At the EECS Internship Fair on January 22, students crowded around tech company recruiters to distribute their resumes, and Pauley Ballroom buzzed with nervous energy. It appeared to be college recruiting as usual, despite the news that some companies represented, like Microsoft and Intel, had recently announced job layoffs.
While the poor economy means job gloom for most students, engineering majors can find good opportunities, sources say, particularly internships. “We are currently recruiting for multiple full-time, entry-level opportunities,” reports Doug Fauth, a recruiter for video game developer Activision. “And our intern/co-op hiring plan for 2009 indicates about a 20 percent increase from 2008.”
Tom Devlin, director of UC Berkeley’s Career Center, reports that in a December survey of the center’s 700 most active employers (including engineering and technical industries), 45 percent said they would be hiring the same or more full-time employees this year than last, and 65 percent said they would be hiring the same or more interns.
“For engineering majors, it’s a fair job market,” says Devlin. “It’s far better than the general marketplace for all workers.” (Indeed, a UCLA economic report in December predicted that the California unemployment rate will reach 9 percent this year, and that there will be weak job growth through 2010.)
Still, the global recession is making it tougher for engineers than in years past. Some say they have friends who graduated in 2008 who are still trying to find jobs.
Fauth paints it this way. “Companies might be a little more cautious because of the economy, and you might see fewer companies recruiting on campus because of limited travel budgets. Job postings might be a little slower in getting approved, and traditional time frames to recruit might be pushed closer to graduation or summer.”
Worried engineers are adjusting. “I think a lot of small companies have scaled back their internship programs, and the openings at the bigger companies are already being filled,” reports CEE sophomore Madeline Ziser. “I’m going to try to send out as many resumes and cover letters as I can before the March [Civil and Environmental Engineering Career] fair. I hope this will give me an edge on the competition.”
Devlin and Fauth recommend that engineers exercise patience in finding a job and flexibility with regard to job type, industry and location. Although a job may not be perfect, consider whether it will position you better for the next opportunity, Devlin advises.
Graduate school is another option, but Devlin cautions that students should apply for the right reasons. Those hoping to wait out the economy in school and then demand a higher salary with a more advanced degree under their belts might find that the strategy backfires. “Hiring someone with a bachelor’s degree is a cost-cutting measure for companies,” Devlin explains. But go to graduate school if that’s what you want, he says, especially if you’re ready to specialize or pursue a passion.
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