Virtual panel to discuss job searching in challenging market

On June 18 Auburn Engineering’s Office of Career Development and Corporate Relations (CDCR) will host a virtual panel discussion to offer advice to students seeking internship, co-op and full-time employment opportunities during a challenging job market.

Panel participants include three young alumni who were students at Auburn seeking their own employment prospects during the 2008-2009 economic downturn:

• Joseph Moore, aerospace engineering ’08, is a member of the Engineering Young Alumni Council and is a process improvement lead at GE Aviation;
• Jordan Ross, P.E., civil engineering ’09, is also a member of the Engineering Young Alumni Council and works as a preconstruction manager for Hoar Construction;
• Jessica Metcalf, chemical engineering ’12, is a member of 100+ Women Strong and is an engineer in commercial optimization and trading for Southern Power. 

Discussion topics will include strategies to conduct job searches amid uncertainty, maintaining motivation and developing resiliency. Alumni will also discuss their experience exploring careers, industries and seeking knowledge of employment trends prior to graduation.

“The present market our students and graduates are facing is unique but it is not the only difficult job market our country has faced,” said Jessica Bowers, manager of career development and coaching. “Our alumni panelists faced similar challenges during the Great Recession of ’08-’09 and through their experience, we hope current Auburn engineers will gain valuable takeaways to implement in their own employment searches.”

To learn more about the virtual panel discussion, or to register for the Zoom event, visit the event page on Handshake.

“Students are also encouraged to explore our collection of virtual Tech Talks where they can hear from engineers and recruiters from several organizations to help position themselves as strong applicants,” Bowers said. 

The CDCR office has hosted several virtual Tech Talks throughout the summer featuring companies that are seeking to engage with students for recruitment purposes. These recorded talks with organizations including the U.S. Navy, Messer Construction, Brad Cole Construction, Hexagon PPM and Southern Company are available on the CDCR website.

Career coaching is also still available by virtual appointment despite the university’s alternate operations model. Interested students at any stage of the job search process can schedule an appointment through Handshake.