Engineering hosts career fair

The Towne Building was transformed into a mix of corporate representatives and eager Penn students Wednesday at the 18th annual Engineering Career Awareness Day. Representatives from more than 100 companies attended the fair. Among those present were such well-known names as International Business Machines Corp., Procter & Gamble Co. and AT&T; Corp. The annual gathering is sponsored by Penn's Career Services office. "The Engineering Career Fair provides a great opportunity for interested students to meet with employers in different companies," Assistant Director of Career Services Rosette Pyne said. More than 800 students attended the fair, which lasted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Undergraduates were able to learn about opportunities for summer jobs, while graduating seniors and graduate students learned about available positions in their prospective fields. "Right now, I'm just searching for an internship. But [the day] was still a great opportunity," Engineering junior Ian Gelfand said. Engineering freshman Kevin Kelley said he viewed the fair as a learning experience. "I'm not sure what area of Chemical Engineering I am going to pursue a career in, so it's nice to get a good idea of what's out there," he said. Employers advised students on how to prepare academically for a career in engineering. Many representatives stressed the need for engineers to have some background in business. "Dual degrees in business and engineering are very helpful, since you must be able to market and sell the product you build," said Eliot Jacoby, chief engineer for lighting-control maker Lutron Electronics Co. Dolla Crater, software strategic manager for cellular telephone and semiconductor giant Motorola Inc., agreed. "An entry-level employee should have some basic knowledge of the business aspect of engineering," she said, adding that students should at least take a few introductory business classes. Several company representatives emphasized the importance of gaining early exposure to the various fields of engineering. "Like any other field, it is a very tight job market," Jacoby said. "By learning about the field now, students can gain a leg up on the competition." The past success of the fair is due in large part to the companies' fondness for Penn students. "They really love Penn students. Many would love to hire even more," said Pat Rose, director of Career Services. Company representatives agreed, explaining that the presentation is just as useful for the companies as for the students who attend. "I am very impressed by Penn students. They are well prepared and ask a lot of challenging questions," Crater said.