Center for Engineering Career Development Blog

As finals come to an end and we transition into the blissful period of relaxation we call “Winter Break”, it can be tempting to let the job or internship search come to a halt. But the extra free time and ability to reconnect with family and friends can offer a great platform for extending your network and finding new career opportunities. So, make sure to capitalize upon your time at home and continue your job or internship search with these few steps.Networking

In our Alumni Spotlight series, we ask alumni to tell us about their careers and how their UVa experiences prepared them for life after the Lawn.
Meet Jessica Lin, a 2017 Systems Engineering grad who minored in Engineering Business. During her time at UVA, Jessica studied/went abroad 4 times:
Global Technology Practice (GTP) in Stuttgart, Germany as a summer abroad program in 2014
Spring 2015 Semester Exchange at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Research Exchange at University of Sao Paulo during Summer 2016

Picking a major is a no-brainer for some students. But for many 1st years, deciding on a major is a gut-wrenching decision. We've put together some resources to help you make a good, well-thought out decision.What do engineers do?
Many of the engineering associations (Association for Computing Machinery, American Society of Civil Engineers, Institute of Electric and Electronics Engineers, etc.) have excellent information on the type of work engineers do. Often it's part of their mission to educate students interested in their field of study.

Congratulations on your job offer (or your future job offer)! Your work isn't quite finished yet, though. Evaluating your offer and making a decision will take a bit of research and introspectionSALARY
Let's talk salary first. A good first stop is the Center for Engineering Career Development. We have data on the mean salary for each of the majors for the past graduation year and we can separate the data based on geographic location as well. Secondly, check out the salary calculator from Glassdoor.

All interviews can be daunting, whether they're case interviews, technical interviews, or behavioral ones. But while the others require more industry knowledge and preparation, behavioral interviews can be surprisingly easy to prepare for, if done so properly. The following 5 steps should provide you with an effective framework to structure your behavioral interview preparation and set you up for success.Do Your Research

While it can sometimes seem like college is a time to hone your skills in preparation for future endeavors, there are numerous opportunities on and around Grounds to help you engage in entreprenuerial endeavors while still in school. No matter the project, you'll find places to work, collaborate, and share your ideas with liked-minded peers. With the resources below, you'll find everything from funding to mentorship and learn how to gain the support you need to transform your passion into something concrete and marketable, even before earning your degree.UVA Entrepreneurship

Curious about the intersection of technology and policy? UVA's Policy Internship Program (PIP) connects Engineering students with a 10-week summer internship in Washington, D.C.
Our team asked Engineering students Raeann Giannattasio and Soumya Chappidi, co-recruiting leads for PIP, to tell us more about this unique program!What is the Policy Internship Program (PIP)?

Although most students understand that Handshake can be used to find job openings and events happening on Grounds, many students are unaware of the other resources that Handshake offers. From personality assessments to larger job offering databases, there are plenty of tools at students' disposal within Handshake. To access these resources, log into your Handshake account, go to the “Career Center” tab, and select “Resources” from the drop-down menu.Focus 2

Every year our team hosts several career fairs, beginning with the annual Engineering, Science, and Technology fair in September! Learn how to navigate any career fair like a pro with these 4 action steps.1. Gather everything you will need for the fair.
- Resumes (1 for each employer you plan to visit plus a few more)
- Portfolio or nice folder
- A pen, notepad, and your research notes for quick reminders about targeted companies
- Breath mints (not gum)

In our Alumni Spotlight series, we ask alumni to tell us about their careers and how their UVA experiences prepared them for life after the Lawn.
Meet Brendan Rogers, a 2017 Systems and Information Engineering grad who minored in Engineering Business and was actively involved with Days on the Lawn, INCOSE, U-Link, and First Year Players. After actively exploring consulting as a student, Brendan now works for a small consulting firm in New York City.Tell us about your career and your current job.