<p>Awesome opossum, you replied to a post a few weeks ago saying that all or most of the engineering grads that you know have found a job upon graduation. My so is currently completing his junior year, and has had several internship applications in, and not heard anything from any of them, accept one from Maya saying they are not hiring interns for the summer, these apps were all put in at the engineering career fair in February. He has the required 3.0 gpa. Is it possible that the job market is not that rosy looking for engineering grads, and the tide is turning? Maybe they are only taking the cream of the crop so to speak? My son says not to worry, that when he actually has the degree, he will have some job offers. Is this the case? Don't most companies require internship or research experience?</p>
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<p>Gonna be honest-- I have never had a successful career fair placement. I’ve had a few interviews (even got flown to California once) but it has never turned into an internship. I don’t know why this is, but I feel like the people who come to the fairs are almost lying when they say they’re looking for people to hire.</p>
<p>A better way to get a summer job: Ask professors for direct industry contacts. Look online yourself. Ask the department office if anyone is actively seeking from them (i.e. every now and then a company would directly contact my department asking for a few resumes for students).</p>
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<p>Most companies want to see relevant work experience- either in industry or in a research lab. I will suggest that you son should definitely had something lined up for this summer relevant to his major: research in a lab or an internship, it doesn’t matter. The big thing for when he goes job hunting is to get contacts from people who can push his resume (i.e. professors with friends, etc.). Also getting a co-op is a helpful way to get pushed into the job market.</p>
<p>He was trying to get something lined up for this summer for relevant experience, but is having no luck. he talked to a professor last week about staying and doing research, and the prof told him he had no openings for the summer. Do you know of anybody to talk to directly? He really wants to stay in Pittsburgh for the summer, but time is dwindling to find something. It is very frustrating when he has been told for the last 3 years that the jobs will be there, but he can’t even find an internship.
As a parent I am afraid because the student loans will be rolling in.</p>
<p>College career fairs: I read somewhere that they send junior/newly-hired recruiters to these things as a way for them to get their feet wet and get experience plus collect resumes. You would think they do extend some offers from the fairs.</p>
<p>My son had several apps put in at the job fair, did not hear anything back, except one saying they were not hiring interns, (then why were they even there in the first place?). I will pass along the idea and tell him to talk to his profs personally for contacts. He says there is another career internship fair scheduled for this Thursday, but my feeling at this point is Don’t hold your breath, sorry to sound so discouraged at this point, but that is exactly what I am feeling.</p>
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<p>Like I said, I think personally asking Professors for industry contacts (heck, even family and friends) is the way to go this late. I have to ask-- did he not do research or an internship last summer (i.e. summer after sophomore year)? That is when many students at Pitt start. If he didn’t- this is probably why he is at a disadvantage. I’m imagining that the companies may be wondering why someone going into their senior year of college has no experience (if this is not the case, then I have no idea what is going on).</p>
<p>Awesome, you are correct in assuming he did not have any engineering research projects or related jobs in between sophomore and junior year. He does have a job lined up for this summer, non engineering related, but it’s not what he wants. The job is here at home, Harrisburg area, while not what he really wants, it is a job. He wants to stay in Pittsburgh because most of his friends will be staying over the summer. I pray that he is correct, and once he has the degree, something will open up, but it may be a long road ahead. thanks for your advice, I will have to ask him how many of his engineering friends actually had internships last summer, I only know of one, a ChemE major.</p>
<p>Did he check internships at Westinghouse in Cranberry Township? My brother is in computer engineering and that’s where he got started. I think his internship was actually after his undergrad degree. It was low paying initially, but then they hired him and even paid his tuition for a Masters at Pitt (evenings). It may be too late for this summer, but there is hope for next year.</p>
<p>Yes, he heard about Westinghouse, but it was to late to apply when he heard about it. Thanks for the info. Awesome, I passed on your tip about going directly to profs for contacts. Thanks all, hopefully things will look upon graduation.</p>
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<p>He should <em>definitely</em> be doing some research in his last year of school then. One semester will be required (Senior Design class) but the other semester he should reach out to professors and ask to help out in their labs. My guess is his lack of engineering “work” experience is what may be holding him back.</p>
<p>I guess the ECE department may be different from MEMS. In MEMS we stress doing research and finding an internship from sophomore year onwards. I think it makes a big difference emphasizing how important this is.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the insightful info, Awesome.</p>