Tuesday's career fair teeming with opportunities: the College of Engineering
Internship availability abundant despite gloomy economic situation
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Participation in both the spring and fall ISU Engineering Career Fairs by potential employers is down from an all-time high just last year.
While these numbers may reflect the impact of the economic downturn on engineering jobs, there is still hope for students looking to secure an internship position over the next year.
“I don’t pay attention to headlines,” said Scott Zalaznik, recruiter for the Iowa Department of Transportation. “If you’re going into civil engineering, the future is bright. It’s just a matter of patience.”
Dave Swenson, an associate scientist in economics at Iowa State, agrees that a good engineer will always be able to find a job, but it may take more time during an economic downturn.
“During a recession I feel especially sorry for engineers,” Swenson said.
In a recession, there is a big pool of experienced engineers looking for work, as well as new engineers.
The manufacturing and construction industries in the United States are some of the hardest hit. Engineers going into either of these two industries may be hard pressed to find a job.
When manufacturing plants look at cutting jobs, many of their “skilled talent” gets laid off, but often many firms use slowdowns as an opportunity for developing new technology, Swenson said.
John Deere is one of the companies that is still expanding. The company is looking to fill over 400 internship positions this year. Most of these internships are filled by the spring so students know where they are going to be by winter break.
“We are always looking for “total solutions” for farmers,” said Tony Kajewski, continuous improvement engineering manager for John Deere.
The company is expanding into wind farming and irrigation systems. There is also a need for more engineers because of increased emission standards for engines that go into effect 2014.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently adopted a policy for higher regulations on pollution and greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, emitted from nonroad diesel engines. The rule is called the Tier 4 Final Rule.
According to the EPA’s Web site, “exhaust emissions from these engines will decrease by more than 90 percent.”
This new policy will be adopted in increments until 2014. Because of the new standard, companies working with big, diesel machinery like John Deere and Caterpillar are forced to improve their engines.
The Iowa DOT also has not seen a decrease in the number of cooperative educational program positions. The department is looking for anyone completing their sophomore year of an engineering degree. The projects students work on are mostly civil engineering, but the positions are not limited to civil engineers.
“We participate in engineering fairs primarily as a means to make students aware of the tremendous opportunity our co-op program provides,” Zalaznik said. “Iowa’s transportation needs are not decreasing, which means there is an increasing need for transportation [civil] engineers.
Even before the present economic challenges, companies have been concerned about and trying to prepare for the expected surge in baby-boomer retirements.”
While these numbers may reflect the impact of the economic downturn on engineering jobs, there is still hope for students looking to secure an internship position over the next year.
“I don’t pay attention to headlines,” said Scott Zalaznik, recruiter for the Iowa Department of Transportation. “If you’re going into civil engineering, the future is bright. It’s just a matter of patience.”
Dave Swenson, an associate scientist in economics at Iowa State, agrees that a good engineer will always be able to find a job, but it may take more time during an economic downturn.
“During a recession I feel especially sorry for engineers,” Swenson said.
In a recession, there is a big pool of experienced engineers looking for work, as well as new engineers.
The manufacturing and construction industries in the United States are some of the hardest hit. Engineers going into either of these two industries may be hard pressed to find a job.
When manufacturing plants look at cutting jobs, many of their “skilled talent” gets laid off, but often many firms use slowdowns as an opportunity for developing new technology, Swenson said.
John Deere is one of the companies that is still expanding. The company is looking to fill over 400 internship positions this year. Most of these internships are filled by the spring so students know where they are going to be by winter break.
“We are always looking for “total solutions” for farmers,” said Tony Kajewski, continuous improvement engineering manager for John Deere.
The company is expanding into wind farming and irrigation systems. There is also a need for more engineers because of increased emission standards for engines that go into effect 2014.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently adopted a policy for higher regulations on pollution and greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, emitted from nonroad diesel engines. The rule is called the Tier 4 Final Rule.
According to the EPA’s Web site, “exhaust emissions from these engines will decrease by more than 90 percent.”
This new policy will be adopted in increments until 2014. Because of the new standard, companies working with big, diesel machinery like John Deere and Caterpillar are forced to improve their engines.
The Iowa DOT also has not seen a decrease in the number of cooperative educational program positions. The department is looking for anyone completing their sophomore year of an engineering degree. The projects students work on are mostly civil engineering, but the positions are not limited to civil engineers.
“We participate in engineering fairs primarily as a means to make students aware of the tremendous opportunity our co-op program provides,” Zalaznik said. “Iowa’s transportation needs are not decreasing, which means there is an increasing need for transportation [civil] engineers.
Even before the present economic challenges, companies have been concerned about and trying to prepare for the expected surge in baby-boomer retirements.”
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