engineering work experience. a job and experience “how do you get experience without a job, and...
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Engineering Work Experience
Engineering Work Experience
A Job and ExperienceA Job and Experience
“How do you get experience without a job, and how do you get a job without experience?”
-National Commission for Cooperation Education
Experiential learning Career-related experience Important supplement to students’ education
Most students used to work to afford school Now students work to keep up with steadily costs
“How do you get experience without a job, and how do you get a job without experience?”
-National Commission for Cooperation Education
Experiential learning Career-related experience Important supplement to students’ education
Most students used to work to afford school Now students work to keep up with steadily costs
Employment Change Trends
Employment Change Trends
1980’s: Major recession hitting large manufacturing sectors Automobile industry in Midwest Blue collar jobs
1983 - 1986: U.S. economy revived Engineers hired with salaries way above
inflation 1988 - 1994: Major restructuring within
corporate America White collar workforce affected
1980’s: Major recession hitting large manufacturing sectors Automobile industry in Midwest Blue collar jobs
1983 - 1986: U.S. economy revived Engineers hired with salaries way above
inflation 1988 - 1994: Major restructuring within
corporate America White collar workforce affected
Employment Change Trends
Employment Change Trends
1994 to March 2000: Strong job market Increases in productivity, mergers,
low birth rate 2000 to present: Bear market and
recession Further collapse with 9.11.01 attacks Wars with Afghanistan and Iraq
1994 to March 2000: Strong job market Increases in productivity, mergers,
low birth rate 2000 to present: Bear market and
recession Further collapse with 9.11.01 attacks Wars with Afghanistan and Iraq
Good to all this BadGood to all this Bad
Need for college graduates is constant
Many employers expect graduates to have significant work experience Require less
training and can produce results more quickly
Need for college graduates is constant
Many employers expect graduates to have significant work experience Require less
training and can produce results more quickly
Summer Jobs and Other Work Experience
Summer Jobs and Other Work Experience
Engineering employers prefer career-related experience Whatever experience can be helpful
Build a foundation along with classroom and career-related activities
Strengthen communication skills, learn to work in teams, and develop problem-solving capabilities
Seek out employment during year and summer for experience
Engineering employers prefer career-related experience Whatever experience can be helpful
Build a foundation along with classroom and career-related activities
Strengthen communication skills, learn to work in teams, and develop problem-solving capabilities
Seek out employment during year and summer for experience
Volunteer or Community Service Experiences
Volunteer or Community Service Experiences
Can be short- or long-term arrangements
Nonprofit organizations Interest in individuals
with strong math, science, and computer skills
Unpaid positions that help students gain significant experience and develop important skills
Can be short- or long-term arrangements
Nonprofit organizations Interest in individuals
with strong math, science, and computer skills
Unpaid positions that help students gain significant experience and develop important skills
InternshipsInternships
Can be paid or unpaid work experience arranged for a set period
Usually occurs during summer to avoid disruption of school class schedule
One-time arrangement with no obligations for future employment
Many employers use internships to screen for future candidates
Sometimes involves menial tasks
Can be paid or unpaid work experience arranged for a set period
Usually occurs during summer to avoid disruption of school class schedule
One-time arrangement with no obligations for future employment
Many employers use internships to screen for future candidates
Sometimes involves menial tasks
Cooperative EducationCooperative Education
Promoted and preferred form of experiential learning by schools
“Engineering cooperative education (co-op) programs integrate theory and practice by combining academic study with work experience related to the student’s academic program.”
-Cooperative Education Division of the American Society of Engineering
Education
Assignments relate directly to major Become stronger students and more valuable
employees
Promoted and preferred form of experiential learning by schools
“Engineering cooperative education (co-op) programs integrate theory and practice by combining academic study with work experience related to the student’s academic program.”
-Cooperative Education Division of the American Society of Engineering
Education
Assignments relate directly to major Become stronger students and more valuable
employees
Advantages of Cooperative Education
Programs
Advantages of Cooperative Education
Programs Advantages for Students
Co-ops may lead to full-time positionHigher seniority, benefits, increased pay,
etc.
Use classroom skills and apply them to real world problems
Helps solidify career decisions Exposure to many fields Modification to reflect interest in career
Advantages for Students Co-ops may lead to full-time position
Higher seniority, benefits, increased pay, etc.
Use classroom skills and apply them to real world problems
Helps solidify career decisions Exposure to many fields Modification to reflect interest in career
Advantages to EmployersAdvantages to Employers
Cost of recruiting co-op students is less than recruiting new employees
Almost 50% co-op students accept permanent positions
Total wages average 40% less for co-op students
Co-op programs provide opportunity to evaluate employees prior to offering full-time
Co-op students easily adapt to environments
Cost of recruiting co-op students is less than recruiting new employees
Almost 50% co-op students accept permanent positions
Total wages average 40% less for co-op students
Co-op programs provide opportunity to evaluate employees prior to offering full-time
Co-op students easily adapt to environments
Advantages to EmployersAdvantages to Employers
Regular staff can focus on more complex and profitable assignments
Co-op graduates can be promoted sooner and farther than other graduates
Co-op programs build positive relationships between business and school
Regular staff can focus on more complex and profitable assignments
Co-op graduates can be promoted sooner and farther than other graduates
Co-op programs build positive relationships between business and school
Advantages for SchoolsAdvantages for Schools
Provides extension of class experience Integrates theory and practice
Keeps instructors informed of current business and industry trends
Provide relationships and access to knowledgeable people in industry
Enhance institutions reputation Additional business and industry training
facilities that would have been unaffordable
Provides extension of class experience Integrates theory and practice
Keeps instructors informed of current business and industry trends
Provide relationships and access to knowledgeable people in industry
Enhance institutions reputation Additional business and industry training
facilities that would have been unaffordable
More Benefits of Co-opMore Benefits of Co-op
Written and oral communication skills
Networking Self-discipline Interactions with a variety of people
and groups Supervisory and management
experience
Written and oral communication skills
Networking Self-discipline Interactions with a variety of people
and groups Supervisory and management
experience
Note of CautionNote of Caution
May not be consistent with overall goals and objectives of student
Biggest drawback is intermingling of work and study Overextending leads to stress and
poor academic performance Class scheduling problems
May not be consistent with overall goals and objectives of student
Biggest drawback is intermingling of work and study Overextending leads to stress and
poor academic performance Class scheduling problems