September 22, 2009

Event explores job prospects in engineering

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Engineering students looking for employment opportunities will have the chance to network with others during an event this week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Engineering students are organizing the event, titled “Employment Prospects in a Tight Economy: A Look at 2010.” The event, set for 4-6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24, in Room A131 at the SIUC Engineering Building, is free and open to the public.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the event. For more information, contact Anil Mehta, anil@siu.edu or 618/203-4655.

The Southern Illinois University Innovative Systems program is organizing the event. The group is part of the SIUC chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the IEEE or “I triple-E.” The organization is a leading professional association for the advancement of technology. Its scope today goes beyond electrical and electronics engineering, with members relying on IEEE as a source of technical and professional information, resources and services.

The event includes a panel discussion on employment prospects, including causes of the economic slowdown, future best practices and how to search for and land a job in such an economy.

Panelists include:

• John Waclawsky, software and technology consultant and former chief software architect at Motorola Inc.

• James DeBelina, consultant corporate software development at Motorola Inc.

• Cynthia Jenkins, assistant director of career services at SIUC

• Brent Ritzel, entrepreneur and alternative energy investor in Southern Illinois and Chicago

• Andrew Fickert, chief technology officer at Common Grounds Technologies

Each panelist brings a different perspective to the issue at hand, said Anil Mehta, a doctoral student at SIUC and event organizer.

SIUIS is a student-run program aimed at bridging the gap between industry and academia using top-quality discussions and professional events. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the College of Engineering, College of Business, Office of the Chancellor, Office of the Provost, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the city of Carbondale and private businesses support the program, Mehta said.