Mechanical Engineering Individual Career Mentoring

Mechanical Engineering Alumni (Capt. David Giurintano and Mr. Bob Waltman) provide personal advising and mentoring to students on internships, co-ops, career opportunities, time management and best practices in looking for employment.  The Alumni Mentors are highly qualified Mechanical Engineers who have considerable engineering and management experience in industry, as well as connections.  Students can sign up for 45min person-to-person mentoring sessions in the ME Departmental Office located in 3261 Patrick F. Taylor Hall.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering is a very broad discipline, incorporating the research, design, development, manufacturing, and testing of mechanical devices.

Preparing for a career in Mechanical Engineering

  • Learn computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).
  • Obtain related experience through engineering internships, co-ops, or part-time jobs
  • Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills; consider a class in public speaking to enhance presentation skills. Plan to collaborate with other types of engineers and with those in industry.
  • Join student chapter of American Society of Mechanical Engineers to take advantage of mentorship programs, learn more about specialties in the field and participate in design competitions.

Areas of interest for Mechanical Engineers

  • Machine Design
  • Systems Design
  • Manufacturing and Production
  • Energy Conversion
  • Energy Resources
  • Transportation and Environmental Impact
  • Materials and Structures

Industries that hire Mechanical Engineers

  • Automotive, aerospace, electronics, chemical products, petroleum, textiles, industrial equipment, heating and air conditioning systems
  • Utility companies
  • National laboratories
  • Federal Government: Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Industrial Engineering

Industrial Engineering focuses on effectively utilizing people, products, machines, materials, energy, etc. to improve processes or systems.

Preparing for a career in Industrial Engineering

  • Plan to take course in Engineering and Business
  • Seek experiences in student organizations to develop leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.  Diplomacy is important in the field, as people are considered a factor of production.
  • Pursue practical experience through part-time jobs, co-ops or internships to develop a professional network and increase marketability.
  • Consider membership in student chapters of organizations such as the Institute of Industrial Engineers to participate in competitions on topics including operations research, manufacturing, human factors, ergonomics, management science, lean practices, and simulation.
  • Earn MS or MBA for advancement in management or administration; some programs offer dual degrees.

Areas of Interest for Industrial Engineers

  • Project, Program, or Operations Management
  • Manufacturing Systems
  • Supply Chain Management and Logistics
  • Productivity, Methods, and Process Engineering
  • Quality Measurement and Improvement
  • Human Factors
  • Strategic Planning
  • Management of Change
  • Financial Engineering
  • Engineering Management
  • Six Sigma
  • Lean

Industries that hire Industrial Engineers

  • Manufacturing, aerospace, transportation, construction, communications, electrical, and electronics machinery
  • Retail companies
  • Consulting companies
  • Banks and financial institutions
  • Hospitals and healthcare organizations
  • Education and public service agencies
  • Utility companies
  • Not-for-profit organizations
  • Small businesses and start-ups (Entrepreneurship)
  • State and Federal Government including armed forces

 

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