When the US Department of Labor predicts that technology careers—including engineering—are among the fastest growing, the news doesn’t seem surprising. Even in today’s economy, engineering jobs figure prominently in the national top-ten lists of career choices. And the College of Engineering’s success rate in placing graduates has remained excellent.
Two items caught my eye in a recent report. First, many job opportunities are emerging in hybrid fields, intersections between the traditional engineering disciplines and other fields. The opportunity for engineers to advance not only the technology of health care through new medical devices, but also the national policy debate, is especially promising. A friend of mine has a first degree in mechanical engineering, went on to medical school, and has been a practicing orthopedic surgeon for 20 years. During a hip replacement surgery, he thinks in terms of forces, stresses, and manufacturing tolerances. As our world becomes even more technologically sophisticated, we’re sure to see greater appreciation for the value of engineering as a foundational discipline in diverse pursuits.
The second item—that most companies now search recruiting databases with keywords—raises a high-tech challenge in one’s search for a good tech career. Resumes must be carefully engineered to generate results not only from a hiring manager, but also from their electronic search engines. I hope that trend doesn’t go to extremes. Students entering the job market are more than just entries in a database. They’ve built relationships and reputations through co-ops and internships, and those experiences create an edge in a difficult job market.
As you watch our college’s course offerings, and the appearance of new minors and degree options, and our growing collaborations with other disciplines, you’ll see that we are positioned at the forefront of changes in the engineering workforce—all the while, understanding our tradition and placing value on a practical, hands-on, face-to-face education in the best tradition of a land grant university.