Year 1: Pre-Professional Program
Meet with your career coach
Meet with your Career Services career coach to help you choose a major, write your resume, find a co-op or internship, search for professional employment, and receive graduate school preparation and testing information.
Create a resume and update your AGGIE|handshake profile
Create your resume now. If you need help or suggestions on content or format ask your career coach. Resumes are living documents and need to be updated regularly. USU provides each student with a profile on AGGIE|handshake which is your link to job opportunities. Keep your resume and AGGIE|handshake profile current so you can easily apply for internships and full-time employment.
Attend the Fall and Spring STEM Fairs
USU Career Services sponsors STEM-focused career fairs. The STEM Fairs are excellent opportunities to network with technology-based organizations. Your first year at USU is a great time to learn how career fairs work, how to talk to recruiters, and how to introduce yourself. Even if you are not looking for an internship this is an excellent opportunity for stress-free practice and to begin to grow your professional network.
The online job application process is impersonal, the face-to-face networking at career fairs and company information sessions is vital so you can connect with key individuals in the companies to which you are applying.
Start your engineering portfolio by keeping a record of your projects
A portfolio is typically a website or PowerPoint in PDF format that you create that provides examples of your work and projects. The best portfolio effortlessly highlights your skills, achievements, and intellect.
A portfolio provides visual proof of what you can offer to your potential employer, helps you stand out from your competition, and enables you to market yourself professionally.
Learn more about creating an Engineering portfolio.
Understand and Commit to Academic Integrity and Professionalism
When you entered Utah State University you committed to abide by the Honor Pledge which states, “I pledge, on my honor, to conduct myself with the foremost level of academic integrity.”
The Utah State University College of Engineering is committed to preparing each engineering student to become an engineering professional. Because the work of engineers affects the health, safety, and livelihood of every person on the planet, engineering professionals must uphold the highest standards of both technical expertise and ethical conduct.
The behaviors and habits you develop as a student will continue with you into the professional world. Companies want and need employees that are both technically prepared and committed to the highest ethical standards. The habits of quality work, professional conduct, truthfulness, and integrity developed as a student will influence your future career as a professional.
You may be unaware of all the practices or activities the College of Engineering considers to be academic integrity violations. Learn more about engineering academic integrity and professionalism to avoid unintentional violations.
Year 2: Pre-Professional Program
Create a preliminary company list
Early in the first semester of your sophomore year, create a list of companies that you would like to explore. This information will help you understand the job market in your area of engineering and help you focus on the companies that work in areas you find intriguing. Learning about companies will prepare you for career fairs and other industry hiring events, as well as help you land the perfect internship or full-time job.
Gather important information about the company, such as:
- What they do
- Products or services
- Facility locations
- Types of engineers they hire
- What their engineers do
- Application website
- News reports about the company
Research and apply for internships, start with the Fall STEM Fair
Internships are important for many reasons. They help you know whether you like a particular job, industry, or company. An internship is like a long-term interview that helps both the intern and the company know if you are a good fit for their organization. Internships give you “real-world” experience that helps you enhance your resume and secure a full-time job. Also, they are usually well paid.
Start your internship search early in fall semester and utilize the STEM Fairs, AGGIE|handshake, and your preliminary company list. Tell people you are looking for an internship. You’ll never know where you may find a good lead.
Attend Career Services sponsored company/industry information sessions
There are many companies that come to USU specifically to meet and recruit our engineering students. They hold information sessions where they introduce their company, advertise open positions, identify qualified candidates, describe the company’s benefits, and explain how to apply.
Watch for emails from Career Services, check AGGIE|handshake, and look for announcements posted in the engineering buildings.
Create a LinkedIn profile and update your resume, meet with your career coach for help
After updating your resume and AGGIE|handshake profile, create your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is a social media site used for professional networking. It is a great way to get and stay connected to individuals who can support you on your career path. LinkedIn also provides information regarding job opportunities, industry news, company research, and much more. Use LinkedIn to connect with USU engineering alumni who work at companies you are interested in exploring. Your career coach can help you create your LinkedIn profile. You can schedule an appointment with your career coach on AGGIE|handshake or by calling (435) 797-7777.
Year 3: Professional Program
Continue to participate in career development activities including mock interviews with your career coach
In addition to updating your resume and job board profiles, be sure to participate in mock interviews either with your career coach or other trusted career professionals. With the feedback from your engineering career coach, mock interviews will help you sharpen your interview skills and polish your resume. Schedule a mock interview through AGGIE|handshake or by calling (435) 797-7777.
Mock interviews will help you:
- Gain interview experience
- Practice communication skills
- Develop your interviewing style
- Receive feedback, tips, and suggestions
- Reduce anxiety about the interview process
Create a warm company list
Based on the research you did of the companies on your preliminary company list, create your warm company list by refining the employers for whom you would like to work. Delete companies that no longer interest you. Add companies you have discovered through your networking at career fairs, information sessions, and other industry events.
In addition to the information you gathered for the preliminary company list, which included:
- Facility locations
- Types of engineers they hire
- What their engineers do
- Application website
- News reports about the company
- Products or services
Add the following items:
- Contact names of people you met at networking events
- Future opportunities to connect with the company
- Important information you gained from conversations with recruiters or engineers
Secure a summer internship
Graduating with one or more internship experiences positions you for meaningful career employment. Internships allow you to combine career-related work experience with academic coursework to enrich your total educational experience while earning money! Begin the process as early as September and start with companies on your warm company list.
Through a summer internship you will:
- Gain valuable, career-related experience for your resume
- Become more marketable for the job market or graduate school
- Build networking relationships and contacts for the future
- Increase your chances of obtaining a job offer from your internship employer by 70%
Resources
Year 4: Professional Program
Review and update your professional documents and learn about salary negotiation with your career coach
Utilize Career Services resources to update your resume, write your cover letters, prepare for interviews, manage/scrub your social media presence, and evaluate job offers. Meet with your career coach for help with any job-related questions or concerns. Research what starting salaries are in your industry and location so you can effectively evaluate the offers and negotiate salary. Your career coach can instruct you on appropriate salary negotiation.
Resources:
Create a hot company list
Finalize your list of ideal employers. This list includes companies from your warm company list; companies with whom you have interned or interviewed; companies with whom you’ve had personal communication or met with at career fairs or networking events; or companies with whom you have personal ties or connections. This list should be edited as new opportunities present themselves.
Identify job opportunities using your network and hot company list
The job market is fluid and jobs can become available at any time. For this reason, it is important to check company websites, AGGIE|handshake, and other job boards frequently. This means you need to keep your resume and profiles up-to-date so you are prepared to apply on short notice. Focus on your hot company list, but keep an open mind to other opportunities as well.
Apply for full-time job opportunities
Two semesters before graduation start applying for full-time positions. Expect to complete dozens of applications. The online application process is impersonal, so face-to-face networking at career fairs and company information sessions is vital to connect with key individuals in the companies to which you are applying.
Make sure you tailor your resume and cover letter for each company. Do not forget to follow-up two or three days after you apply, and remember to send a thank-you note or email after an interview. Good Luck!