I am helping my son, who is graduation this December, apply for some jobs and he ran across a section in a Tesla application called "Evidence of Excellence". He hasnt broken any records or won any awards so what should he put into this section? Anyone have any advice?

I think that's the point. The question may be attempting to ascertain the candidates personal vision of what excellence is. For me, it's accomplishing tasks on time and not having mistakes. For others it may be doing things ahead of schedule and with innovative methods that provide better results. I'd definitely not leave that section blank at a company like Tesla. I'd even guess that might be the most important section. Just try to figure out what your version of excellence is and make sure whatever you write is measurable and has historical proof or validation.

Example:

I managed a big project for a long time. -sucks


Managed the Kosmos Engery seismic project across a two year period called at 8.6 M.

The second is provable and provides a little more substance. Not the greatest example but you get the idea. Do the same with your idea of excellence.

bmks270 said:

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It's a musk company, so they're looking for people who are extremely smart, passionate about their work, and willing to work long hours to complete a task. Ideal candidates have a hands-on hobby that they spend all of their free time on to build something cool, or they are key members on a university engineering club team that competes and wins (SAE, rocket club, etc). They don't want people who are just good students, they want people who do more than class work.

What hobbies, clubs, or extracurriculars is he involved in?

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His biggest hobbies are gaming and D&D. But he works, and has worked on and off for the last couple years, in the National Corrosion and Reliability Lab at Rellis. He interned this past summer at Nabors in Research and Development and really loved that as well. He is a MSEN graduate (in two weeks) and has spent the better part of a couple years in alloys and metals both in corrosion and durability testing as well as mechanical and chemical reliability etc.

Along with Tesla he has applied to Lockheed, Bell, Oceaneering, Firefly aero, NOV, Noveon, Samsung, Intel and a number of other companies. He really wants to work on materials for space travel, aero, or alternative energy materials and semiconductors etc.

He should also consider metal alloy 3D printing suppliers, the guys who make the 3D printing machines or the companies that provide printing manufacturing services. They pioneer new alloys and the latest tech for space materials. Many rocket engine components are 3D printed now with advanced alloys, and it's a lot of new cutting edge material science. Companies in this space are developing new alloys and capabilities all the time.

Or some kind of print manufacturing engineering role at a rocket engine manufacturer or a space company. Here are some possibilities: SpaceX, Relativity Space, ABL Space Systems, Blue Origin, Ursa Major, Launcher, Impulse Space, Varda Space…

Here's another one additive manufacturing company to look at:
https://www.addmangroup.com/process-material/metal-additive/

In the alternative energy space, there are a ton of climate tech start ups that could be a good fun start to a career, although much of the "climate tech" is focused on carbon removal, there are a few energy startups looking at energy storage, nuclear energy, or geothermal energy. Googling climate tech energy start ups, or searching through the portfolio companies of climate VC funds will turn them up. Two example companies: Radiant Nuclear, Antora Energy,

I'll be honest with you, for the more competitive roles with tons of applicants,
I think it may be hard to stand out without hands-on extracurriculars. The highest chance of success will be for roles where his coursework and intern experience aligns strongly with the specifics of the job. However I wouldn't be discouraged or restrict what roles he applies to because he can overcome a lack of specific experience for an entry level job if he can convincingly communicate a strong interest in the technology and the company, with a willingness and desire to learn and grow.

ag94whoop said:

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I am helping my son, who is graduation this December, apply for some jobs and he ran across a section in a Tesla application called "Evidence of Excellence". He hasnt broken any records or won any awards so what should he put into this section? Anyone have any advice?

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Is he Caucasian?


/S

JamesPShelley said:

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ag94whoop said:

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I am helping my son, who is graduation this December, apply for some jobs and he ran across a section in a Tesla application called "Evidence of Excellence". He hasnt broken any records or won any awards so what should he put into this section? Anyone have any advice?

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Is he Caucasian?


/S

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lol yes

I think no one cares to read any of those.
When Linkedin or their application system asks me for this and that, I just say yes for everything as I don't want to give them a reason to reject me electronically. I want to get to the interview and have them reject me after talking to me.

infinity ag said:

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I think no one cares to read any of those.
When Linkedin or their application system asks me for this and that, I just say yes for everything as I don't want to give them a reason to reject me electronically. I want to get to the interview and have them reject me after talking to me.

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I know my 2-3 sentence answer to a question like this helped me get an interview before because the hiring manager specifically said my response stood out.

I think the key is to answer with a very short and concise reply, so it's easy and quick for a reviewer to read (3 sentences max). If you can do that effectively it shows good communication skills and stands out.

Long cover letters and answers to these types of questions don't get read. Everything should be brief and to the point in my opinion.

bmks270 said:

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infinity ag said:

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I think no one cares to read any of those.
When Linkedin or their application system asks me for this and that, I just say yes for everything as I don't want to give them a reason to reject me electronically. I want to get to the interview and have them reject me after talking to me.

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I know my 2-3 sentence answer to a question like this helped me get an interview before because the hiring manager specifically said my response stood out.

I think the key is to answer with a very short and concise reply, so it's easy and quick for a reviewer to read (3 sentences max). If you can do that effectively it shows good communication skills and stands out.

Long cover letters and answers to these types of questions don't get read. Everything should be brief and to the point in my opinion.

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Yes, agreed.

Petrino1 said:

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ag94whoop said:

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I am helping my son, who is graduation this December, apply for some jobs and he ran across a section in a Tesla application called "Evidence of Excellence". He hasnt broken any records or won any awards so what should he put into this section? Anyone have any advice?

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Literally just put anything. Chances are they wont even read that section.

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True but probably not great precedence to set for his so.