Engineering career day held

More than 800 students met Wednesday with representatives from 70 corporations at the 15th annual Engineering Career Awareness Day, according to Ken Oyer, assistant director of engineering placement for Career Planning and Placement Services. He said the event is intended to give Engineering students the opportunity to learn about job opportunities and drop off resumes -- whether in hopes of getting a summer internship or landing a permanent job. "We mail [letters] to about 900 companies the first week in June and then make follow-up calls a month later," Oyer said. Students had the opportunity to speak with 180 representatives from companies such as IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft and Andersen Consulting -- along with other manufacturing, engineering, consulting, automotive and telecommunications firms. Each of the companies set up information displays, which were spread out on all three floors of the Towne Building. The booths provided pamphlets, frisbees, mugs, pens and memo pads to the students. "For the first time, each company got an electronic resume book where they can scan the students' major or career interests," Oyer said. "It's great because we're the only engineering program that does the book." Oyer also said the corporations expressed interest in securing permanent employees and that about half also encouraged applications for summer jobs. Engineering sophomore Marcus Leef said he was happy he attended the event this year. "Most students don't think about a summer job this early," he said. "It should make finding a job or internship easier." Class of 1992 graduate Michael Shapiro, a business analyst at Proctor and Gamble, said he was pleased to be back on campus. "We like to send alumni here," he explained. "One of the programs we really look at is Management and Technology, with a computer science or systems background." After the job fair, Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington held a reception where student club presidents were able to meet with the company representatives. The Career Day was coordinated by CPPS and the Engineering Student Activity Council.