Engineering Inc. - November/December 2006 - 22

Recruiters What qualities do you look for in a prospective engineering new
hire who recently graduated? Cindy Wilson Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern
Regis Carvalho We would look more at their previous work University of
Maryland, experience. It's important for them to have 2006 previous
experience close to what we do. Our The most important factors company is
heavily involved with summer are the company's career internship programs.
Very few have worked growth opportunities and for an architectural
engineering firm. If they the potential for improved have, that's a plus.
If we can have them for a technical expertise. I'm summer or two, they're
already well on their particularly interested in way. Recent graduates
seem to be ready to work and are well-versed in what they want out a
company that allows me of their careers. We are also seeing more relevant
internships and class work experience than to seek new challenges and ever
before. Students realize that puts them a step ahead of everyone else.
contribute to the company's portfolio of projects. Larry Miller Anderson,
Eckstein and Westrick You're looking for a good fit. You want them to have
the technical background structural, hydraulics, etc. from their previous
experiences. Hopefully, they've been enthusiastic enough about their
career path that they've done internships. I also think that the maturity
of the current gradu- ates has improved. I think the skill John Haines
Erin Flanagan base what people bring to the work- University of Maryland,
Career Liaison for the College of Engineering place is totally different
than 30 years 2006 Colorado State University ago. They are far better
versed in terms When I was looking for a of the technology. job, one of
the most impor- The personal qualities that engineering employers seek
tant things for me was to feel [from recent graduates] are communication
and inter- productive. I learned a lot in personal skills, honesty, a
strong work ethic, teamwork school, but was always frus- and analytical
skills. They also are looking for motiva- trated by the limited amount
tion and flexibility, computer skills and the ability to of hands-on
experience I got. be detail-oriented. Students are looking for mentor- To
produce a product and see ship and the ability to be mentored. Who's going
to the results of what I was study- take them under their wing? They're
also looking for ing was very important. variety in their work. This is a
generation used to Another important quality multimodal communications, so
they expect a variety I was looking for in my job of projects and travel.
Also, these students are coming search was an environment out of school
with an enormous technological advan- that encourages me to learn, tage,
just in their ability to analyze and synthesize and people I can learn
from. n data. It's amazing. 22 ENGINEERING INC. NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2006
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2006

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