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36 companies visit CEET job fair

November 4, 2014

248879_14-CEET_Job_Fair-1023-WD-193_1008x670The Northern Illinois University College of Engineering and Engineering Technology held the first of two annual job and internship fairs on October 23, featuring 36 companies, ranging from John Deere to Commonwealth Edison, seeking NIU CEET students and graduates to fill internships and full-time positions.

“We really like the candidates we get from NIU so we usually come in the spring and in the fall,” said NIU alumna and Minarik Drives/American Control Electronics representative Darcy Wilson.  “We’ve hired 4 people in the last year, electrical and mechanical engineers.”

Like Wilson, many of the company representatives were NIU and NIU CEET alumni, recruiting current students and soon-to-be graduates for positions as well as providing guidance to the fairgoers who represented all years and levels, including many freshmen UEET101 students.

“I enjoy being back on campus because it brings back memories; it’s nice to keep in touch with people that are coming through college,” Wilson said.

Another alumnus, Dan Binger, represented Gleason Cutting Tools. He said he saw some prime candidates throughout the four hours of the job fair.

“It was a very positive [experience], and as we have opportunities to fill, we will certainly come back,” Binger said.

248868_14-CEET_Job_Fair-1023-WD-038_1008x672Gleason Cutting Tools was not the only company that had a positive experience at the fair. Of the companies in attendance, 12 immediately registered for the February 19 spring job and internship event.

“We have known for a long time that NIU has been one of the best engineering schools in the state so that’s why we’re here,” said Karen Mumm, representing Hearthside Foods, which is among the companies already registered for the spring job fair.

For Binger, coming back to campus offered a chance to reminisce, as well as marvel about how much the school has changed.

“It’s nice to be back; it feels a little bit like home.  It’s nice, it’s exciting,” Binger said. “I’ve been out of school for 14 years now so it’s good to see how the college has matured and the university has changed since then.  Plus it’s nice to see young, new, energy in the engineering field.”

NIU’s engineering program ranked No. 41 in the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking.

Companies interested in attending the spring fair should visit the registration page for more information. Students wishing to prepare for the networking event can attend a series of workshops hosted by the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

For more information, visit CEET’s career services web page.