Planning for Your Future Planning for Your Future A guide to get there from A guide to get there from

here here

University of Massachusetts College of Engineering Career Center

Introductions Introductions

Cheryl Brooks Cheryl Brooks Director, Career and Student Director, Career and Student

Development Development College of Engineering College of Engineering

University of Massachusetts University of Massachusetts

Keeping the End In Mind Keeping the End In Mind

n n Goal: to end up with a fabulous job Goal: to end up with a fabulous job or graduate school or graduate school • • How do I know which direction to go? How do I know which direction to go? • • Once I decide on a direction, how do I Once I decide on a direction, how do I know where to start looking? know where to start looking? • • Once I start looking, what can I do to Once I start looking, what can I do to ensure that I get the results I want? ensure that I get the results I want?

Job vs. Graduate School Job vs. Graduate School Job Job

Start making money Start making money immediately immediately

Work usually involves Work usually involves problem problem­ ­solving solving

You are usually a team You are usually a team­ ­ member who is member who is supervised supervised

Advancement comes as Advancement comes as you master skills and you master skills and show competencies show competencies

Hired for your general Hired for your general engineering engineering knowledge knowledge

Graduate School Graduate School Graduate students in Graduate students in engineering are given engineering are given a stipend are expected a stipend are expected to TA and do research to TA and do research

Job after grad school Job after grad school usually involves usually involves research research

When you get out with When you get out with an advanced degree an advanced degree you will most likely you will most likely lead a team or be a lead a team or be a supervisor supervisor

Hired for your specific Hired for your specific skill set rather than skill set rather than general engineering general engineering knowledge knowledge

If I think Grad School is for me, If I think Grad School is for me, how do I decide where to go? how do I decide where to go?

n n Type of research you are interested in Type of research you are interested in n n Size of department/funding options Size of department/funding options n n Philosophy of education/research Philosophy of education/research n n Experiential opportunities available Experiential opportunities available n n Residence requirements Residence requirements n n Geographic location Geographic location

Peterson Peterson’ ’s Graduate Program Guide s Graduate Program Guide www.GradSchoolTips.com www.GradSchoolTips.com

What steps do I need to take to get What steps do I need to take to get into graduate school into graduate school

n n Make a time Make a time­ ­line for yourself line for yourself n n Keep your grades up Keep your grades up n n Take with professors about grad Take with professors about grad school school

n n Study for the GRE! Study for the GRE! n n Start a first draft of your Statement Start a first draft of your Statement of Purpose of Purpose

n n Have a good relationship with faculty Have a good relationship with faculty so they can write you a letter of so they can write you a letter of recommendation recommendation

What graduate schools are looking What graduate schools are looking for for

n n GPA GPA n n GRE Scores GRE Scores n n Research experience Research experience n n Honors/awards/scholarships Honors/awards/scholarships n n Personal statement/essay Personal statement/essay n n Motivation/commitment to your field Motivation/commitment to your field of study of study

n n Recommendation letters Recommendation letters n n Maturity Maturity

If I want to get a job after If I want to get a job after college, how do I know what college, how do I know what

kinds of things I would be doing kinds of things I would be doing on a day on a day­ ­to to­ ­day basis? day basis?

n n Research the types of careers in your field Research the types of careers in your field of engineering of engineering

n n Read the descriptions of the various jobs Read the descriptions of the various jobs we post on the COE website. we post on the COE website.

( (http://www.ecs.umass.edu/index.pl?id=31 http://www.ecs.umass.edu/index.pl?id=31 12&isa=Category&op=show 12&isa=Category&op=show) )

Example of Civil Jobs Example of Civil Jobs ENTRY LEVEL CIVIL ENGINEER ENTRY LEVEL CIVIL ENGINEER n n Civil Engineering firm located near Rockland, MA Civil Engineering firm located near Rockland, MA n n Must be knowledgeable in AutoCAD. Must be knowledgeable in AutoCAD. n n Autodesk Land Desktop 2006 Autodesk Land Desktop 2006 n n Site plans design of but not limited to: catch Site plans design of but not limited to: catch basins, landscape, drainage, pipeline layout. basins, landscape, drainage, pipeline layout. Preferred industry experience will be with Civil, Preferred industry experience will be with Civil, Survey Data, Plats, or overview geographical Survey Data, Plats, or overview geographical maps. maps. Primary duties include working on control Primary duties include working on control points, tolerancing, and accurate position of points, tolerancing, and accurate position of piping. Red piping. Red­ ­lining, updating, and modifying lining, updating, and modifying existing maps existing maps for documentation. for documentation.

n n Would like candidates with experience, but entry Would like candidates with experience, but entry­ ­ level may be considered. level may be considered.

Example of ChE Job Example of ChE Job n n Bristol Myers Squibb is seeking chemical engineers for Bristol Myers Squibb is seeking chemical engineers for positions in Pharmaceutical Process Research and positions in Pharmaceutical Process Research and Development. Chemical Engineers at BMS work on Development. Chemical Engineers at BMS work on synthetic organic chemical processes for creating active synthetic organic chemical processes for creating active pharmaceutical compounds, as well as in formulation pharmaceutical compounds, as well as in formulation development of final dosage forms. These efforts involve development of final dosage forms. These efforts involve experimental study of the process in the laboratory as well experimental study of the process in the laboratory as well as scale as scale­ ­up in pilot plants. Specific unit operations that up in pilot plants. Specific unit operations that require in require in­ ­depth investigation in the synthetic area include depth investigation in the synthetic area include reaction, purification, distillation, crystallization, separatio reaction, purification, distillation, crystallization, separation, n, and drying. In formulation development, areas of study and drying. In formulation development, areas of study include blending, milling, granulation, tablet compression, include blending, milling, granulation, tablet compression, and coating. Some engineers specialize in technology and coating. Some engineers specialize in technology areas such as hazards testing and analysis, hydrogenation, areas such as hazards testing and analysis, hydrogenation, process modeling, and chromatography. The operations process modeling, and chromatography. The operations group offers positions as pilot plant process supervisors, group offers positions as pilot plant process supervisors, facilities and equipment experts, process automation facilities and equipment experts, process automation engineers, and kilolab process engineers. Chemical engineers, and kilolab process engineers. Chemical engineers in all groups play a key role in scale engineers in all groups play a key role in scale­ ­up of up of processes in on processes in on­ ­site pilot plants, and also perform site pilot plants, and also perform technology transfer to vendors and manufacturing sites. technology transfer to vendors and manufacturing sites. Most positions involve a mixture of laboratory science, Most positions involve a mixture of laboratory science, process documentation, and execution in the pilot plant. process documentation, and execution in the pilot plant.

Example Example­ ­Electrical Engineering Job Electrical Engineering Job

The RFW Product Development Engineer will The RFW Product Development Engineer will assist in the lab evaluation, production release assist in the lab evaluation, production release and market introduction of commercial RFIC and market introduction of commercial RFIC’ ’s, s, such as Mixers, Modulators, RF Amplifiers, RMS such as Mixers, Modulators, RF Amplifiers, RMS detectors and Log detectors and Log­ ­Amps. This will include Amps. This will include automated rack automated rack­ ­based characterization systems based characterization systems development, RF Circuit board design, lab data development, RF Circuit board design, lab data collection & analysis and assisting the Test collection & analysis and assisting the Test Engineer in production ATE activities. The RFW Engineer in production ATE activities. The RFW Product Development Engineer must have a firm Product Development Engineer must have a firm understanding of RF test techniques such as S understanding of RF test techniques such as S­ ­ Parameters, NF, TOI and Gain Compression. The Parameters, NF, TOI and Gain Compression. The candidate must be a self candidate must be a self­ ­starter and possess starter and possess good written and oral communication skills. good written and oral communication skills.

Example of Computer Engineer Example of Computer Engineer Job Job

Embedded Software Design Engineer Embedded Software Design Engineer n n Embedded software design engineer is sought for Embedded software design engineer is sought for the development and integration of custom high the development and integration of custom high­ ­ speed digital processing systems for radar and speed digital processing systems for radar and electronic sensing applications. Responsibilities to electronic sensing applications. Responsibilities to include GUI control and display application, real include GUI control and display application, real­ ­ time embedded microprocessor software, and time embedded microprocessor software, and FPGA firmware. Must have knowledge and FPGA firmware. Must have knowledge and interest in RF sensing, communications, interest in RF sensing, communications, antennas, RF and high antennas, RF and high­ ­speed digital hardware speed digital hardware and software. Applied Radar, Inc. is a fast and software. Applied Radar, Inc. is a fast­ ­ growing research, developing and manufacturing growing research, developing and manufacturing company located in central Rhode Island, company located in central Rhode Island, focusing on delivering RF systems to the US DoD focusing on delivering RF systems to the US DoD and commercial industry. US Citizenship and and commercial industry. US Citizenship and ability to obtain SECRET clearance required. ability to obtain SECRET clearance required.

Example Example­ ­Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Job Job

Responsibilities will include the design, Responsibilities will include the design, development, and implementation of engineered development, and implementation of engineered designs and processing solutions from concept designs and processing solutions from concept through production. Successful candidates will through production. Successful candidates will have proficiency in mechanical component and have proficiency in mechanical component and assembly design, 3D CAD modeling abilties, and assembly design, 3D CAD modeling abilties, and the ability to perform tolerance studies to the ability to perform tolerance studies to validate design integrity. Ideal candidates should validate design integrity. Ideal candidates should also be self also be self­ ­motivated, able to handle muliple motivated, able to handle muliple projects, and strive towards exceeding design projects, and strive towards exceeding design goals and target product introduction dates. goals and target product introduction dates. Mechanical assembly design aptitude and good Mechanical assembly design aptitude and good problem problem­ ­solving skills are required. solving skills are required.

Example Example­ ­Industrial Engineering Job Industrial Engineering Job n n Design and implement decision support Design and implement decision support

applications using the Zemeter framework. applications using the Zemeter framework. n n Candidate is expected to be able to define a Candidate is expected to be able to define a

problem resolution path when presented with a problem resolution path when presented with a fair description of business problems. The fair description of business problems. The ability to stretch existing knowledge to ability to stretch existing knowledge to generate possible solutions for new or generate possible solutions for new or unconventional problems is a requirement. unconventional problems is a requirement.

n n Candidate is expected to be able to write Candidate is expected to be able to write technical assessment documentation, do technical assessment documentation, do product demos, develop and present project product demos, develop and present project proposals. proposals.

n n Candidate should be comfortable working in a Candidate should be comfortable working in a team environment team environment ­ ­ and be willing to assume a and be willing to assume a leadership role and/or contribute in a non leadership role and/or contribute in a non­ ­ leading role as needed and as appropriate from leading role as needed and as appropriate from time to time. time to time.

What can I do NOW to help ensure What can I do NOW to help ensure that I find a great job? that I find a great job?

• • Keep your grades up Keep your grades up • • Write your resume Write your resume • • Plan to get relevant experience in Plan to get relevant experience in your field (internship/coop/REU) your field (internship/coop/REU)

• • Apply for scholarships; enter into Apply for scholarships; enter into competitions competitions

• • Show leadership Show leadership— —get involved get involved • • Start Networking & learning about Start Networking & learning about different companies different companies

How do I learn about different companies How do I learn about different companies and meet industry representatives? and meet industry representatives?

n n COE Job Postings COE Job Postings n n E E­ ­recruiting recruiting ( (http:// http://www.erecruiting.com www.erecruiting.com) )

n n Faculty Faculty n n Conferences Conferences n n Plant Tours Plant Tours n n Career Fairs/Company Info Sessions Career Fairs/Company Info Sessions

Career Fairs Career Fairs— —why should you go? why should you go?

n n Chance to meet with HR folks or Chance to meet with HR folks or engineers engineers “ “face to face face to face” ”

n n Chance to make a good first Chance to make a good first impression impression

n n Chance to give your resume Chance to give your resume n n Chance to talk about how your Chance to talk about how your interest/abilities match what they do interest/abilities match what they do

n n WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO: ask WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO: ask “ “what do you do? What are your what do you do? What are your products/services? products/services?

Information Session Information Session­ ­why should you go? why should you go? n n Hear what the company does Hear what the company does— —what what their products/services are their products/services are

n n Hear what kinds of people they Hear what kinds of people they hire hire— —what they are looking for in an what they are looking for in an employee employee

n n Hear about their training programs, Hear about their training programs, how they promote employees, how they promote employees, salaries, etc. salaries, etc.

n n Give you a framework to compare Give you a framework to compare other companies other companies

n n Get to meet the representatives and Get to meet the representatives and give your resume give your resume

What companies are looking for What companies are looking for and how they measure if you have it. and how they measure if you have it.

n n Technical Acumen Technical Acumen n n Problem Problem­ ­solving skills solving skills n n Results Results­ ­oriented oriented n n Good communication skills Good communication skills n n Innovative/creative/curious Innovative/creative/curious n n Energy/enthusiasm Energy/enthusiasm

How can you present your case? How can you present your case?

n n A EXCELLENT resume A EXCELLENT resume n n Strong presentation skills Strong presentation skills

Resume Content Resume Content n n Section 1: Heading ( Section 1: Heading (Contact Information Contact Information) ) n n Section 2: Summary Statement Section 2: Summary Statement n n Section 3: Education Section 3: Education • • School(s School(s)/Anticipated date of graduation )/Anticipated date of graduation • • GPA GPA • • Honors/awards Honors/awards

n n Section 4: Relevant Experience Section 4: Relevant Experience • • Highlights skills/responsibilities/impact Highlights skills/responsibilities/impact

n n Section 5: Other Work Experience Section 5: Other Work Experience n n Section 6: Computer Skills (optional) Section 6: Computer Skills (optional) n n Section 7: Interests/Affiliations Section 7: Interests/Affiliations • • Leadership/Professional Organizations Leadership/Professional Organizations • • Volunteer experience Volunteer experience

Objective/Summary Statement Objective/Summary Statement “ “the thread that binds your entire resume the thread that binds your entire resume” ”

This is your This is your “ “opening statement opening statement” ” to to the employer. the employer.

Whatever statements you come up Whatever statements you come up with about yourself, make sure with about yourself, make sure you back them up with supporting you back them up with supporting evidence in the body of your evidence in the body of your resume. resume.

Examples of Summary Examples of Summary Statements Statements

n n Dedicated adult student with consistent Dedicated adult student with consistent academic excellence coupled with hands academic excellence coupled with hands on industry experience; Possess strong on industry experience; Possess strong communication and analytical problem communication and analytical problem solving skills along with a drive for solving skills along with a drive for excellence. excellence.

n n Reliable, personable, ambitious leader Reliable, personable, ambitious leader with a comprehensive understanding of with a comprehensive understanding of design, production, and management design, production, and management along with a solid technical background along with a solid technical background in chemical engineering and excellent in chemical engineering and excellent communication skills communication skills

Relevant Experience Relevant Experience n n What you did What you did • • Summarize the project you did or the Summarize the project you did or the problem you had to solve problem you had to solve

• • Use Use “ “Action Verbs Action Verbs” ” n n How you did it How you did it • • Explain in a logical, linear way how you Explain in a logical, linear way how you solved the problem solved the problem

• • Show the Show the “ “tools tools” ” you used to solve the you used to solve the problem: instrumentation, computer problem: instrumentation, computer models, standardized testing methods, etc. models, standardized testing methods, etc.

n n What were your results? What were your results? • • Quantify whenever possible Quantify whenever possible • • Include specific achievements/recognitions Include specific achievements/recognitions

n n How did you communicate those How did you communicate those results? results? • • Wrote a paper, did a presentation, met with Wrote a paper, did a presentation, met with peers and advisors, entered a poster peers and advisors, entered a poster contest contest

Example Example Relevant Experience : Relevant Experience : 04/2001 04/2001­ ­07/2001: Team Leader, pilot project TXI Cement 07/2001: Team Leader, pilot project TXI Cement

Company Company

n n Led student research team in a full scale test burn of Led student research team in a full scale test burn of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in a cement kiln Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in a cement kiln

n n Coordinated shipping, storage and handling of RDF Coordinated shipping, storage and handling of RDF pellets pellets

n n Worked closely with plant manager to design and Worked closely with plant manager to design and implement fuel substitution implement fuel substitution

n n Worked with environmental engineer and the Texas Worked with environmental engineer and the Texas Air Control Board to obtain necessary permits Air Control Board to obtain necessary permits

n n Prepared shift and sampling schedules Prepared shift and sampling schedules n n Reduced SOx and NOx emissions by 20% and 15% Reduced SOx and NOx emissions by 20% and 15%

respectively respectively n n Prepared cost/benefit analysis of overall project Prepared cost/benefit analysis of overall project n n Wrote and presented final report to the Texas Land Wrote and presented final report to the Texas Land

Commissioner Commissioner n n Published four papers in regards to this research Published four papers in regards to this research

But what if I don But what if I don’ ’t have t have that kind that kind of of relevant experience? relevant experience?

n n CLE Engineering, Marion, MA CLE Engineering, Marion, MA Civil/Coastal Engineering Intern Civil/Coastal Engineering Intern § § Assisted in hydrographic and topographic Assisted in hydrographic and topographic surveys on and near the coastline surveys on and near the coastline § § Reduced survey data to compute volumes of Reduced survey data to compute volumes of pre/post dredging project using pre/post dredging project using AutoCad AutoCad § § Produced/edited Produced/edited AutoCad AutoCad drawings of drawings of topographic surveys, boat ramps, harbor topographic surveys, boat ramps, harbor channels and marinas channels and marinas § § Set up and implemented Set up and implemented “ “Life and Safety Life and Safety Evaluation Evaluation” ” § § Aided Project Managers in quality control and Aided Project Managers in quality control and general project administration general project administration § § Prepared agency permit submittals and Prepared agency permit submittals and contracts and communicated with clients contracts and communicated with clients

But what if I don But what if I don’ ’t have that kind of t have that kind of experience either? experience either?

n n Super Mileage Vehicle Team, Super Mileage Vehicle Team, UMass UMass Amherst Amherst • • Designed, constructed and tested two Designed, constructed and tested two engines for the University engines for the University’ ’s s Supermileage Supermileage vehicles vehicles • • Used Used ProEngineer ProEngineer and hand computations and hand computations for design, lathes, vertical milling machines, for design, lathes, vertical milling machines, micrometers, micrometers, Vernier Vernier calipers and hand calipers and hand tools for construction and assembly, and a tools for construction and assembly, and a dynamometer for testing dynamometer for testing • • Competed in the 2007 Competed in the 2007 Supermileage Supermileage Vehicle Vehicle competiton competiton with one vehicle earning with one vehicle earning third place with 1125 MPG third place with 1125 MPG

Overall Presentation Overall Presentation

n n Easy to read (visually enticing) Easy to read (visually enticing) • • Font size is consistent and not too small Font size is consistent and not too small (10.5 min) (10.5 min) • • Everything lines up (tabs vs. space) Everything lines up (tabs vs. space) • • Not too much ink (margins and spacing) Not too much ink (margins and spacing) • • Do not use a resume wizard!!!!!!! Do not use a resume wizard!!!!!!!

n n Error free Error free • • Spell Check, Spell Check, Spell Check!! Spell Check, Spell Check, Spell Check!! • • Consistency in spacing, text size, etc. Consistency in spacing, text size, etc.

The Recruiter The Recruiter’ ’s Perspective s Perspective n n Put yourself in the recruiter Put yourself in the recruiter’ ’s s shoes shoes • • Your resume may be one of 100 Your resume may be one of 100 resumes resumes • • Some resumes only get a one minute Some resumes only get a one minute review review • • They want to see critical information They want to see critical information

n n What does your resume say about What does your resume say about you? you?

n n Have you gotten your main points Have you gotten your main points across? across?

A Work in Progress A Work in Progress

n n Once you Once you’ ’ve completed your resume, ve completed your resume, consider it a first draft consider it a first draft • • Ask 3 people you respect to review it Ask 3 people you respect to review it (professor, career center staff, friends, etc.) (professor, career center staff, friends, etc.)

• • Decide what feedback you want to use Decide what feedback you want to use • • Your resume represents you Your resume represents you

n n Update your resume Update your resume • • Keep updating your resume (new Keep updating your resume (new experiences) experiences)

• • Adapt your resume to specific jobs Adapt your resume to specific jobs

Caution! Caution!

Dates On Calendar Dates On Calendar Are Closer Than Are Closer Than They Appear They Appear

Final Check Final Check­ ­list list n n Update your resume, adding your summer Update your resume, adding your summer experience experience

n n Attend various workshops in the fall Attend various workshops in the fall n n Attend Career Fairs Attend Career Fairs n n Attend Company Info Sessions Attend Company Info Sessions n n Participate in student organizations, taking Participate in student organizations, taking on leadership positions when possible on leadership positions when possible

n n If you decide on grad school, make a If you decide on grad school, make a time time­ ­line for yourself line for yourself

n n Keep your grades up! Keep your grades up!

Questions? Questions?