What does "embedded firmware" really mean?

I recently was contacted by a headhunter about a job working on
"embedded firmware".  Since I've begun to notice this term can imply
many things, I tried to ask whether it was an area that really
interested me, whether the work would involve developing device
drivers.  The headhunter was stupefied, asking whether that was some
sort of application, but I was able to sync up with him again when he
mentioned "C and assembly".

On Sat, 03 Mar 2007 17:31:35 -0500, BubbaGump wrote:

> I recently was contacted by a headhunter about a job working on
> "embedded firmware".  Since I've begun to notice this term can imply
> many things, I tried to ask whether it was an area that really
> interested me, whether the work would involve developing device
> drivers.  

It comes from decades ago when EPROMs were used for embedded software. 
The EPROMs had to be removed from the boards for erasing and
reprogramming.  The medium containing the software wasn't "soft", nor was
it "hard", but it was "firm".  Hence firmware.

The term "embedded software" is more commonly used today although
"embedded firmware" would cover flash and EEPROM devices.  It is just a
label which can be misused, so you are right in trying to get more
specific info from the headhunter.  He probably doesn't really know what
the term actually means, he's just repeating a term he got from a human
relations person or a manager, and they may or may not know the real
meaning.  


    ~Dave~

On Sat, 03 Mar 2007 20:51:49 -0500, Dave <dave@comteck.com> wrote:

>It is just a
>label which can be misused, so you are right in trying to get more
>specific info from the headhunter.  He probably doesn't really know what
>the term actually means, he's just repeating a term he got from a human
>relations person or a manager, and they may or may not know the real
>meaning.

This just pisses me off that these are the people, the idiots,
standing as the gatekeepers to many of the jobs that I see that
interest me.

I think I get it now.  Hiring managers trust these people because
hiring managers are often idiots, and idiots trust idiots.  It's all
about confidence.  It doesn't matter how little the person knows.  As
long as they inflate their lack of knowledge and lack of ability with
confidence then the idiot manager will trust them.  It's the same way
people get promoted in corporations, and it's the reason why
management positions often end up being filled by idiots.  I'm sure
the headhunter gives the same speech I've heard when the headhunter
has told me about their business, "We go out and ..." (they do the
same simple resume keyword searches that any person who has Internet
access could do and try to act like they're providing a service).

I'm just sick of talking to these people.  One of them actually
wouldn't submit my resume to a position because he didn't think I had
the experience.  He had some nerve, as if he's at all qualified to
judge technical ability.  If anything he can judge personality and
that's all.  Leave the judging of intelligence to intelligent people
who actually work hands-on at the job being advertised.

On Mar 6, 11:55 am, BubbaGump <BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:

> This just pisses me off that these are the people, the

Why don't you just look for a fulltime job as a whiner? You are
eminently qualified; I'll happily write you a character reference.

On Sat, 03 Mar 2007 20:51:49 -0500, Dave <dave@comteck.com> wrote:

>He probably doesn't really know what
>the term actually means, he's just repeating a term he got from a human
>relations person or a manager, and they may or may not know the real
>meaning.

What's funny is some headhunters besides lacking technical knowledge
also have no common sense.  A headhunter once described a job
involving "gaming" and when I asked it was confirmed it involved video
games.  Of course what it actually meant was casinos and gambling.  I
guessed this based on a phrase I'd heard before, "Nevada Gaming
Commission", and confirmed it on the company's web site.

I feel sorry for headhunters.  Apparently society is so devoid of
useful jobs that being a parasite with no physical or mental skills is
a last resort, a side effect of a capitalist system that would rather
people do illegitimate fake "work" than be paid to do nothing and
leave other people alone.

On Sat, 03 Mar 2007 20:51:49 -0500, Dave <dave@comteck.com> wrote:

>He probably doesn't really know what
>the term actually means, he's just repeating a term he got from a human
>relations person or a manager, and they may or may not know the real
>meaning.

One headhunter told me about a position requiring knowledge of USB 2.0
and made a point that the hiring manager was willing to accept someone
who only knew USB 1.0 (or possibly 1.1).  It would have been nice if
one of them was smart enough to know that USB 1.1 and 2.0 are so
similar that it's not worth even thinking about rejecting candidates
over, that any good engineer would be able to learn the small
differences and that that ability to learn and adapt is what they
should really be targeting anyway, not specific background experience.

BubbaGump wrote:
> This just pisses me off that these are the people, the idiots,
> standing as the gatekeepers to many of the jobs that I see that
> interest me.

So learn the little things that push their buttons, and get past them.
Just like learning to use a door-handle... if you actually have what
the job requires.

> I'm just sick of talking to these people.  One of them actually
> wouldn't submit my resume to a position because he didn't think I had
> the experience.  He had some nerve, as if he's at all qualified to
> judge technical ability.

I thought you said he thought you lacked experience, not ability?

> If anything he can judge personality

It strikes me that he probably did, and it was enough.

> Leave the judging of intelligence to intelligent people
> who actually work hands-on at the job being advertised.

They're busy. If you're looking for one-in-a-million, you might
need to interrupt them, but if one in a hundred, you don't.

On Mar 3, 5:31 pm, BubbaGump <BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:
> I recently was contacted by a headhunter about a job working on
> "embedded firmware".  Since I've begun to notice this term can imply
> many things, I tried to ask whether it was an area that really
> interested me, whether the work would involve developing device
> drivers.  The headhunter was stupefied

While the work might be similar in some respects to developing device
drivers (low level hardware interaction), the programming environment
could be very different - small 8 bit systems for example, with either
no operating system or an unusual one.  And there's a lot more to
embedded work than just the device drivers (which are often trivially
simple) - quite likely you would be writing the entirity of the
software running on the device.

It seems to me like you are expecting the headhunter to recognize a
connection that not only would require in-depth knowledge of the work,
but very likely isn't even there.

cs_posting@hotmail.com wrote:
> On Mar 3, 5:31 pm, BubbaGump <BubbaGump@localhost> wrote:
> 
>> I recently was contacted by a headhunter about a job working on
>> "embedded firmware".  Since I've begun to notice this term can
>> imply many things, I tried to ask whether it was an area that
>> really interested me, whether the work would involve developing
>> device drivers.  The headhunter was stupefied
> 
... snip ...
> 
> It seems to me like you are expecting the headhunter to recognize
> a connection that not only would require in-depth knowledge of
> the work, but very likely isn't even there.

If all Bubba can do is "develop device drivers" I would consider
him unemployable, at least in this field.  He also appears to have
a peculiar outlook.

-- 
Chuck F (cbfalconer at maineline dot net)
   Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
   <http://cbfalconer.home.att.net>



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