Auburn Engineering CDCR prepares students for fall recruiting

Auburn Engineering students can sharpen their résumés, practice interviews and connect with hundreds of employers this fall through the Office of Career Development and Corporate Relations (CDCR).

CDCR supports students throughout the career development process, from exploring career paths and searching for internships to preparing for interviews and pursuing full-time employment.

During the 2025-26 academic year, CDCR hosted 595 employers across its recruiting events, while career fairs and Industry Days recorded 4,076 student attendees.

This fall, CDCR will host six large-scale recruiting events, beginning with two Samuel Ginn College of Engineering Career Fairs on Sept. 14 and Sept. 17. A Civil and Environmental and Biosystems Career Fair will follow on Sept. 22.

Two industry-focused events are also planned. Aerospace Industry Day will be held Sept. 29, followed by Automotive and Motorsports Industry Day on Oct. 6. A final career fair is scheduled for Nov. 3.

While some events highlight particular disciplines or industries, all six are open to students from every engineering major. Students can meet directly with employers and learn about co-op, internship and full-time opportunities.

Students can prepare for the fairs using the free Career Fair Plus app, which includes an interactive venue map, allows users to filter employers by major and lists open positions.

“Industry Days create meaningful opportunities for students to explore career pathways, connect with employers and gain insight into a specific industry,” said Apryl Mullins, CDCR director for corporate relations. “At the same time, they enable our industry partners to engage with Auburn Engineering students in a more focused setting and strengthen their partnership with the college.”

But CDCR’s work begins well before students walk into a career fair.

Career Fair Ready Week, scheduled for Aug. 31-Sept. 4, will offer drop-in coaching to help students prepare for conversations with employers. Students can also participate in mock interviews on Sept. 3 and Sept. 10 and attend Mastering Engineering Interviews workshops on Sept. 8 and Sept. 9.

Students searching for co-op and internship opportunities can attend weekly workshops through the end of September. “Interest to Industry: Navigating Your Co-op and Internship Search” provides guidance on identifying opportunities, developing a search strategy and navigating the application process.

Students can also meet individually with CDCR career coaches throughout the year. Auburn Engineering students completed 2,213 career coaching appointments during the 2025-26 academic year.

“Students don’t have to navigate the recruiting process on their own,” said Heather Rush, CDCR manager of career coaching. “Whether they’re preparing for their first conversation with an employer or refining their interview skills for a full-time position, we want them to have the tools and confidence to take that next step.”

CDCR also brings career preparation directly into engineering classrooms.

During 2025-26, CDCR conducted 51 in-class career development sessions and supported 55 assignments across 33 courses, reaching approximately half of Auburn Engineering’s undergraduate population.

The assignments cover topics such as résumé development, interviewing, professional networking and researching industries and job functions. Students who completed a career development assignment attended career events at a rate 28% higher than students who did not.

Among students reporting at graduation in 2024-25, 80% said they had completed at least one co-op, internship, study abroad or research experience. CDCR reports that students who complete a co-op or internship are twice as likely to be employed six months after graduation.

CDCR supports students pursuing co-ops and internships by helping them identify opportunities, prepare application materials and make the most of their work experiences.

The office also encourages students who secure co-ops and internships to register those experiences with the college. Registration helps Auburn Engineering track participation and allows CDCR to continue supporting students during their work experience. Students should register at aub.ie/reportandenroll.

“Registering a co-op or internship helps us stay connected with students while they gain valuable work experience,” said Marissa Miller, CDCR director of career coaching and programs. "We want to ensure students are supported through transitions between professional experiences and the academic experience, and have access to all resources available as Auburn Engineering students."