Most people would rather eat dirt than look for work.  It is perceived as one of the hardest things a person can do.  It means that you are putting yourself out there hoping that someone who is hiring will notice and hire you.  It involves a lot of rejection before you get a job. Many people will use every tool available to avoid direct human contact in their job search because they fear rejection.  Hey, if you put your resume on a site someone will find you, right?

This week Jeff Dunn, technical recruiter for Intel Corporation, spoke on how to network your way into a job.  Networking is a term that is used to describe the intricate process of connecting with people to gather and share information. Networking is an acquired skill.  It does not come easily to most people. But it is the most effective way to get a job. If you know what you are doing, networking can make looking for work a whole lot easier and much more fun!

Dunn pointed out that a recruiter might get 1000 resumes for as few as 4 positions. The odds are you will not get the job if you cannot get yourself noticed.  A recruiter can only possibly interview 20 candidates. What makes someone stand out?   Having the right qualifications for the position is of course essential.  But about ¼ of the candidates will have that. You are still competing with 250 other qualified people.   

Recruiters take notice of a candidate if they get a phone call from an employee or a manager who you have connected with.   Recruiters take notice if someone recommends you.  Knowing people is a screening mechanism.   It is a safer bet if they can get a recommendation from someone.  Just this morning, a hiring manager called and asked me to go over resumes on our site to see if I know any of the candidates.  I knew all of the people who had taken one of my classes. 

How do you build your job-seeking network? You can substantially build your network and enhance your employment chances by joining professional organizations, attending conferences, going to job fairs, attending career workshops and classes, going to social events, volunteering in the community, attending religious services, and playing sports. Any of these situations can provide you with a contact that can yield a job.

You can also connect with the electronic social networks like Facebook or Linkedin.  Sharing your career interests and career strengths with your classmates, friends and acquaintances is a great place to start.   But do not limit yourself to the on-line networks.  Get out there and connect in person.  Schedule coffee, lunch, a walk, a game of tennis.  
Dunn recommends developing a database to organize your contacts.  Be sure to include notes of what you talked about, what you have already done (sent resume), and what you need to do next.  Date stamp everything!

When you go to a networking event such as a professional meeting, a technical seminar, or a job fair you will need a business card to share with the people you meet.  Be sure to include your name, major, areas of interest, cell number, and email address.   IT IS OK TO HAVE A BUSINESS CARD IF YOU ARE NOT EMPLOYED! 

Dunn also insists that you need to do your homework before a networking situation.  Research companies who will attend, research the speaker, and research current events associated with the industry.

Then think about how you will introduce yourself to the people you will meet.  Write a brief script of your introduction: Hi my name is_______;  I am a student at CSUS studying electrical engineering; My interests include power generation and transmission lines; I just worked on a cool project that minimizes energy loss over power lines; I’d like to meet with you at your convenience to learn more about SMUD.  Then ask for a business card and give them your card.   Practice your approach with a friend or in front of a mirror.  

Finally, follow up.  You will be glad you did.  Many a job is lost by failure to follow up.  Call and ask for a tour.  If you have filed an application, call and leave a cheery message: “Hi, I am just checking on the status of my application.  I am really interested in the position.  Is there anything else you need from me to make your decision?”

Take an active role in your job search!  Yes you can network your way to the perfect job!

ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJORS:

The economy is tanking- do you know how to find a job? Start your career planning early with this one unit class!

Companies can now sign up for Career Day 2009 at http://www.ecs.csus.edu/career/.
We opened sign ups in November and the response has been very strong. Last March we had 130 companies attend the hiring event and we had to turn away 18 companies for lack of space. This is the biggest hiring event for technical professionals in Northern California. Students and alumni turn out in droves to connect with potential employers. It is our single most productive hiring day. PUT MARCH 6TH ON YOUR CALENDAR!!!

We now have 67 companies signed up to attend the CSUS College of Engineering Career Day 2009 which will be held on Friday, March 6th. This is amazing! We are seeing steady demand for our majors in spite of the economy. Companies are surveyed about their hiring plans in conjunction with the sign up. The 67 organizations now signed up report having a total of 1905 openings! Here is the breakdown by majors:

46 will be hiring Civil Engineering majors
32 will be hiring Construction Management majors
15 will be hiring Computer Engineering majors
15 report hiring needs for Computer Science majors
26 report hiring needs for Engineering-Electrical & Electronic majors
29 will be hiring Mechanical Engineer majors
10 report hiring needs for Mechanical Engineer Tech. majors

The NNEMS program provides associate, undergraduate, and graduate students an opportunity to participate in a fellowship project that is directly related to their field of study. The purpose of the NNEMS program is to:

• Provide students with practical research opportunities and experiences in EPA’s program and regional offices and in its laboratories;
• Increase public awareness of and involvement in environmental issues;
• Encourage qualified individuals to pursue environmental careers; and
• Help defray the costs associated with the pursuit of academic programs related to the field of environmental protection, such as pollution control, science, engineering, technology, social science, and specialty areas.

The deadline for submitting applications for EPA’s 2009 National Network for Environmental Management Studies (NNEMS) Fellowship program is Monday, February 2, 2009. All materials must be postmarked on or before Monday, February 2, 2009 to be eligible for consideration.

The 2009 NNEMS program catalog and application are available on the NNEMS Web site: www.epa.gov/education/students.html.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Carolyn Pitera by email at: carolyn.pitera@ttemi.com.

Series: 0462

Grade: GS-06/07

Application Deadline: 02/04/09

Job Duties:
The incumbent performs and supervises employees performing a variety of sale preparation duties, including timber marking, timber cruising and timber sale layout. This position designs and monitors timber sale and service contract cruises; determines type and intensity of cruise needed, calculating volumes, quality and cull and breakage percentages; Prepares slash proposal and sale area betterment plans; interprets complex silvicultural prescriptions and marking guides to designate harvest timber; lays out timber sale boundaries in accordance with environmental assessments and other instructions, considering factors such as transportation system, topography, fuels management, silvicultural objectives, wildlife needs, stream protection and other related resource considerations; prepares timber sale appraisals, maps, and written reports of all sale inspections and follows up on deficiencies. This position supervises a group of employees and provides for administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit.

Job Location:
City/State/Zip: Camptonville, CA 95922 Location: Tahoe National Forest, Yuba River Ranger District

For Further Information Please Contact:
Name: Robert Davis
Phone: 530-478-6284
Fax: 530-478-6109
TTY: 1-800-735-2929
Address: 15924 Hwy 49
City/State/Zip: Camptonville, CA 95922
Email:rcdavis@fs.fed.us

*Note: This position is a Permanent/Seasonal (18/08).

Job Location: Sacramento

Salary: $10.33 - $11.20 per hour

Deadline For Application: 02/09/2009

Job Duties:

• Under close supervision of the Data Processing Manager II, within the Infrastructure Services Support Section, Office of Information Technology, and in a learner capacity, the Student Assistant will assist in the performance of variety of technical duties to provide computer support within a networked environment; and do other related work.
• Provide computer support within a networked environment. These duties include, but are not limited to, troubleshoot application and training users in various applications (i.e. MS Word, MS Excel, and other types of software), troubleshoot and fix problems pertaining to peripheral equipment such as printers and other equipment in networked environment.
• Set up computers and configures them to correct communicate with the network. Provide support for client-side software such as the departmental email client and any other client-based software and provide possible solutions to the many problems that may be identified.
• Install and test all hardware and operating systems used within the department. Provide assistance and troubleshoot and fix all problems with regards to hardware and operating system issues. Test the compatibility of hardware with that of the operating system(s) being used within the department.
• Create and maintain user accounts on workstations. Create and provide maintenance to user accounts and email accounts within a networked environment. Work closely with network administrators in the maintenance of all user accounts.
• Facilitate the needs of Executive and Division of Administrative Services Staff, including preparing presentations, setting up presentation equipment, working with non standard software and documents to ensure executives are able to communicate with and work with other departments and entities.
• IT Equipment/Software Purchasing and Tracking –Respond to inquiries from departmental staff to aide in the purchasing of hardware and software. Maintain computer hardware tracking and inventory data.
• IT Security –Maintain and provide password requirements with respect to the departmental network. Obtain and install virus and security updates as needed to protect the departmental network from any unexpected intrusions.
• HTML Development and WEB Support - Create HTML documents for the department’s website and portal site. Provide support to user issues with Internet and web portal access.

Desired Qualifications:
Candidates will have networking knowledge and the ability to troubleshoot and correct server issues. Must be able to work well under pressure, and meet workload and project deadlines. Must work independently and be self-motivated, and work equally well as part of a team to complete assigned work. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, staff and clients.

Minimum Requirements:
Those eligible for appointment to a Student Assistant or Graduate Student Assistant position within the State of California. Please submit a STD 678 California State application to the name and address listed above. The link for the STD 678 California State application is https://forms.spb.ca.gov/employment/

Contact:
Marilyn Boehnke,
Office of Information Technology
1220 N Street, Room 443
Sacramento 95814
(916) 651-6686
mboehnke@cdfa.ca.gov

For more information please visit website: http://www.acinet.org/acinet/oview5.asp?Level=Overall

The Defense Micrelectronic Activity center at McClellan Park (Sacramento) is hiring an Electronic Test Lab & Process Manufacturing Production interns

MAJORS: CPE EEE
Salary: 15.00 to 15.50 per hour

Job Description:
Intern Job Description for the Electronic Test Lab Assignment & Process Production Flow Development
Work under the direct supervision of a test and production engineer at the Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA). Internship will consist of a real time mix of learning assignments and hands-on tasks. Student will be expected to become familiar with the following: UNIX, C-language coding, parametric test methodologies, test development in Keithley Interactive Test Environment (KITE), Microsoft Excel report generation, and LabView test development environment, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9000 quality management system, statistical process control (SPC), Manufacturing Execution System (MES), server environment for operation of the MES system, Assist in the construction of MES Processing flows.

Qualifications
Electronics engineering (EEE) or computer engineering (CPE) major, with at least 6-18 months remaining before graduation. U.S. citizenship is required. Selected individual must work between 16-20 hours per week during the school year, and can work up to 40 hours per week during the summer break or other non school periods. Individual must be well-organized, dependable, a self-starter and able to work independently in developing solutions to assignments made by the project engineer overseeing his work.

Intern Work Plan Initial Rev, Jan 2009
1 Learn programming methods for parametric testing of devices.
1a Learn and demonstrate KITE programs on the Keithley 4200 and S400 systems.
1b Learn and demonstrate LabView program control.
1c Learn and demonstrate Microsoft Excel report generation.
2 Perform test engineering development by analyzing and solving problems with an engineering approach (Define requirements, track variables to results, identify solutions, and make recommendations in a report).
2a Develop and test experiments in device electronics.
2b Research, design, and recommend fixtures, accessories, and equipment for device testing.
3 Comply with all security, safety, and environmental directives.
3a Ensure all environmental or human safety issues are reported to management.
3b Maintain current safety, security, and environmental training.
3c Take corrective safety actions to prevent environmental and human safety hazards.
3d Comply with clean room, ESD, and certification program requirements
4 Become familiar with all aspects of Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
4a Process construction
4b Process construction for Asset Management.
5 Become efficient in trouble-shooting problems with servers as needed.
5a Be able to bring services back online to aid production.
6 Become familiar with production environment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 	
Currently enrolled as a EEE or CPE major with 6-18 months remaining prior to graduation. GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred. US Citizens Only.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
I would like to start interviewing candidates ASAP. The position starts as soon as I find the right person. Please apply ASAP if you’re interested in getting valuable work experience in this field prior to graduation. 

CONTACT 
Ted Schantz 	Division Chief
	schantz@dmea.osd.mil

METHOD OF APPLICATION 	
Send resume (include GPA) & cover letter asap to Ted Schantz via e-mail: schantz@dmea.osd.mil

EIT – FE exam registration:
Make sure you have your application in by February 20 2009 for the April 25, 2009 exam.
Application and schedule available at:
http://www.pels.ca.gov/applicants/eit_lsitapp.shtml

The National Society of Professional Engineers, NSPE , is offering web seminars on “Tips and Strategies to Pass the FE/PE Exams” starting on January 28. Successful tips and strategies for passing the EIT-FE and PE exams will be presented and discussed. For more information check out:
http://www.nspe.org/Education/WebSeminars/online_seminars.html

For more information on passing the exams see the article, “How to Pass the Professional Engineering Licensing Exams”.

More information:
NCEES the organization that develops and evaluates the professional licensing exams
http://www.ncees.org/

Professional Exam Help:
http://www.dahlquistpe.com/PE/

To sign up for seminars and review courses:
http://pe.quartzvalley.com/

Employers are hiring from the resumes posted at http://www.ecs.csus.edu/career. If you have not already posted your resume on the ECS Career Services Office Web Site, now is the time!!! Just click on the Post Your Resume button!

Managers from local companies, including HP and Intel report contacting candidates through the system. If you are not on the system they cannot find you.

Students are reporting multiple offers from using a combination of the resume posting service, the JETX job listings, and from Job Fairs.

Employers are able to search your resume now with key words!

I also send resumes out to companies so send me a soft copy in MS Word at: cici@csus.edu

The College of Engineering and Computer Science Needs Your Data

Please report any offers that you have received to ECS Career Services Web site:

http://www.ecs.csus.edu/career - click on the "Just Hired" link.

If you got a student position we need your data.  

If you have graduated in the past few years or if you are graduating this semester we need your data.  

The information you share is used for ABET reports and to help me identify trends in employment and salaries.

I keep your info confidential.  I only report the data!  I use your contact data to confirm and to keep in touch with you.