Careers in the Making

Fair provides job, internship opportunities for ECU students

It’s not that Annie Ries doesn’t want a full-time job. It’s just that she’s still a student, a freshman at that.

That didn’t stop the construction management major from attending the East Carolina University Science, Engineering and Technology Career Fair Wednesday at the Greenville Convention Center.

“I wanted to try to get more internships,” the Wake Forest native said. “I’ve already had two, but I want to try to get as many as I can.”

With many graduating seniors already securing job offers, freshmen, sophomores and juniors from the College of Engineering and Technology spent much of the fair seeking internships or co-ops, or simply introducing themselves to companies they want to work for when they do graduate.

ECU engineering students, Jawad Ahmed, left, a junior from High Point, and Marshal Hawley, center, a junior from Whitakers, speak to a representative from Rivers and Associates.

“I’m looking for an internship this summer,” said Marshal Hawley, a junior engineering major with a concentration in mechanical engineering. “I’ve only had one company call me so far, and they moved me up for an interview, but I haven’t heard back from them so I’m still actively looking.”

The student from Whitakers said an internship is the first step toward what he hopes is a career working with vehicles or engines.

“It’s pretty important to get that experience,” he said of internships. “I know for jobs when I graduate, they love to see that experience.”

ECU Career Services put on Wednesday’s career fair and encourages underclassmen to participate.

“That’s one of the big things we always try to push is for them to start their freshmen year,” said Crystal Howard, associate director of career development with career services. “They can go ahead and start to build that rapport and that network so that by the time they do get to their senior year, they’ve already done that networking and can land that job they want.”

Jawad Ahmed, a junior engineering major with a concentration in mechanical engineering, appreciated the opportunity to attend the job fair.

“It’s important,” he said. “It’s all about the experience students get from talking to real-world recruiters and employers. We get that experience that we’re going to need in real life.”

He visited with Rivers and Associates, a civil design firm in Greenville that made its first appearance at an ECU career fair. There he found Kevin Cooper, a project engineer who graduated from ECU in 2018 with an engineering degree. He said he mainly works with water resources, designing wastewater or stormwater systems and overseeing construction.

“There’s a lot of interest in internships,” Cooper said. “We’re getting a lot of younger engineers looking for internships and that’s nice to see.”

Cooper, who grew up in Havelock, said students should not be shy about approaching a company.

“Come up confident, enthusiastic,” he said. “A lot of ECU engineers can branch out to so many different things, so keep your options open. I don’t know if when I was in school that I ever thought I would be in water resources, but I really enjoy the work, so yes, keep your options open.”

Design student Hasaan Howard, left, speaks with a representative of McKim & Creed.

Senior Hasaan Howard spent time talking to McKim & Creed, an engineering and geomatics firm that has a location in Charlotte, his hometown.

“They have many opportunities there for me,” he said.

He will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in design, with a concentration in mechanical technology design.

“I find it pretty fun,” he said. “I get to be creative and then troubleshoot and work things out because it’s obviously never perfect the first time, but having to perfect my craft is something that’s fun to me.”

As a senior, he appreciates the education he has received at ECU.

“They’ve set me up pretty well,” he said. “I’ve become familiar with all of the software, and the professors have always been there to help me out. And the professional aspect, they’ve always talked about setting yourself up to be presentable and with a good portfolio.”

Though the career fair is over, students still have work to do, Crystal Howard said.

“Follow up with employers. Reintroduce themselves if they have to,” she said. “The biggest thing is they’ve made network connections, so keep connecting with that employer.”

And for students who missed the career fair, they haven’t missed their chance to land that dream job.

“Come to Career Services so that we can help you with all of the things to prepare you,” she said. “We have all sorts of services from resumes, interviews, how to dress and how to introduce yourself to help get you prepared.”

The College of Engineering and Technology has its own Career Development Center in room 239 of the Science and Technology Building.