Career Planning
By your last year you should have some career objective in mind. Study the list of interviewers that will be provided to seniors by Engineering Career Services (ECS) on the Web at http://www.eng.iastate.edu/ecs/ when school begins in the fall.
Select from it those companies that you feel most closely meet your career objectives. Your next step is to learn as much about these companies as you can. Use Thomas’ Register, Moody’s Financial Index, and available company literature (on file in the Reading Room, 3149 Sweeney Hall and on the shelves at the ECS Office in Room 308 Marston Hall).
Do not overlook state and federal agencies when seeking permanent employment. The various pollution control and environmental protection agencies offer unique opportunities for chemical engineering graduates.
Early in the fall semester, ECS offers seminars on the interviewing process. Take full advantage of the services offered by this office; they are experts in the placement process.
Students need to register online with ECS to gain full access to the services. Feel free to discuss with them interviewing problems that you may encounter. Get all the help you can in selling yourself to the interviewer. Start interviewing as soon as possible in the fall. You will gain confidence with experience.
Insofar as possible, arrange interview trips to miss as few classes as possible. Of course, you are expected to inform your instructors of travel plans before you leave and to make up all assignments. Many of your interviews can be scheduled between semesters.
When you seek employment it is common practice for prospective employers to ask you for faculty references. It is expected that you will contact the faculty member before you give his or her name as a reference. Take along a copy of your resume. Make sure that the references you choose know something about you. Questions typically found on reference requests include the following:
- Does the student finish assignments on time?
- Do the assignments show evidence of extra thought or effort?
- How does the student react to criticism?
- What is the student’s attitude towards safety practices?
