It is spring again. It’s that time of the year when the leaves are fresh on the trees and job offers are in the air. Spring is the big hiring season. More jobs will be offered to new college graduates during the spring than at any other time of the year. This is when employers will be filling the new positions and cultivating new employees. Many engineering and computer science students are in the enviable, but difficult position of selecting between competing offers and figuring out who they will allow to employ them.

This is a tough time because there are so many opportunities and so many decisions to make. Where will you start your career? Where will you start your life? Who will be part of your life?

I have coached many individuals through this process over the years, and as exciting as it is to be wanted by many companies, it is also nerve racking. You have to worry that you might make the wrong decision.

Yesterday, I had a student in my office who was deciding between multiple offers in multiple locations. He was concerned he might make the wrong decision. He wanted to know if I had ever seen a person who later regretted the decision that they had made.

In my experience, the biggest mistake that people make is leaving a loved one behind and assuming they just need a job, forgetting that they are starting a life. I have received frantic calls from former students who have said, "I left my girl friend or boy friend in Sacramento, and now I miss them so much, I realize that I don’t want a life without them."

A second big mistake that people make is thinking that they can live anywhere if they just have a job, forgetting that they also need a life. One former student called from Hobbs, New Mexico to say that he was making tons of money, wildcatting for Schlumberger, a major supplier of project management, IT, and technology to the oil and gas industry. He was driving around with a crew and drilling for oil in the desert. When he called, he said, "Get me out of Hobbs, New Mexico. There are no women here!"

Deciding which offer to take is a two-step process. The first step requires personal reflection and introspection as to what you want in life. This is your self- assessment. The second step requires a careful analysis of the options.

Self Assessment:

List your goals and set your priorities. The first thing you need to do when faced with a major decision in life is to list your goals. Putting things down on paper clarifies the issues. You need it on paper to actually see what is really important to you. This list should include personal as well as professional goals. If you have an important other that you would like to share your life with, it is good to factor in their goals, or at least discuss the big decision together. If you want to stay in a relationship, you need to have common or compatible goals.

After listing your goals, set priorities. Forget the less important goals and focus on the most important. A good method to identify your most important goals is to label them as A goals or B goals, and then number them (A1, A2, A3 etc.). Focus on the A goals.

List your work style and life style priorities. What do you need to start your career? Your work style list should include things you need to thrive at work such as: good quality training, a good team of professionals to work with, a boss who empowers you (if you are pursuing a PE you definitely need your boss to be a licensed Professional Engineer), good technical support and equipment, a clear corporate mission statement, a competitive salary with great benefits, and a chance to apply what you have learned in your education. Prioritize the list.

Your life style list should include things you need to thrive outside of work: affordable housing, a reasonable commute, a livable community, quality schools, a low crime rate, a major university where you can continue your education, proximity to family, being close to your important other, a short drive to the ski slopes and an even shorter drive to the ocean. Include whatever you need to feel like life is good and not just all work. I have one former student who works at Port Hueneme and surfs during lunchtime everyday. This is one happy camper!

Once you have done your personal reflection by listing your goals and your life style/work style preferences, set your priorities. Now you have criteria by which to assess which offer represents the best possible move for your career and your life.

Assessing the Offers:

Quantitative Analysis. When you have received an offer, you will need to decide if it is a good offer for you. A quantitative analysis is the best way to approach the decision. Every engineer I have worked with is delighted to hear that this task can be broken down into numbers. Take a piece of paper and divide it into two columns, labeling one column "pros," and one column "cons." Then, make a list of the pros and the cons of the offer. These will include things that relate to your goals and work/life style preferences. Then, adjacent to each item, assign a numerical value on a scale from one to ten: how important is that item? Do this analysis for each offer you receive and you will now have a way to choose between the offers.

One computer science student that I worked with a couple of years ago had an offer from a company in San Francisco that was several thousand dollars higher than another offer she had from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) here in Sacramento. She was very nervous about taking an offer that was lower. After she finished doing the analysis, she was able to see that the FTB offer represented the best professional and personal move for her and her family.

That is how you sort the offers and plan your career and your life!

Speaker List
CSC 192 meets on Thursday at 02:00, and runs for 50 minutes.

Hello-
 
My name is Jeanette Carey, I am a 2004 CSUS CpE graduate now currently employed with HP’s ProCurve networking division. My manager, Tim Twietmeyer is looking to hire a college graduate ASAP (for start after the end of the semester) for a position working on our wireless networking team. Tim hasn’t had much luck finding good candidates from other schools in the area so I suggested that we try the CSUS program that I had used while looking for an internship.

The facts are that we are an embedded software team working in the wireless networking looking for a college graduate with experience in C programming and interest in networking. Emails can be sent to my manager tim.twietmeyer@hp.com or to me at jeanette.carey@hp.com

We are on a tight schedule in that our position may need to be filled by the end of next week.

 
Thank you,
Jeanette Carey
 
jeanette.carey@hp.com

Everyone is welcome to join us at the Sacramento State Engineering Expo and Robot Competition this Sunday 4/27/08 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at the University Union Ballroom.
IT IS FREE. For more information go to:
 
http://www.sacbots.org/
 
You can see gallery pictures from last year’s event at:
http://www.sacbots.org/node/37
 
 
Emir José Macari, Dean   
College of Engineering and Computer Science   
Riverside Hall 2014     
California State University, Sacramento    
6000 J Street    
Sacramento, CA 95819-6023

(916) 278-6127 phone
(916) 278-5949 fax
emacari@csus.edu
http://www.ecs.csus.edu
 

We would like it if you posted this volunteer internship for the City of Sacramento. However, we also have paid internships that your students would really benefit as to getting some experience that coincides with their studying major. Our Website is www.internsource.org.

Thank you!

Jamie Prather
Program Coordinator
The InternSource
1901 Royal Oaks Drive
Sacramento, CA 95815
PH: (916) 418-5124
Fax: (916) 418-5120
jprather@communitycollege.org

Geographic Information System, Geography, Computer Science, or related major

The City of Sacramento’s Development Services Department is looking for a self-motivated, dependable and fast-learning GIS student volunteer to assist with the following duties:

• Help prepare and update GIS data
• Preparation of maps, graphic documents, and presentations
• Possible involvement in GIS analysis and database design

This position will have opportunities to

• Practice with the latest ESRI products: ArcGIS9.2 (with 3D, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst extensions), ArcServer, and ArcIMS
• Experience databases such as Geodatabase and ArcSDE
• Practice and master map cartography
• Learn scripting and programming language such as Python and ArcObject
• Learn the fundamentals of GIS data management and process
• Learn development business process
• Work with GIS specialists on challenging projects

PREFERRED ABILITIES

• Comfortable in a Microsoft Windows/Office environment
• Completed course work should include:
• Introduction to GIS or equivalent class
• Introduction to Cartography or equivalent class
• Desire some experience with ArcGIS 9x environment
• Desired but not required experience with:
• AutoCAD map or other mapping/graphic design environment
• Desired but not required course work:
• Elementary Statistics
• Database Design & Maintenance or equivalent class (current enrollment accepted)
• Scripting/programming class

WORK SCHEDULE: This is currently an unpaid internship but may count towards college credits. Contact your college advisor or department for the fulfillment of an internship requirement. Minimum commitment: 10 hours/week, preferably 20+/week. Prefer a regular schedule to be maintained throughout the duration of the internship. The work location will be at our DSD’s office building- 300 Richards Blvd. with free parking.

SEND COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO:
GIS Specialist: Rong Liu
Email: rliu@cityofsacramento.org

For more information about the Development Services Department visit our website: www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd

Find and Apply Workshop

Looking for a job that can launch your career?
Where you’ll have a role in addressing our nation’s biggest challenges?
At a place you can advance quickly?
For an employer that will pay off your student loans?
You should take a look at federal public service!

Learn how to apply for federal positions including: 
• Internships 
• Co-op positions 
• Full-time positions  

Attend a session on Monday, April 28th, 2008 to learn everything you need to know about finding and applying for internships and jobs in federal public service. Learn how to navigate this federal hiring process. Walk away from this session feeling confident about how to find and pursue a federal opportunity.
When: 1:30pm-3pm
Where: Forest Suite, 2nd floor of Union
 

KSA Writing Workshop

May 6, 2008 
3:30pm-5:00pm 
Orchard Suite (3rd floor of Union) 

The Girl Scouts of Northern California will be hiring advisors and a Health Supervisor to supervise high school girls at our “Launch into Technology” at NASA Ames residential program from June 22 – June 28,  2008.  (Staff training is June 19 – June 21.)
 
Please pass on this notice to anyone who might be interested in applying for these positions at NASA Ames Research Center near Mountain View, CA.  There are paid positions for college students, college graduates, educators and others interested in working with high school girls and committed to promoting science and engineering education and careers.
 
Volunteer positions are also available! Be part of the experience at NASA Ames for as little as half a day.  Varied jobs available.  Minimum age 18 yrs.
 
Thanks!
Jean Fahy

________________________________

Paid positions available at “Launch into Technology” at NASA Ames Research Center Aeronautics, Astrobiology, and Robotics Institute

June 22 to June 28, 2008 
(Staff Training June 19 – June 21)

Residential program for girls grades 9-12 (Located near Mountain View, CA)

Come join the team!  Share the excitement of science, technology, engineering, and science with girls.

Advisor: $65/day   Manages participants of a specialty group. Assists in Aeronautics, Astrobiology, or Robotics workshops. Helps plan other activities as needed. Oversees the health and well-being of participants at all times. Experience in engineering or the sciences preferred.   Minimum age 18. 

Health Supervisor: $90/day  Responsible for the implementation of the camp’s health plan.  Dispenses medication and administers first aid as needed.  Works in conjunction with local doctor, clinic, and hospital.  Level 2 First Aid, EMT, or RN license. Assists in supervision of participants as needed.  Minimum age 21.

Training dates:  June 19 – 21, 2008

Salaries are quoted on a per day basis and include Worker’s Compensation, room, board and an incredible experience at NASA!

For more information about the program:  
 http://www.girlscoutsbayarea.org/pages/initiatives/ggt/events.html

To apply:   http://www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/pages/about/employment.html

Questions?  Please contact Jean Fahy, Girls Go Tech Coordinator at 510-562-8470, ext. 246 or jfahy@girlscoutsnorcal.org for an application packet.


How cool would “worked as staff at Launch into Technology Aeronautics, Astrobiology, and Robotics Institute at NASA Ames” look on your resume?

Hi all

Please come to the Engineering Expo/Smackdown in Sactown on Sunday April 27 at noon in the Union ballroom.  This event is hosted by a coalition of ECS clubs.  Attending is a nice way to support the students.  (and it is really pretty fun!)

I attached the poster.

Hope to see you there

Sue Holl, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
____________________
Together ASI and the Engineering Coalition of CSUS proudly presents Engineering EXPO Robot Battle on Sunday April 27, 2008 in the University Union Ballroom at Sac State, noon - 5 PM. Parking and Admission for this event is FREE!

What to expect

The Smackdown in Sactown
A tournament of battling SOZBOTS for the Hornet Trophy

Come to this FREE event and witness a showcase of Sacramento States’s Engineering and Computer Science student projects including

• 220-lb Fighting Robot
• Formula SAE and Mini-Baja Race Cars
• Concrete Canoe Design Team
• Remote Control Hellicopters
• Activities for the kids
...and much more!

Visit www.sacbots.org for more info.

Two internship information sessions.  Mark your calendars!
 
WHO:  Disneyland Internship
TIME:  Choose from either 12pm or 3pm
WHEN: Tuesday, April 22nd (tomorrow)
LOCATION:  Lobby Suite
NOTE:  This paid internship is open to all majors!  Find out about all the internships available at Disneyland.  Disneyland now has housing for interns!!
Students must attend an information session to get an interview or go online and view the e-presentation.
 
WHO:  Apple Computer Internship
TIME:  Choose from either 12pm or 3pm
WHEN:  Friday, May 2nd
LOCATION:  Forest Suite, 2nd Floor University Union
NOTE:  Don’t miss this great opportunity for a paid internship, working from home!  Apple also pays for your land line, internet connection and provides an iMac for the duration of the internship.  PC users also encouraged to apply.  Attend the info session for more details and how to apply.
 
If you need more information regarding the information sessions please contact Candace McGee at 
cmcgee@csus.edu or 916-278-7207.

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.

Employers are hiring from the resumes posted on our web site 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!

Students are reporting multiple offers from using a combination of the resume posting service, the JETX job listings, and from Career Day 2008.  If you missed Career Day 2008 you can still access the hiring and contact information on the ECS Career Services web site at http://www.ecs.csus.edu/career.

Cool new feature!!!  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.  cici@csus.edu