Engineering Success Center
The Engineering Success Center provides undergraduate engineering students with resume reviews, job search advice, salary negotiation tactics, mock interviews, cooperative education partnerships, and the opportunity to engage with diversity organizations.
The Engineering Success Center is located on the first floor of the Suzanne and Walter Scott, Jr. Bioengineering Building, suite 102, just inside the main entrance.
PHONE:
(970) 491-6220
HOURS:
Monday–Friday
8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Career Advising
Our staff help undergraduate students reach their career goals by providing advice on resumes, facilitating mock interviews, and finding the perfect fit for co-op experiences. Schedule an appointment today to work towards a great career tomorrow.
SPRING 2018 APPOINTMENT HOURS
- Drop-ins can sign in anytime on available days.
- Appointments must be made 24 hours in advance.
- To schedule an appointment with any of our staff members, please contact the Engineering Success Center by calling (970) 491-6220, or stop by Scott 102.
Resume Review and Career advice
Career adviser Aaron Benally will spend 15 minutes discussing resumes and career goals, and the expectations potential employers have.
- Monday: 1–5 p.m. by appointment only
- Tuesday: 1–5 p.m. drop in only
- Wednesday: 1–5 p.m. drop in only
Co-op | Salary Negotiation | Bridge
Engineering Success Center Director Terry Comerford offers a 30-minute session with students to discuss salary negotiation and the cooperative education program, an academic program that allows students to work in a position related to their major.
By appointment only.
- Monday: 1:30–3 p.m.
- Tuesday: 3–4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: 3–4:30 p.m.
- Friday: 10–11 a.m.
Mock Interviews
Career adviser Aaron Benally offers 45 minute mock interviews for students. By appointment only, please see recommendations for each session below.
- Monday:
- 2–4 p.m., recommended electrical engineering
- 2–4 p.m., recommended civil engineering
- 4–5 p.m., recommended mechanical engineering
- Tuesday:
- 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., recommended civil engineering
- 4–5 p.m., recommended mechanical engineering
- Wednesday:
- 2–5 p.m., recommended mechanical engineering
- Thursday:
- 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., general
- 2–4 p.m., recommended electrical engineering
- 2–5 p.m., recommended mechanical engineering
- Friday:
- 1–5 p.m., general
Handshake
Handshake is the place where students, career centers, and recruiters come to meet, talk, and share opportunities. Handshake allows students to follow certain employers, to make sure they receive any updates, events, or other content from them.
Students can also access Handshake on their mobile phones and receive alerts when job listings are posted.
CAREER ADVISING STAFF
Aaron Benally
(Career Advising & Mock Interviews)
Aaron Benally has been the coordinator of Diversity Programs in Engineering (formerly WMEP) at CSU for over 10 years. He also advises several student organizations: SHPE, NSBE, SASE, and AISES. He is a career adviser at both the Engineering Success Center and the Career Center.
Aaron is a graduate of CSU, and received a degree in electrical engineering with a minor in math.
Terry Comerford
(Co-op & Salary Negotiation)
As director of the Engineering Success Center, Terry supports the recruitment, retention, professional development, and placement of undergraduate engineering students. Terry graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Tech, and spent time co-oping in the textile and utility industries. After graduation, she worked in the oil and gas industry for 20 years in Amoco’s refining system. She was the lead recruiter for the Georgia Tech campus while working in many process engineering, financial, and managerial positions. She received her MBA from University of Houston. After moving to Colorado, she worked as consultant for a small engineering design firm, Ascent Engineering, before coming to CSU.
CAREER FAIR
The Engineering Career Fair is the cornerstone of on-campus recruiting activities for engineering students each semester, and is open to all current CSU students and alumni. Attendees can talk directly with employers to find opportunities in co-op, internships, or entry-level positions.
Recruiters from over 100 companies will join us at the Fall 2018 Engineering Career Fair. Information for the next event will be listed here when available.
- Students do NOT need to pre-register for the event.
- Employer registration coming soon.
- Students from all CSU colleges are welcome to attend.
- Engineering career fairs are open ONLY to students and graduates of Colorado State University.
Questions? E-mail terry.comerford@colostate.edu
Previous Career Fair information
PLI CAREER READINESS PROGRAM
The Professional Learning Institute (PLI) was launched in 2007 to provide students with real-world, soft skills to complement the technical curricula they receive at Colorado State.
As a graduation requirement, students will attend interactive workshops led by key industry leaders and Colorado State faculty and staff. These workshops aim to help students develop expertise in several focus areas: cultural adaptability, leadership, civic and public engagement, innovation, and ethics.
MANAGE PLI STATUS
Register and evaluate workshops, check pending credits, and find upcoming workshops. For any questions or concerns, please e-mail pli_info@engr.colostate.edu.
PLI RESOURCES
Learn more about graduation requirements, receiving credits, and get answers to questions related to the PLI program.
"CREATE" A WORKSHOP
Student organizations and faculty members can apply to sponsor or put on a PLI workshop. Apply today by filling out the appropriate form, and dropping it off at the Engineering Success Center front desk (Scott 102).
CAREER READINESS (PLI) DAY
Career Readiness (PLI) Day:
Friday April 20, 2018
Career Readiness Day will be Friday, April 20, 2018. Most sessions will be workshops or tours, not lecture style.
Evaluations for LinkedIn profiles are due May 11, 2018. LinkedIn evaluation credit will NOT be posted until finals week. For students graduating in May, please e-mail terry.comerford@colostate.edu and request to have any PLI credits processed immediately.
More information to come.
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS IN ENGINEERING
Diversity Programs in Engineering (DPE) is building a strong community that embraces the creative ideas that minority groups contribute to engineering research and projects. In doing so, we come closer to the goal of finding the best solutions for global challenges.
CONTACT US
Our office is located in the Scott Bioengineering Building in room 133, where we offer students access to a secluded computer lab, study rooms, a conference room, and more.
For questions regarding DPE student organizations, summer camps, or office resources:
Aaron Benally
(970) 491-6220
aaron.benally@colostate.edu
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM
Our cooperative education program allows participants to further explore their chosen engineering discipline, build a powerful resume, develop a network of professional contacts, and help support their academic expenses through real-world experiences.
The co-op academic program offers students at least three semesters, two of which are fall or spring, working in a position related to their major. Co-op participants gain at least a year’s worth of experience with the same employer and earn a competitive salary while working.
Benefits of Co-op
- Gain valuable engineering experience to focus interests and develop long-term career goals.
- Able to apply theory from classes to solve actual engineering problems.
- Opportunity to experience the “real world” as an engineer and develop a professional network.
- Wages from co-op can help offset tuition fees. Co-op wages do not impact FAFSA.
- Housing or living stipend is sometimes offered from the employer.
- More likely to be offered a permanent position upon graduation.
Eligibility
Students should be in good academic standing and typically in their sophomore year. Students must have declared their engineering discipline. Students should also have completed between 35-55 credit hours when they begin interviewing for a co-op assignment.
Transfer students may apply during their first semester in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering.
Co-op vs. Internship
TIME COMMITMENT:
Co-ops are at least three work terms alternated with school, while internships are only one work term of about 12 weeks.
ELIGIBILITY WITH COMPANIES:
For co-ops, students can find positions after 3 semesters of engineering courses, whereas most companies are looking for juniors and seniors to fill internship positions.
JOB DIVERSITY:
Because of multiple rotations, students in co-ops have the opportunity to be given different assignments within a company, whereas internships are limited to one area of responsibility.
COURSE CREDIT:
Co-op students gain up to three credits that can be used as technical electives, where as internships are not credit bearing.
GRADUATION IMPACT:
Co-oping extends graduation by a year, providing at least one full year’s worth of experience, where as internships have no impact on graduation date and offer at least one term’s worth of experience.
THE CO-OP EXPERIENCE:
MEET OUR CO-OP STUDENTS
Check out what engineering students and alumni have to say about their co-op experiences!
Christina
The greatest takeaway from this experience is that I have learned so many things I would have never been able to learn from a textbook or typical college engineering class.
Reid
Working with professional engineers and brewers taught me invaluable lessons in how to adapt and succeed in an engineering work environment.
Learn more about Christina Canino and Reid Maynard's experience.
"I had two great co-op experiences that encompassed a lot of what civil engineering has to offer. I learned how important continuous learning is to being a good engineer. Having a co-op is the greatest college experience I could have ever hoped for."
Learn more about Jordan Illian's experience.
"This co-op was truly my best year of college yet. From working with the most hard-working and down-to-earth people, to the re-control project itself, I wouldn't change a single thing from the last year, and am so very grateful to have had this opportunity."
Learn more about Briana Chamberlain's experience.
"It was a great experience, and I also got a better understanding of the importance of what I am learning at CSU," said Taussig. "My supervisor had two kids, so air quality was a personal concern for her and her family. As part of my work, I want to make sure companies are responsible to future generations so they can live happy and healthy lives."
Learn more about Julia Taussig's experience.
“The people that I worked with at Wolf Robotics were always willing to share their knowledge and experience. I would go through the program again in a heartbeat. I definitely recommend it.”
Learn more about Francisco Martinez's experience.
“I had the opportunity to do real-world engineering for a major corporation on the weekdays and travel the world on my weekends. When I wasn't designing repairs for one of the largest commercial fleets on the planet I was busy flying to Europe, South America or Asia. The co-op program went far above and beyond my normal curriculum as a mechanical engineer to truly prepare me for any job or real-world experience.”
Learn more about Forrest Craft's experience.
Co-op Process
PLEASE COMPLETE EACH STEP SEQUENTIALLY:
- Complete the co-op application.
- Meet with an advisor to discuss eligibility and create an academic schedule.
- Meet with the program coordinator Terry Comerford to discuss the co-op process and submit a work plan.
- Develop resume and prepare for interviews.
- Begin job search.
- Interview with companies.
- Meet with the program coordinator and finalize employer and university paperwork.
- Register for co-op courses on RamWeb.
AFTER CO-OP ROTATION:
- Ask employers to submit an end-of-semester performance evaluation.
- Meet with the program coordinator to wrap up co-op term and submit work experience report.
HOW TO APPLY
1. Fill out the co-op application and e-mail the form to Terry Comerford: terry.comerford@colostate.edu.
2. Make an appointment with an academic advisor to confirm eligibility and create a co-op academic plan.
3. Once the co-op academic plan is signed, make an appointment with Terry Comerford through the Engineering Success Center front desk: (970) 491-6220.
4. Bring signed academic plan and a hard copy of resume to meeting with Terry to discuss co-op opportunities.
Sponsors
Thank you to our corporate partners:
Thank you to our Spring 2018 career fair sponsors:
