From: Phil deHaan (dehp@calvin.edu)
Date: Fri Feb 07 2003 - 14:49:14 EST
February 7, 2003 == MEDIA ADVISORY
Signs seeking civil engineers were encouraging beacons for students attending
a recent job fair at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin.
Those job postings were indicators that one industry — construction — is
flourishing in an otherwise languid economy, said Daniel Sytsma of Webster,
McGrath and Ahlberg, Ltd., a surveying, consulting and civil engineering firm
that was one of 27 companies at the fair.
"If you were in engineering," said Sytsma, "especially civil, you’re
probably happily employed at the moment."
For Josh Manion, a Calvin senior from Frisco, California, that was
encouraging news.
The civil engineering major was hoping to land a job soon.
"I've had one interview here that was scheduled in advance," he said. "It
went well. Seems like a good company."
Manion was among 250 job seekers attending the fair, which was tailored to
the engineering, computer science and physical sciences industries. About 80
percent of the attendees were Calvin College students, said Dana Hebreard, a
Career Services counselor who helped organize the event. Employment hopefuls
from Michigan State University, Hope College, Grand Valley State University,
Ferris State University and Michigan Technological University also made the
rounds.
"All the firms I talked to were hiring either graduates or students for the
summer, which is nice," said Ned Nielsen, a Calvin professor of engineering
design who attended the job fair. He acknowledged that opportunities were
especially choice for civil engineers, citing V3 Companies, Ltd., Nederveld
Associates, Inc.; Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber Inc. and Driesenga and
Associates among the firms looking for students with a civil degree.
He also singled out several firms — Designed Conveyor Systems of Michigan,
Inc., Eaton Corporation and Gentex Corporation — looking for electrical and
mechanical engineers. Extol Engineering offered electrical and mechanical
engineers an opportunity to devise custom machines. Applied Manufacturing
Technologies, Inc. was looking for mechanical engineers to work on robotic
systems in the automotive industry.
A few firms were interested in students’ computer resumes. Gordon Food
Services and Smiths Aerospace were among those looking for employment and
internship candidates with computer science expertise.
The locally-based internet company CareerMatrix.com, the Michigan Department
of Career Development and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation were
also on hand to help seekers take their job search to an even wider market.
Several companies' recruiters had histories of hiring Calvin graduates.
"We have five soon-to-be-graduates interning with us right now," said Maureen
Weatherby, a human resources administrator for URS Corporation, an
architectural and engineering firm that was seeking yet more interns.
"We’ve always been really impressed with Calvin students and the
education they receive."
That education has been enhanced, said Calvin engineering professor Randy
Brouwer, by two engineering facilities that came to Calvin’s campus in 1999:
the Prince Engineering Design Center and the Vermeer Engineering Project
Center.
The two centers, connected by a common lobby to form one building, have
allowed students to develop complete design projects.
"They (students) used to use their parents' garages," says Brouwer. "(The
new building) has opened up opportunities for them to work on projects right
here and with better supervision and equipment."
Hebreard, whose office handles half a dozen career fairs a year, was pleased
with the turnout for the recent fair.
"Last year we had about 200 students," she said, adding that the niche fairs
appeal to both employers and job seekers alike. "A student from Michigan State
thanked us. Even though there was a smaller number of employers there, they
were hiring," she said.
~written by Calvin staff writer Myrna Anderson
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