Just found out I've got a job interview next week for a research engineer at Dyson. Anyone on here work there? Any pointers for what they'll be looking for?

And, if I get it, any bike related technology you want invented!? 😉
thanks in advance
FOB.

Yes, I work in HR for Dyson and I recruit the engineers. What do you want to know?

Lots!

First, whats the interview process like? Will I be asked to give a presentation? Are there any numerical/reasoning tests etc? Will there be other interviewees eg. selection center process?

Any pointers on what technical knowledge I might be expected to have – I'm a physicist/academic so not from an engineering background. Eg. Will I get ask how a blade-less fan works?

Just talk about bikes to bigjohn and you'll get the job.

Everyone knows how the bladeless fan works. There's a bladed fan in the base 😆

Rubbish, there's just a fan made from perspex in the gap – it's just an optical illusion 😉

The insert oompalumpas in the base and give them bits of cardboard to flap an then put it through their miniturising machine

Actually Peteimprezza off here does. Seriously. He's the man you want to speak to.

EDIT: I think he might be away atm though. Soz. 🙁

I was there quite a few year ago so it may have all changed. For a research position I would have thought they are looking for quite a specialist knowledge so you need to be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about whatever your field is. I worked in robotics there for a while and all the robotics and computer science chaps were pretty smart phd types. Developing new, innovative, patentable ideas is the mainstay of research there. Its interesting stuff. As for the interview mine was a very relaxed affair in a porta-cabin (non staff weren't allowed in the building back then), the porta-cabins are long gone but security is still tight.

BigJohn is surely on the wind up!!!
…if not you've hit the jackpot FallOutBoy

expensive coloured plastic parts assembled into objects men dont really need to use, or buy.

Best of luck.

Oh and i once moved a Dyson Cleaner from a cupboard to another resting place.

Why don't you phone them and ask what the interview process is?

Surely if they were expecting you to give a presentation they'd tell you in advance so that you could prepare something.

Do not mention Hoovers!

Interesting products but almost a bit try hard now. Our Dyson 'hoover' is so complicated and heavy the missus hates it and it also doesnt have the power the old £50 argos special had.

Some other interesting products, the hand dryer especially. They probably develop alot of other stuff that is hidden in other products too.
Worth finding this out, and thinking which product you admire the most.

I have a feeling you will be under the kosh alot of the time, any new style and succesful company has to push hard to stay at the front. I am guessing short hols, average pay and plenty of pressure.

They suck.

Or blow, depending upon the product.

allthepies… lol

A mate of mine (who I have lost contact with) used to work for them. All I can remember him saying about them was that James Dyson would not allow chips to be served in the company canteen.

Oh and he talked about "Design" alot.

I had a colleague who worked there as a matierals scientist before he came to us. He left Dyson after a year or so as he didn't like the technical work and wanted to be a manager. Funnily enough he left here after about a year as he clearly didn't wanted to do was incapable of any technical work, but and saw himself more as a manager. He's now at a place where his boss is a friend of mine and it sounds like he's thinking about leaving…. you get the picture.

I have nothing of use to add really, this thread just reminded me of him…… 8)

I have nothing of use to add really, this thread just reminded me of him

yeah, was thinking that 😉
Seriously – thanks to those who've tried to be helpful.

Moving on to the second Q – Any thoughts on bike stuff that needs developing/ refining?

FOB – yeah, sorry – it's Friday PM and I am bored…. and he was a right annoying ass-licking little **** with few technical skills, even less management ability and the personality of a wet tea-towel.

Good luck with the interview though – the tea shop in the garden centre over the road from the Dyson factory in Malmesbury does good cake, and the acid dipping place next door to that does bike frames for a fiver a go, cash in hand 😉

How about a bike cleaning device that just blows out high pressure air, or at least a post-wash drying device (a hair dryer for bikes), I know I waste loads of Tesco's cheapest paper towels getting water off my chain/bearings/cables etc. after cleaning it. Oh but it can't be ridiculously loud, I'd rather use paper towels than use something that makes a racket. I used some compressed air (in a can) once that I 'borrowed' from work and it did the job great but way too expensive if self-funded…

He left Dyson after a year or so as he didn't like the technical work and wanted to be a manager.

Again it might have changed but the whole company was well structured with loads of scope for promotion to more senior design or management roles. Pretty much every manager comes up through the ranks. If you have the aptitude and skills then Dyson is the place for it to happen.

Dysons are crap, and Mr Dyson has the most annoying voice I've ever heard. He is not a good advert for his company. If you get the job pass this on please. 8)

You have to admire Dyson's marketing.

They managed to fetishise that most mundane of household applicances, the vacuum cleaner and turn it into a must-have for those 'young contemporary urban executive' (Do any of these people actually exist? I mean, I'm sure there are a few of them kicking about in major cities, but I've seen hoardings with that sort of blurb on in Dorchester!) types that every new-build property in the country seems to be marketed at.