READY TO WORK

Tech students meet employers at career day

Business suits and resumes were making the rounds Wednesday as students in the College of Engineering and Technology had the chance to talk with representatives of nearly 70 companies looking for employees.

“I think it’s huge to get your resume to people, not just email it but hold it in their hand and see what kind of person you are if you’re a good fit for their company,” said junior Dylan Hodge of Rocky Mount, a construction management major who’s looking for an internship. He was one of an estimated 300-plus students who attended the career networking event in the Murphy Center.

Justin Wood, manager of quality engineering at Sequence, a Morrisville-based company that specializes in quality and compliance consulting services for manufacturers, said ECU engineering graduates are ready to work.

“One of the things that impresses me about this program is they come out prepared for the real world from day one,” he said. “They’re polished. Not only do they have a technical background, they have the communication skills you need and the other skills we look for.”

Junior D’Asha Murphy of Lewiston is a junior industrial engineering technology major. She said the chance to talk to potential employers gives her a roadmap for improving her skills.

“You get a sense of what companies are looking for and try to meet that expectation,” she said.

That’s an important part of landing an interview, said James Kuras, associate director of career services at ECU. “It helps them prepare for those opportunities,” he said. “So it’s critical for their success. This kind of networking event really does help.”

Scott Fussell, an ECU graduate and project manager with Farrior & Sons, a Farmville commercial construction company, said the presence of the College of Engineering and Technology is important for companies such as his.

“It gives us a lot of candidates to choose from,” he said. “Greenville’s growing, and the surrounding counties, too.”

Junior Kayla Simmons of Bailey, an industrial engineering major, said the career day gave her assurance she’s in the right field. She’s planning to apply for an internship with Navair, the Naval Air Systems Command, which had representatives at ECU.

“It’s just very rewarding and fulfilling to see businesses and know that people in my job field are needed everywhere,” she said.