McCormick Offers Career and Networking Opportunities at Annual Tech Expo

The McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science will hold its annual Tech Expo on Wednesday, Jan. 19 from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Louis Room of Norris Center.

The expo is a career fair for students interested in engineering, science, and technology-related internships, co-op positions, and full-time jobs. Hosted by McCormick’s Office of Career Development, the expo is open to all Northwestern students and alumni. More than 30 companies have registered so far.

“It’s an incredibly efficient way to bring together students and employers,” said Helen Oloroso, assistant dean of the McCormick Office of Career Development. “It’s an opportunity for students to network and meet with companies face-to-face, often getting information that they could not find elsewhere.”

The expo is just one opportunity the McCormick School offers for undergraduate and graduate students looking for ways to begin and advance their careers.  The Office of Career Development recently began offering internship listings and a new course called Introduction to Career Development, which is now a requirement for students who want to participate in an internship or in the co-op program. That course, taught by industry professionals with MBAs and backgrounds in engineering or human resources, includes three major components: how to decide on a career, how to develop tangible skills (like creating a résumé and networking), and what to expect from the transition from school to work. Nearly 300 students took the course last school year.

The office also offers students an option to register for a quarter-long research or service learning opportunity. With this new option, students can take a quarter to focus on research in either a McCormick or industry lab, or volunteer their engineering skills around the world. In doing this, they don’t have to take a leave from school, and the research or volunteer opportunity shows up on their transcript.

The Office of Career Development has also hired a new assistant director who assists with the outreach to graduate students. Most of the 700 students who take advantage of the office’s programs are undergraduate students, and many graduate students don’t know that they, too, can participate in the Co-op program or summer internships.