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Engineering Career Services

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Welcome! This section of the Engineering Career Services (ECS) website is specifically designed for parents. Our goal is to keep you informed of the resources and opportunities available to your student and to help you help your student in his/her career search.

Our office is dedicated to helping your student identify, pursue and secure the career he or she has decided is the best fit. We also recognize that parent involvement is important in the career search process, and by working together we can make sure your student is properly prepared to obtain a position in the field they have chosen to pursue.

Please click on the below links to learn more about Engineering Career Services and the services our office, the college, and the university has available.

Student Eligibility:	Registration Agreement, Fees, Rights & Privacy Act
Overview of Services:	Review the services that the ECS office provides
Calendar of Events:	Review the upcoming events for the academic year
Career Search Process:	The ECS guide to choosing the optimal career
Engineering Departments:	Links to the departments ECS serves
Additional Career Resources:	Links to other career services on campus
FAQs:	The Top 10 list of frequently asked questions

We encourage you to view our new online career management seminar, which outlines the recruiting process and what your son or daughter can expect throughout his or her job search. (You must have Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player to view the seminar. You can download them free from the Microsoft web site.)

Student Eligibility

Below is a copy of the agreement between our office and the students who chose to utilize our services. All students must sign the ECS Registration Agreement in order to be eligible to utilize our online job board (Symplicity) and other services.

2007-08 ECS Registration Agreement

Overview of Services

Below is a list of services that Engineering Career Services offers. If you have any questions regarding these services feel free to contact our office.

Career Planning & Evaluation	Résumé Reviews
On-campus Interviews	Alumni Mentor Program
Mock (practice) Interviews	Offer Evaluation/Negotiation
Graduate School Information	Internship /Co-op Sourcing
Leadership Development Programs	Personal Development Workshops
Employer Contact Information	On-line Job Board (Symplicity)

FALL 2008 SEMESTER RECRUITING DATES

Classes Begin	August 25
ECS Fall Engineering Career Fair	September 3
Engineering Employment Expo	September 8-10
On-Campus Recruiting	September 15-November 14

SPRING 2009 SEMESTER RECRUITING DATES

Classes Begin	January 20
On-Campus Recruiting	February 2-March 12
Spring Employment Expo	February 5
Spring ECS Career Fair	February 10-11
Engineering Open House	March 13-14
Commencement	May 17

Identify Interests
A common mistake many students make is not identifying what industries or job functions they would like to pursue. Many people take the "I'll do anything" approach, and, in turn, struggle to impress employers. Another common approach is "playing the sweepstakes," where students apply for every available position and contact hundreds of employers with a generic résumé and/or cover letter. Instead, a more effective use of time and energy is to identify 2-3 industries or job functions that are of most interest. Focused attention usually proves to be more effective.
Research
Once a student has identified the industry or job function he/she would like to pursue, the next step is identifying companies. Many students are unable to list 10 companies who work in their chosen industry or have similar positions to the ones they want to secure. By doing some simple research and meeting with a career services advisor, a student can learn about the industry and what companies to target. This will also help them prepare for the interview process by giving them background on the company and on the employment process.
Obtain Contact Information
This is one of the easier steps in the process. Once a student knows the industry and company he/she wants to target, it is time to contact them. The ECS office can be a great resource in this area. We can help students identify companies coming to campus, participating in career fairs, and/or posting available positions, and we can provide employer contacts willing to speak with interested candidates.
Prepare
The following are questions a student should ask of himself/herself:
- Have I done research on the company?
- Have I prepared a résumé that highlights my skills in relation to the position?
- Have I had my résumé reviewed by ECS?
- Have I written a specific and unique cover letter for the position?
- Have I practiced answering interview questions?
- Have I prepared questions to ask the interviewer?
- Have I participated in a mock (practice) interview through ECS?
- Have I met with an ECS staff member for advice and insight?
Be Aggressive
The companies rarely contact students directly. The students must pursue the companies to demonstrate their interest. Applicants who apply online should attempt to also make personal contact with someone within the organization. Instead of asking questions via email, they should attempt to have a conversation directly via telephone. Demonstrating a desire to work for the company can be the factor that provides the competitive advantage.
Follow-up
At the completion of an interview or career fair visit, the candidate should ask the recruiter for a business card or contact information in order to follow up. Follow up includes sending a thank-you letter via email within 24 hours or a handwritten note via U.S. mail the next day to express continued interest and gratitude. If the candidate has not heard back from an interview within 10 days to two weeks, it is appropriate to call the recruiter to inquire and to restate interest in the position.
Utilize Engineering Career Services
Our goal is to help students find the positions for which they are searching. We also help companies source talent on campus. Moreover, we offer many services and resources to help students and alumni manage a successful job search.

Engineering Career Services
3270 Digital Computer Lab
1304 W. Springfield Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
Tel: 217/333-1960
Email: ecs@engr.uiuc.edu

Below are links to the College of Engineering departments as well as to other departments affiliated with the Engineering Career Services office.

Below are links to additional career services offices and student programs with whom we work closely to help provide students with a competitive advantage.

Is there a major that is best suited for employment?
Employers are interested in hiring the best people for the position often regardless of the candidate's major. When helping your student determine the best major for employment encourage him/her to evaluate key interests and future goals. Focusing solely on what career is the highest paying is often times not enough motivation to excel. It is beneficial for students to take courses and participate in extracurricular activities that will provide opportunities to develop successful project management, leadership, and teamwork skills.

What are the best fields/careers for my student to pursue?
This will depend upon the student. The best career for a student to pursue will be one that utilizes the skills, experience, and education they have attained during their time at the University. Additionally, key interests in regards to location, size of company, job function, industry, and future opportunities are important to research and evaluate. Students who are most successful have chosen a specific field to pursue rather than simply applying to all open positions with an "I'll do anything" attitude. It is beneficial to have other interests and be prepared to pursue them, but a focused energy approach is often most successful.

What companies recruit through the ECS office?
There are currently over 2,000 employers who utilize the ECS office to source student talent, and this number continues to grow weekly. Companies take many different approaches to recruiting University of Illinois engineers. Some will conduct on-campus interviews. Others will participate only in career fairs to gather student contacts, and some will simply use the Symplicity online job board to post open positions for students to apply. Our office services companies representing nearly every industry, job function and geography. Whether your student would like to work in industry, research, academia, or with a government agency, our office has resources to assist them.

What types of career-related experiences are available for my student?
There are many resources your student can utilize to gain experience prior to completion of their degree to better prepare them for and evaluate a future career. Many companies offer internships (summer & semester) or co-op experiences, enabling students to evaluate careers and companies in a professional environment. ECS also maintains a database of part-time jobs available both on- and off-campus, including limited positions within our office depending on need and availability each semester. Being actively involved in one of the college's 60 student organizations to gain leadership and project management skills, as well as to demonstrate the ability to successfully balance academics and extra-curricular activities, is also beneficial. Many undergraduate research opportunities are also available through the college.

What help is available to help my student find full-time, internship, or co-op positions?
The Engineering Career Services office and staff is a primary resource for all registered students. We are available Monday through Friday to discuss goals, provide career advice, assist with sourcing contact information, review résumés and cover letters, conduct mock interviews, and help with any other career-related questions. Additionally, we have numerous career search materials related to companies, résumés, interviewing, etc., in our Student Development Center in 3270 Digital Computer Laboratory, and online in the Symplicity system. We also conduct workshops on various topics throughout the semester to assist students who are more comfortable in a classroom environment.

What should my student do if he/she is undecided about a career?
The first step we recommend is for your student to schedule an appointment with a career advisor in the ECS office. Our career advisors can provide your students with additional contacts and resources based on his or her interests.

If my student is interested in graduate school, is assistance available?
The ECS office can help the student evaluate their situation and locate resources that will be of assistance when researching their decision. Additionally, we partner with the Campus Career Center which also maintains many resources for students interested in graduate degree programs.

What should my student do as an undergraduate to prepare for the future?
Academics are the ultimate reason why your student is enrolled in the College of Engineering at Illinois. However, in today's competitive job market, high academic achievement is often times not enough to secure the career your student is pursuing. Gaining experience that employers view as beneficial is growing in importance each year.

Ultimately, an internship or co-op experience in the field of interest is most beneficial to demonstrate a working knowledge of the industry and job function. Additionally, campus involvement and extra-curricular activity can also help your student develop the qualities and skills employers are seeking. Many students do very well academically while enrolled as an undergrad, but if they have no other experiences to help "sell" themselves to employers, they are often at a disadvantage. Thus, encourage your student to get involved in activities and programs outside of the classroom.

Can I visit ECS to discuss my student's career development?
You are welcome to schedule an appointment to visit our office with your student. Our office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is best to schedule an appointment by phone so we are sure to be available during your visit. Walk-in meetings depend on availability.

When should my student register with the ECS office?
It is never too early to begin the career search process, because it is a process. Students are eligible to register with the ECS office during their freshman orientation program or anytime after they arrive on campus. It is typically more difficult for freshmen to secure internships and co-ops, but participating in interviews, career fairs, etc., is valuable experience and can often lead to company contacts for the future. Additionally, there is a one-time only registration fee for ECS services, so the earlier a student registers the more benefits they receive for their investment.

Registration early in the semester ensures that students are informed of all workshops, recruiting events, resources, and services offered throughout the semester. We also recommend that students who are searching for full-time positions begin their career search at least two semesters prior to graduation.