So, what should you be doing at the second level of your undergraduate engineering career? How can you get ahead in the job search race?  First of all, register early with ECAC!  This way, you will be able to participate in the on-campus interviewing process, and start submitting your resume for internship or co-op positions.  Registering will also give you the ability to create a resume on our system.  If you have not already done so, bring your resume by to have an ECAC counselor review it.

Participate in the Externship Program!!  Each winter, students have the opportunity to visit a company in their field of study for a day.  This is one of the easiest ways to network and speak with recruiters in a non-pressure, relaxed environment.  Be sure to bring all of your questions about engineering -- they are there to help you discover what it is actually like to work in the field.  Watch for emails about Externship each year in early fall...

Learn and practice your interview skills.  Recruiters often tell us that students' interview skills are a crucial factor when deciding among interview candidates.  If you have great skills or experience, you need to be able to communicate that to the employer effectively!

Take advantage of the many different workshops that ECAC has to offer.  If you cannot make it to a live workshop, chances are good that a similar workshop is available online.  Our workshops are presented by ECAC staff, as well as by recruiters from companies you may be interested in.

Make sure you attend EXPO and the Spring Engineering Expo.  These career fairs can be a little intimidating if you have never attended (watch for our workshop on how to prepare for Expo), but they are a great way to network with recruiters and find out more about different companies.  Plus -- they are fun!

Utilize ECAC's online Job Board and other job-related web sites.  Companies who do not wish to come on campus to conduct interviews will often post their positions online, so check it often.

Interested in a company, but did not get selected for an interview?  Attend their Employer Information Session to learn more about the company and the position they are interviewing for.  This is another great way to meet recruiters in a less formal environment.  Also, if a company has any open slots in their interview schedule, this is the time they will usually try to fill them.

A great way to get involved and learn more about your chosen field is to join one of the many student engineering organizations.  If you are already a member, consider running for office.  Many students underestimate the impact that these leadership roles can have on a resume. 

Remember to maintain relationships with your academic advisor and faculty and continue to update your contacts log.

Most importantly, this is a perfect time to gain engineering work experience.  Students who graduate having had engineering experience (either through a summer internship, co-op, volunteer group, or research work with a professor) have much greater chances at getting a job with their top choice company.