I have decided to apply for a Mechanical Engineering position at Hoerbiger. The career opportunity to be applied for is a Research and Development Engineering position at their Compression Technology Department. This particular office of Hoerbiger is located in Greenwood Village, CO. It is an entry level full time job. I believe this is a great choice when looking at my education, interests and goals.
http://jobview.monster.com/getjob.aspx?JobID=76693806&JobTitle=Engineer+...
When I started looking for a job for this project, I was pretty worried about finding something suitable for my experience as well as my goals. After about twenty minutes of searching on various job search engines, I came across an engineering position in Colorado, an uplifting sign. As I read through the job description and requirements, I knew that this was exactly what I wanted to do. This job meets many of my goals, including for whom and where I will work as well as my needs and wants in this job.
Hoerbiger is a value-oriented corporation. I believe that working at Hoerbiger will greatly improve my knowledge in this industry and my personal knowledge of how machines and engines work. I am very interested in a career that involves taking current products and improving or completely redesigning them. The company believes in fairness and closeness with its employees and customers. Hoerbiger is committed to safety and environmental protection. They develop solutions and products aimed at raising efficiencies and reducing emissions, something that I believe is very important in this industry.
A big plus, and sacrifice, for this job is its location. I really want to move out west after graduation, but that means moving away from everyone and everything I know. This is something I am willing to sacrifice for this career. I will be able to pursue my interest in snowboarding and I will also get away from the boring flatlands of the midwest. The corporation itself has three business units, along with the recently acquired Altronic, Inc. ignition unit, with plants and offices all around the world. This will provide me with future options and chances if I ever feel the need for change either in my area of interest or a desire to move.
The position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. The company asks for an understanding of compressors and engines, a background in materials, mathematics and thermodynamics. The company also prefers applicants have some industrial experience, a Mechatronic background, as well as experience using monitoring and design software. The position's responsibilities include doing research projects within a group or individually, assisting with design and specifications of new products, designing and using test stands, and using various software.
Being a senior in Mechanical Engineering Technology, I have already been exposed to most of what this posting asks for. My future classes will also greatly help in the development of my understanding and experience that is needed for this job. I have taken multiple mathematics classes, as well as statics, dynamics and thermodynamics classes that rely heavily on math. I have completed two materials classes that cover developing, controlling and testing the properties of metals and polymers. As an MET student, I have also been exposed to some electrical engineering and computer related classes and labs. I have a good understanding of AutoCAD, AutoDesk Inventor, Visual Basic, Matlab, LabView and other software that will be beneficial to this position. My major also requires us to develop and present projects individually and in groups. I have learned the importance of teamwork and how to work efficiently in the group. I believe my organizational and group management skills will prove very handy. From a previous internship at a local production plant, I learned how to operate and maintain many different machines and I also learned how to set up and use a test stand properly. I have also used many different machines in my major, such as mills, molding equipment, multi-axis CAD machines, etc. I believe that my vast amount of experiences, although limited in time, will allow me to approach this job with fortitude.
Hoerbiger is an international company with production and services in more than forty countries. The company was founded in 1900 by Hanns Hörbiger after he had an idea to replace the failure prone leather flap valves with steel valves in an engine just six years earlier. Today, the company employs over 6000 people worldwide and has grown into three separate "Strategic Business Units:" Automation Technology, Compression Technology and Drive Technology. Hoerbiger deals heavily in the automotive industry. Its main products compose of valves and other components for reciprocating compressors, hydraulic components for the automotive industry, as well as components and systems for automotive powertrain.
In recent news, Hoerbiger has acquired Altronic, Inc., the worldwide leader in industrial ignition systems for gas and diesel engines. The small Ohio based company will be placed under the Compression Technology unit where it will be expanded into a leading provider in efficient engine management.
http://www.hoerbiger.com/HOERBIGER-OEl-Gas-und-Pro.83.0.html?&L=1&setL=1... (News story found in column on the right hand side of the page.)
Instructor Feedback
Brandon, this is an excellent job ad analysis. You demonstrate a clear understanding of the work as well as the company. This serves you well in both deciding to apply but also in the application process. Your ability to show how your values dovetail with their values will allow you to make the case you are the best person for the job. Additionally, your ability to connect course work and even specific projects (something you will need to do more of) to the work they do will allow you to demonstrate your further fitness for the position.
What you need to do from here is to describe a few projects that you have worked on in such a way as to demonstrate all of the skills, abilities and values you have that they require. You want your fitness to come through in the letter. That is, avoid simply telling the reader that you value what they value and that you know what they want you to know. Show them your work and how those values guide you as you do it. For instance, you write, "From a previous internship at a local production plant, I learned how to operate and maintain many different machines and. I also learned how to set up and use a test stand properly." In the letter, you would add two or three sentences going into some specific details about this work. You could also describe the location of the internship if its values matched those of Hoerbiger.
You might also use you knowledge of the company (both its history and its recent activity) to bolster your opening paragraph where you typically make a case for why you want to work there. You have a lot to work with. Prune your knowledge of the company and your experiences with an eye towards specificity.
Good work. Also, Jeremy and I appreciate the avatar!