Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Engineering Opportunity Day…

For last month’s Engineering Opportunity Day (EOD) career fair, 45 employers – in-state, out-of-state, business, industrial, governmental, military, and collegiate – provided WMU’s engineering students with a daylong opportunity to handout resumes and to interview for and learn about jobs, internships, and co-ops.

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A representative from Parker Hannifin, which co-sponsored EOD, talks to a WMU engineering student.

“Preliminary indications are that this was one of our most successful career fairs,” said IME’s Larry Williams, the director of cooperative education for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS). He has been involved with EOD since it was initiated 10 years ago.

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A student shares a resume with a representative of Dana Corp., which co-sponsored EOD.

According to EOD event coordinator Tracey Moon, an assistant director for Career and Student Employment Services (CSES) and the career advisor for the CEAS and the College of Aviation, the event is jointly organized by CSES and CEAS. “It’s a nice partnership,” she said. “We divvy up the work.”

Corporate sponsors Dana Corp. and Parker Hannifin provided funds for the tabloids and posters and the breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

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EOD event coordinator Tracey Moon (left), an assistant director for Career and Student Employment Services and the CEAS career advisor, and CEAS Dean Tim Greene welcome Humphrey Products’ representatives.

Dana also offered a workshop for students prior to the EOD event on how to make the most of a career fair. “They not only contributed funds, but they also donated their time,” said Moon.

To prepare students for EOD, Moon offered pre-EOD workshops in classrooms and at student organization meetings. “Students learned how to prepare their resumes and how to make the most of a career fair,” she said. Jobseekers were told to dress appropriately and bring copies of their resumes for prospective employers.

On the day after EOD, several employers interviewed a steady stream of applicants throughout the day. Sandra Blanchard, director of academic advising, was credited for arranging space for the interviews. “We had a full house,” Moon said.

Moon thanked CSES and CEAS staff members for their efforts, and she especially praised Grisel Puertos, a graduate assistant, for handling the paper work, invitations, and confirmations. “She was my right hand,” Moon said.