Usually, here on Universal Stories, we dive deep into the technical physics of commercial solar sizing and thermodynamics. But today, I want to pull back the curtain on something much more personal: the chaotic, sweat-inducing, and surprisingly humbling journey of landing my first real engineering job.
I didn’t want to wait for the graduation march to start figuring out my career. About three months before I even had my degree in hand, I decided it was time to step into the professional arena. I knew that having a degree is a wonderful privilege, but it is ultimately just a piece of paper. To stand out, I needed a carefully crafted CV that showed I was willing to put in the work outside of the classroom.
Highlighting the Effort, Not Just the Grades
When I sat down to draft my CV, I realized I needed to showcase my genuine efforts rather than just listing coursework. I had spent a lot of time focusing on extracurricular activities, and I wanted to highlight that dedication. I applied for the IESL (Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka) student chapter. It is a highly competitive group that recruits a very small number of people, and I felt incredibly fortunate to be selected and eventually trusted with the role of Senior Editor.
I also included my role as the Secretary of SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space). My goal wasn’t to brag, but rather to show potential employers that I could communicate, organize a team, and handle responsibilities when things got difficult.
The Michelin Disaster: Online Interview 101
After sending out quite a few emails, I was thrilled to land my first online interview with Michelin. I was ecstatic, but I was also completely unprepared for the technical nightmare that was about to unfold.
My laptop camera was broken, so I had to borrow a friend’s machine at the last minute. Because I wasn’t familiar with it at all, I struggled to get the software running. To make matters worse, my internet connection started dropping, making me late to the virtual lobby. I was sitting there in my room, wearing a full, uncomfortable tie, sweating like a duck out of pure fear and anxiety.
When the panel finally appeared on the screen, my brain completely short-circuited. They asked a simple, friendly icebreaker: “Tell us about your family.” It was a perfect opportunity to mention my incredibly hardworking siblings—my brother, who is a medical student at Peradeniya, and my sister, an engineering student at Ruhuna. Instead, I panicked. I mumbled something generic about my mom and dad and completely forgot to even mention my siblings. When they asked about my core strengths, I froze. I failed miserably.
That day, I learned a very humbling truth: reading theoretical interview tips online is entirely useless if you cannot perform under pressure. I realized I needed to genuinely practice, so I started studying public speaking and doing small exercises just to get comfortable hearing my own voice.
Lost at the Gates of Ferentino
My next opportunity was a physical interview at Ferentino. I was determined to learn from my past mistakes. I dressed sharply and made my way to the location early.
Unfortunately, I got off at the front gate shown on Google Maps, completely unaware that the actual interview office was located deep inside a massive industrial complex. I wasn’t the only one who made this mistake—four other candidates and I were standing at the gate looking completely lost. Thankfully, the company was kind enough to send a vehicle to pick us up.
When I finally walked into the waiting room, I felt entirely out of my depth. The room was filled with highly experienced professionals. During the technical round, the panel grilled me on industrial boilers. I tried my best, but my answers were only average. In a room full of industry veterans, average simply isn’t enough. I didn’t get the job, and it was a tough pill to swallow.
The Breakthrough
Rejection is exhausting, but I knew I couldn’t stop trying. I kept emailing companies, all while juggling the heavy, stressful workload of my final year at university. I was spending most of my days covered in grease, building the physical prototype of our final engineering machine.
Then, I got incredibly lucky. A university lecturer forwarded an email about a vacancy at the company where I currently work. I applied immediately, deeply grateful for the lead.
This time, I didn’t just practice speaking. I spent the entire night researching the company, their operations, their market, and the specific technology they used. I wanted to show them that I respected their time and genuinely cared about their business. When I walked into that room, it was just me and three other candidates.
The panel didn’t try to trick me; they simply asked in-depth questions about the things I had written on my CV. Because I hadn’t exaggerated, and because I had genuinely put in the effort at IESL, SEDS, and on my final year project, I was able to answer honestly and calmly. When I started weaving the deep-dive research I had done the night before into my answers, I could tell they were pleasantly surprised.
A Day to Remember
I walked out of that building with a quiet confidence that I had finally done enough to secure the job. All the sweaty panic at Michelin and the intimidating boiler questions at Ferentino had simply been necessary stepping stones. They taught me where my weaknesses were so I could fix them.
But the realization that I might actually get the job wasn’t even the best part of that day. After leaving that interview feeling a massive sense of relief and accomplishment, I went straight to my very first date with my girlfriend.
Looking back, having a successful interview and going on that wonderful date made it one of the absolute best memories of my life. If there is one thing my journey proves, it is that you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room—you just have to be willing to fail, learn from your embarrassments, and keep showing up.
📚 Related Reading for Student Hustlers
Looking for other ways to build your resume and income before graduation? Check out my breakdown on The Passive Income Experiment: Earning Dollars with Amazon KDP.
Sasindu J. Mallawa Arachchi Mechanical Engineer (B.Sc. Hons, University of Moratuwa) | R&D Engineer
Sasindu is a Mechanical Engineer specializing in Energy Conservation and Thermal Systems. Currently working in R&D at Alta Vision Pvt Ltd, he writes about the gap between engineering theory and real-world application. In his free time, he writes fiction and shares his personal experiences to help others navigating similar paths.
