

  • 0 in reply to colporteur

    alright that actually made sense now didn’t think of it like that. thank you

  • 0 in reply to dorukan

    If you take the position, discover who the senior technician is and see if he will help you on your journey. For myself, I find my willingness factor to invest in the individual depends on the individual.

    Recall some high school chemistry about reactions. There are endothermic and exothermic reactions. One you put a lot of energy in a get little in return. The other you put energy in a get lots more in return. I use this analogy. If I invest in a person an get a return, that is a good investment. If I invest and get little return. That investment I tend to shy away from.

    If a senor person recognizes they are getting return on their investment. It encourages more investment. Don't be surprised if it take time to earn that initial investment. Since senior people have had bad investments, they tend to shy away from it. It takes work on your part to earn that trust. Once you get it, a world of learning opens up.

    A perfect example is postings on this site looking for a solution. I've received answers immediately on posts.  More eyes on, to explain whyThere are a lot of bright knowledgeable individuals on this site. The collective experience is an extremely valuable resource. I don't take that for granted when I need their help. I've seen many posts go unanswered or where senior members don't respond. Sometime you can read the frustration in the response.

    If you invest in the question posted, you increase you chances of a response. That investment takes time on your part. It saves time on the part of the person responding. The back and forth cycle to get all the information to offer advice takes time. If you don't take the time to invest in the question, why should I take the time to draw the information out from you, so I can give you the answer.

    One of my career's was technology college instructor. I developed their professional develop course. Skills like resume writing, covering letters, job interview preparation and the interview process. HR managers from local companies gave time for one week at the end of the course to conduct mock interviews with students. It gave students a chance after an interview to ask the interviewer what could I improve on. Some of those interviews were real but the student were never told.

  • 0 in reply to colporteur

    Thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful perspective.

    I really liked your analogy about investment and return, it makes a lot of sense in both technical learning and building trust with experienced people.

    I’ll definitely keep this in mind and put in the effort to earn that “return on investment.”

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