October 2005 ISSUE
EDUCATION
Engineering Employment Centre Open for Business
After a summer of rapid remodeling and recruitment of staff, the Meloche Monnex Engineering Employment Centre at the University of Alberta is open for business, ready to serve returning students and job seekers. The centre is located in room E2-050 of the Engineering Teaching and Learning Complex by the pedway to the Chemical and Materials Engineering Building.
The centre provides summer and permanent employment opportunities for engineering undergraduate and graduate students and alumni. Additional services include counselling students on job search techniques, resumé writing and interview skills. All services are free.
Students access an online electronic recruitment system to view employment listings by discipline, apply to these listings with an electronic application, check whether an interview has been granted and sign up for an interview.
Employers have the benefit of hiring skilled employees who are prepared to contribute to organizations. Employers can submit employment listings (summer or permanent jobs) using the online form, e-mail or fax. There is no cost to employers.
Tanya Fir, human resources adviser for Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., is one of the first employers to make use of the centre, posting a permanent position for a master's engineering graduate. Although the position is not yet filled, Ms. Fir says: “I expect to receive the same exceptional service I have in the past. It's easy for me. I just submit the position description and engineering staff do all the rest."
Dr. Ken Porteous, P.Eng., associate engineering dean (student and co-op services), says: “Human resources people and senior executives from several major companies have expressed a strong desire to have a single point of contact with regard to hiring engineering students for co-op work terms, summer positions, and permanent positions for graduating undergraduate and graduate students.”
Dr. Porteous, who is also APEGGA’s vice-president, continued: “The
goal is to
provide a high level of service and make it easier for employers to hire our
students than those at other institutions. This is all about building and maintaining
relationships with employers and responding to their needs.”
Creating a win-win for students, alumni and employers, the Meloche Monnex Engineering Employment Centre enhances and augments the services offered by the Faculty of Engineering.