Advice for college of engineering students
I am Jacqui M. Cooper, Assistant Director of Career and Employment 
Services, liaison to the College of Engineering. I’m here to assist with any of your career development needs, and I do mean any (resume critique, interview prep, job/internship search, pep talk, fashion advice, etc). Please feel free to stop by, make an appointment (785-532-6506) or send an email.
With this economic climate, I understand the stress and anxiety you might be facing when it comes to the job search. You are probably feeling like you’re running out of options but rest assured, THERE ARE JOBS OUT THERE! With that in mind, you have to remain optimistic and yield a positive attitude.
Design, Build, Test
As you know, one of the main concepts in Engineering is “Design, Build, Test”. This concept is also applicable in the job search arena.
Design
- The ultimate goal of coming to college is to essentially graduate with a degree and begin a career. In order to do that you have to have a plan. In the "design" phase you want to make sure that throughout your college matriculation you welcome opportunities that you can gain valuable experience from. These opportunities will give you a chance to develop both personally and professionally.
- Get involved! Volunteer in your department, join an organization or design team, attend career fairs, or conduct research with a professor.
- If you are not sure about what all you can do with your major, consider exploring these links to reveal all of the different career paths your degree could lead to.
Build
- In the job search the first thing you want to make sure you do is "build" the ultimate resume and cover letter. That's right, ULTIMATE! You want to make sure your resume stands out in the sea of competition. Your resume should be in a crisp and easy to read format. Make sure that you include the most relevant information. Some things often overlooked include: class and design projects, non-paid related experience, and leadership within campus activities or organizations. All of these things help add value to your resume so make sure you add them!
- When it comes to cover letters, customization is key. Make sure each letter is tailored to the company and position you are applying for. Customization shows genuine interest in a company or organization.
- In the "build" category, you also want to think about your plan of action and have a sound back-up plan if possible. What companies or industries are you targeting? What research have you done? What are your geographic boundaries? Answering these questions can help narrow your search. Then APPLY, APPLY, APPLY, APPLY, AND APPLY SOME MORE! Be sure to follow-up with employers in a timely manner.
Test
- Now that you have designed a plan of action, built an ULTIMATE resume and cover letter, you can now "test" the waters. The key to doing that is NETWORKING! You probably have heard the saying "It's not what you know, it's who you know." Keep in mind that "who you know" will get your foot in the door and "what you know" will keep you there.
- Consider networking with everyone you know: classmates, professors, mentors, former co-workers, organization members, that guy or girl you thought was weird at first in your chemistry class and me of course! As your Career and Employment Services liaison, I have a ton of resources and connections that I would be happy to share with you.
Stay Encouraged
Last but not least, STAY ENCOURAGED! There are jobs out there but you just might have to step out of your comfort box to go to them. Engineers are needed everywhere, so don’t forget academic institutions and government agencies. In addition, consider internships, co-ops, and post-grad internships in order to gain some experience. Volunteering is another good way to get your foot in the door and maybe even a leg too.
Favorite Job Search Websites
"When every thing seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." -- Henry Ford