Electrical engineering student Megnath Ramesh, one of the co-ordinators of the Engineering Students' Society Career Fair, says that meeting company representatives in person and making a great first impression gives students a leg up on finding a job.
(Edmonton) It's the paradox most students feel caught up in at some point: you can't get a job without experience and you can't get experience without a job. Thankfully, the Engineering Students' Society is helping students and employees to connect at the annual ESS Career Fair Jan. 13 and 14.
Organizers are expecting more than 50 companies, representing disciplines as diverse as computer engineering and construction to mining and consulting.
Over two days, companies and students meet to talk about long-term or summer employment opportunities and career development. In many cases, the career fair sets students on the path to employment.
"It isn't like e-mailing your resume," says Megnath Ramesh, a third-year electrical engineering student who's sharing co-ordinator duties in setting up the event. "People might forget e-mails but they will never forget face-to-face conversation-it gives you a better, lasting impression."
Ramesh adds that workshops the Engineering Employment Centre is delivering ahead of the career fair give students the tools they need to make a memorable, professional first impression.
Entitled "How to Wow at a Career Fair", the sessions give students practical advice about how to research companies attending the fair, and the best ways to present themselves as prospective employees.
"I can say the How to Wow sessions are an excellent place to learn to talk to companies. I highly recommend it," said Ramesh, adding that he has landed jobs as a student in the engineering co-op program because of job interview training he received here.
"It was only because someone helped me prepare for interviews that I ended up getting a job offer."
Ramesh adds that the global drop in resource prices could limit job opportunities-and that means attending the career fair is more important than ever.
"Companies, even in this dire economy, are coming here and meeting engineering students," he says. "This is a very important opportunity for companies to meet students and for students, it's a rare opportunity to meet with companies."