Undergraduate Students
Sessions Specially for Collegiate Attendees
Examples of Winning Interviews
Presented by Elizabeth Polak, Owens Corning
Thursday 10/12, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Many companies utilize behavioral-based interviews and often students are not prepared to respond in ways that maximize their background. This session will review the targeted selection interview methodology and demonstrate examples of "winning" interviews.
Elizabeth Polak has over 20 years of experience in college relations and career services and is the Talent Acquisition Manager at Owens Corning in Toledo, OH, a position she has held since May 2000. In this role she oversees college and intern recruiting for nine corporate development programs. Prior to joining Owens Corning, Elizabeth was the Director of MBA Career Services at the University of Illinois and held various career services and corporate relations roles at the University of Virginia's McIntire School and Darden School of Business. She launched her career at General Dynamics Corporation in Fort Worth, Texas where she was involved in non-exempt and college staffing functions. Elizabeth has a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University and an MBA in Management from the University of Houston. She is a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the Society for Human Resource Management and obtained her Senior Professional in HR certification in 2001.
How to Work a Career Fair
Presented by Walter D. McFall and Tina M. Kilmer, PE, Bally Gaming and Systems
Thursday, 10/12, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Don’t miss this important session if you are looking for practical tips when searching for a first internship or permanent engineering position. Walter and Tina are the experts in “working any career fair” from start to finish. Topics include tips on the preparation, optimizing time spent, preparing yourself for the company visit, and the follow-up, and finally, determining whether a company is right for you.
Walter D. McFall is President of WDM and Associates, a technical recruitment and HR consultancy. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering with many graduate hours in Management Science. Mr. McFall is retired from Argonne National Laboratory where he recruited scientists and engineers for many years, and experienced a successful career in basic science and applied engineering research.
Tina M. Kilmer, PE is the Senior Director of Project Management and Product Compliance for Bally Gaming and Systems. Her professional experience includes technical and administrative leadership in the areas of technical compliance, engineering and design, game and graphic development, project management and strategic planning. Ms. Kilmer holds an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign.
Using your Engineering Degree In a "Patent"-ly Interesting Career
Presented by Christine McCarthy, Patent Attorney
Thursday 10/12, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
This interactive panel will include Ms. McCarthy, who will be representing the American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association, as well as a Patent Examiner from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and a Patent Agent (someone who drafts patent applications and negotiates with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) working for a large company. The panel discussion will provide insight into the possibility and opportunities of using one's engineering degree in each of these three career tracks, all of which requiring an engineering background.
Christine McCarthy is a patent attorney whose practice includes all aspects of intellectual property including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, Internet law, copyright and patent licensing and export control review. With her degree in Electrical Engineering, she primarily focuses on the technology areas of telecommunications, wireless infrastructure and applications, software and computer-related inventions.
What I Wish My Mother Told Me Before I Started Work
Presented by Rebecca Schmieding, IBM Corporation
Thursday 10/12, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Are there things which if you knew could help you in your career? Yes there are! And how I wish my mother, father, sister, brother, friend or even foe would have given me some of this advice before starting work! It's been over 25 years and I am still learning things, through hard knock experience, advice of others both written and verbal have all been combined into a list of advice. Whether you are getting ready to start a career or almost at the end of the career or anywhere in between, this presentation will empower you to be wise and productive in your career and life.
Rebecca “Becky” Schmieding is an IBM Certified Executive Project Manager as well as PMI certified Project Management Professional. She started with IBM in 1978 as an operating systems programmer. Throughout her career at IBM she has held a variety of jobs ranging from management, to providing technical and marketing support for IBM Asia Pacific marketing to coordinating early product delivery programs in Europe. Her current position is as a project manager in the product development team (PDT) with responsibilities for IBM software and hardware delivery. Becky is a published technical author and an award-winning speaker. Becky recently received her Masters of Business Administration and will complete her Masters of Project Management in May 2006.
How to Get the Job You Want - Tips from a Corporate Recruiter
Presented by Babette Houze, Siemens
Thursday 10/12, 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
Learn the latest tips on how to get the JOB YOU WANT! Basics are included in this presentation on the latest trends in resume writing, and best methods of researching the company that you want to work for. Also addressed will be networking, presentation during the interview process, behavioral questions, and much more!
Babette Houze is employed as a Senior Recruiter for Siemens, where she has been employed for the past five years. She also has more than 14 years HR experience. .
Interviewing Skills
Presented by Karen Nunez and Brooke Holt, Chevron
Thursday 10/12, 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
This session provides students key strategies to assist them in successfully navigating the interview process. The workshop is presented in specific sections that detail pertinent, relevant information that candidates should know before interviewing for any job.
Karen Nunez joined Chevron in 1983 and has held positions in a variety of operating companies from supervisory to analyst including Recruiting Counselor in various locations throughout the Bay Area in California. Karen is currently a Human Resources Business Analyst with the Chevron Downstream organization.
Brooke Holt is the Recruiting Coordinator for Chevron North America Exploration & Production Company in Houston, TX. She joined Chevron in 1998 as a petroleum engineer in the MidContinent Business Unit. She has held a variety of positions in production engineering, reservoir engineering, and business planning and development. Brooke is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering.
Operations Management: Making the Most of a Great Opportunity
Presented by Susan Landahl, LaSalle Generating Station Site, VP Exelon Generation Company
Thursday 10/12, 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
Don’t miss this intense presentation directly from ”The Mind of Senior Operations Management.” Learn the makings of a great plant operations group, and what other groups do to support them. Basic fundamentals of plant life: areas of focus and opportunity, what checkmarks are good to get, how to make your way, what's important to know. This is an especially help for women who are curious about careers in Operations Management or who already are in Operations Management roles and want to maximize their plant experiences.
Susan R. Landahl was named Site Vice President for LaSalle County Generating Station in January 2005. She is the first female in the company to hold this position. As Site Vice President, she is responsible for the station’s safe and reliable production of electricity. Susan manages the site budgets (investment and expense) as well as the development and implementation of both short and long-term technical and business unit plans for the site. Also, she manages succession planning and development of personnel at the site. Ms. Landahl attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA, where she earned a BS in Nuclear Engineering/Fission Reactor Technology, and an MS in Nuclear Engineering/Health Physics as the pilot student in the joint Health Physics program between MIT and the Harvard School of Public Health. She formerly held a Senior Reactor Operator’s license and is also a Certified Health Physicist.
Backpack to Briefcase
Presented by Robert Raybits, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Thursday 10/12, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
This workshop is intended to give the student some sense of what to expect during the transitioning period into the new job upon graduation. Learn the in's and out's of what to expect in the early days of your employment, and what you can do to achieve or enhance a positive peer image. Remember, first impressions last a long time...make it a good one.
Robert Raybits is Manager of University Relations and Recruiting at Northrop Grumman Corporation. He has over 23 yrs experience as a Human Resources professional. He has held various positions in the areas of Compensation Management, Labor Relations, HRIS, and has also served as the Human Resources Manager of Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems sector’s Science and Technology Center.
Finding the Right Fit
Presented by Tricia Berry, University of Texas at Austin; Irene Chang, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Siddika Demir, Bechtel Corporation, Danielle Forget Shield, WCA Waste Corporation;, and Michele Tescuiba, Schlumberger
Thursday 10/12, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
A lot of women engineers embark on their career with a life plan. As they move along this path, they often realize that the career path that was appealing at 20 is not as appealing at 30 or 40. Focused and determined to stay on the path, young engineers find themselves in unfamiliar territory when their instincts are telling them to go one direction while their career plan is telling them to go another. This panel discussion will address roadblocks that arise in career paths and the panelists will discuss how they have managed or changed direction when reaching these roadblocks.
Tricia Berry, SWE life member, is the Director of the Women in Engineering Program at The University of Texas at Austin, leading the recruitment and retention efforts of women in the College of Engineering. She came to UT in July 1999 after six years at The Dow Chemical Company in Freeport, Texas where she worked as a Process Engineer leading design and expansion projects and a Product Development Engineer assisting in the commercialization of a new epoxy thermoplastic and leading the customer plant start-up efforts. Tricia holds both a BS Chemical Engineering degree and an MBA.
Irene Chang is currently Senior Section Supervisor at ExxonMobil Chemical Company, where she has worked in manufacturing, supply chain, and customer technical support. Irene has been active in SWE since college, where she was the Princeton University Student Section President in 1992. She then joined the Houston Area section, supported the National Convention in Houston in 1998 as Conference Co-Chair, and later served as President of the Houston Area Section in 2002. Irene has filled numerous other local, regional and national positions, and continues to stay active in SWE while balancing work, family, and school.
Siddika Demir is the Lead Black Belt in Corporate Services at Bechtel Corp in San Francisco, CA. In her current role, Siddika works with Corporate Finance, HR, Legal and Risk Management and Corporate Affairs functions. She worked as a civil/structural engineer, senior estimator, subcontractor specialist and research assistant. Siddika has been involved with SWE over 14 years since her college years. Currently, she is the Region A Governor and a member of the national awards & recognition committee.
Danielle Forget Shield is the Director of Engineering for WCA Waste Corporation. She holds a BS in Civil Engineering, as well as an MBA. Danielle attributes her career success to networking and the soft skills she has learned through SWE.
Michele Tescuiba is Technical Manager at Schlumberger, based in Houston, Texas. She has been a member of SWE for many years and served as Conference Co-Chair of the 1998 SWE Convention.
Résumé Writing
Presented by DuPont
Thursday 10/12, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
What makes your resume stand out? What needs to be in your resume? What should you leave out? How should it be formatted? What are the keywords that help or hurt you? How can you customize your resume for specific job opportunities? This workshop will review the fundamentals as well as offer ideas for making the resume one that will lead to your next job!
Successfully Starting Your Career
Presented by Exelon Corporation, Moderated by Janet Tramposch, Manager, IT
Thursday 10/12, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
When you start your first job, you can also successfully start your career! This session will teach you how to build your first network of business relationships, as well as address and solve common problems entry level women engineers will have.
Janet Tramposch is an Alliance Manager for Exelon Nuclear. She leads efforts to create and sustain strong Alliance partnerships between Exelon Nuclear and other strategic business partners. This work includes working with Alliance teams to maximize results, participating in contract negotiations, and creating and implementing processes that support successful Alliance Management approaches for Exelon Nuclear. Previous to her current role at Exelon Nuclear, Ms. Tramposch held an IT Management role in the Business Services Company of Exelon, as well as positions in Controls Engineering and Project Management for Rockwell Automation, Mars Incorporated, Raytheon, United Airlines, and Information Resources.
Perspectives of Upward Mobility - Women in Aerospace
Presented by The Boeing Company
Thursday 10/12, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
Join this panel of women leaders who have all pursued a career path leading to Aerospace.
From Good to Great! How to Land Your Dream Job
Presented by Dianne Esber, McKinsey & Company
Thursday 10/12, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
Which jobs should you pursue? What questions should you ask at the end of an interview? How do you form a network? Come and learn how to market yourself to obtain a great job that will allow you to reach personal fulfillment. Targeted at students and recent graduates, this presentation goes far beyond the traditional resume workshop and reveals true tips and tricks to convincing that special company to send an offer letter. Highlights include a fashion show to ensure that we as engineers dress for success. After this session you will feel confident that you can land your dream job!
Dianne Esber graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern University with a BS in industrial engineering and economics. She is a two time SWE section president and is currently the SWE counselor for Northwestern's student chapter. Dianne has work experience from Varian Medical Systems, JetBlue Airways, PepsiCo, and is currently at McKinsey & Company.
Work 101 - Things They Never Taught You in Engineering School, But you Need to Know
Presented by Irene Chang, Irene Hodor, Mary Studlick, Kimberly Wain, and Penny Wirsing, Exxon Mobil Corporation
Thursday, 10/12, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
Join this lively panel discussion on a variety of topics they that won't and can't teach you in Engineering School. Topics include personal finance, whether to buy or rent, office politics – what to watch out for, and how to get ready for that first performance review. Where does it all lead? Our panel will draw on their varied experiences to help you get ready for Work 101.
Irene Chang is currently Senior Section Supervisor at ExxonMobil Chemical Company, where she has worked in manufacturing, supply chain, and customer technical support. Irene has been active in SWE since college, where she was the Princeton University Student Section President in 1992. She then joined the Houston Area section, supported the National Convention in Houston in 1998 as Conference Co-Chair, and later served as President of the Houston Area Section in 2002. Irene has filled numerous other local, regional and national positions, and continues to stay active in SWE while balancing work, family, and school.
Irene Hodor has been a SWE member since she was a student at Clarkson University. She has remained very active as a professional member. Currently, she coordinates SWE’s ExxonMobil SME bowl. Irene works at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery.
Mary Studlick has been a SWE member since her college days at Washington University in St. Louis. She has held a variety of positions within SWE during her 25 years at ExxonMobil, where she works the Safety, Health & Environmental Group.
Kimberly Wain is an engineer for Exxon Mobil downstream research and development in the area of process control. She has been with the company for 2 years and is located in Fairfax, VA. She has been a member of SWE since 1995 and is a graduate of Penn State, receiving both an MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering, concentrating on renewable diesel fuels. She served as Treasurer for the Baltimore-Washington Section (BWS) from 2005-2006, and she is currently holding the position of President of this section.
Penny Wirsing is a Life Member of SWE and chaired the SWE National Conference in Washington DC in 2000. She chairs SWE’s Conference Program Board. She has worked in the Environmental area for much of her career and is currently the Environmental Group Lead for the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery.
Interviewing the Company
Presented by Britney English, Exxon Mobil Corporation
Thursday 10/12, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Congratulations! After a long college career and a successful job search, you have been extended several great opportunities. Now it's your turn to interview the employers. While the starting salary and location are important, there are many other factors to consider such as medical insurance, flextime, tuition reimbursement, stock options, and more. This panel will discuss all the things to consider when evaluating your job offers, and how to gather all the necessary information, including what questions to ask the employer. They will also discuss how to evaluate your offers based on what the most important factors are to you.
Britney English is an Olefins Contact Engineer at ExxonMobil Chemical Baton Rouge and a member of the Baton Rouge Section of the Society of Women Engineers.
Interviewing Savvy: How to Get the Job
Presented by Melissa Davis Herndon, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Thursday 10/12, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
This session provides students key strategies to assist them in successfully navigating the interview process. The workshop is presented in specific sections that detail pertinent, relevant information candidates need to know before interviewing for any job. Preparing for an interview covers the eight main types of interviews and typical interview questions, as well as interview preparedness and logistics. The day of the interview discusses grooming and appearance and provides helpful hints. Material covered in other sections includes nonverbal communications, interview structure, interview follow-up and “interviewing extras.”
Melissa Davis Herndon is the University Relations & Recruiting Manager for the Information Technology sector of Northrop Grumman Corporation. She is responsible for continuing to develop and enhance Northrop Grumman’s internship and university relations programs. Melissa enjoys interacting with college students and looks forward to sharing what she has learned with them.
Are You Looking to Understand the Offer Process?
Presented by Dawn Carter, Amazon.com
Friday, 10/13, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Are you looking to understand the offer process, and get the in's and out's on how offers are prepared. Learn how companies come up with salaries for full-time and internship opportunities. Walk away with tools to compare offers, benefits, along with strategies for negotiation.
Dawn Carter, Senior Manager, University Programs joined Amazon.com in 2005. Dawn has led university & diversity programs at various corporations throughout her 8 year career. She has served on Industry Advisory Boards for minority & women engineering programs at various universities. Dawn is currently the President of the Mountain Pacific Association of Colleges & Employers.
Small Fish in a Big Pond
Presented by Stacy Hock, Gergana Markova, Christy Lauridsen, and Amy McIntyre, IBM Corporation
Friday 10/13, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
In a large corporate environment, it is easy to get lost in the masses. As one of thousands of employees at your company, you can feel insignificant and wonder if your voice is heard. This situation can be particularly overwhelming when you are new to the workforce. In this panel presentation, learn how early tenure employees have found their place in large corporate settings and how they make their mark. Come hear ideas about how to distinguish yourself and position yourself for success in large company. This presentation will also explore whether joining a large company is right for you.
Stacy Hock is a Senior Manager in IBM's Software Services, Stacy is responsible for the successful adoption of IBM's software products. Stacy received her MBA from the University of Texas, and her BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Christy Lauridsen is a project manager working on acquisitions integration for IBM. At IBM she has previously worked as Technical Staff for IBM's Extreme Blue program, as a developer of systems software, and as an Extreme Blue technical intern. Christy has an M.S. in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.S. and B.S. in Computer Science from Columbia University Engineering, and a B.A. in Mathematics and Dance from Barnard College.
Gergana Markova is a staff engineer at IBM-Tucson and works for the Tivoli Storage Manager. She received her BS and MS in Computer Science from Purdue University. .
Amy McIntyre graduated from Stanford University in 2003 with a BS in Computer Science. Since then, she has been working for IBM in Santa Cruz, California as a software engineer developing internet security products.
Transitioning from College to Work at a Fortune 500 Company
Presented by General Electric
Friday 10/13, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
To be successful in the collegiate world, you had to learn and balance many things. Come learn what it takes to transition to a work environment, how to understand the corporate culture, how to balance work and life pressures, along with what managers like and dislike that will reflect on you. This workshop will be presented by a panel of GE leaders who have transitioned from college to work within the past 5 years.
Why Should I Participate in College Internships?
Presented by Eileen M. Velez-Vega, Kimley-Horn & Associates
Friday 10/13, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
College Internships are an essential tool for every student to develop confidence in their field of study. An internship opportunity offers them an overview of the real work environment, whether it is a Research or a Cooperative Program. This presentation helps the students decide whether or not they should participate in college internships, how to prepare themselves, and to take advantage of their experience. The students will learn a few tips to be considered as a potential employee after graduation. As a new engineer, and former intern in NASA and Walt Disney World, the speaker offers key elements for college success, and applying these experiences to transition into their careers.
Eileen M. Velez-Vega is a civil engineer in the Aviation Group at Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc in West Palm Beach, Florida. She graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, and it’s working on her Master’s degree. Her successful career has been an exciting and multifaceted experience which began with the US Army Corps of Engineers where she specialized in research, and development of airfield pavements to being able to travel around the world.
Options for Graduate Students in Industry
Presented by Janet Goings, General Motors Corporation
Friday, 10/13, 5;00 – 6:00 p.m.
This session will present a variety of different options for engineers in industry also pursuing a graduate degree.
Janet Goings holds a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and the University of Michigan respectively. She has worked at General Motors in a wide variety of assignments since her freshman year in college. Her assignments have included development of advanced automotive systems, concept development, strategic planning, marketing, recruiting, and diversity programs. Her current assignment is working to leverage new technology to improve the aesthetic design of vehicles
So You've Landed the Offer - Now What?
Presented by Caterpillar Corporation
Saturday 10/14, 10:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Searching for the right job shouldn't end with the first offer you receive. Making sure the offer and the company is right for you is just as important. Learn what questions (and answers) will ensure that this offer is the right fit for you and the company. Whether this is your first job or a mid-career move, knowing what to expect before your first day can make all the difference in your new career.
Avoiding the Top Ten Mistakes Made by Recent College Grads and Interns
Presented by Christine Troglio, Caterpillar Corporation
Saturday 10/14 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
Making a successful transition from college to Corporate America can be challenging. With a humorous approach, this workshop reveals common mistakes made by recent college grads and interns, so that you can learn from these mistakes and step confidently into your new role as a professional.
Christine Troglio earned a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois and a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication from Purdue University.. She joined Caterpillar in 1996 as contracted service worker, writing HR software documentation in the IT function, then moved into HR as the Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Coordinator in May of 1999. Christine later transitioned to the Campus Relations section of Caterpillar’s Talent Management organization in May 2005. By acting as a liaison with Caterpillar’s strategic partner schools and national affinity groups, Christine helps Caterpillar build and maintain the relationships necessary to market Caterpillar’s employment brand. Current efforts focus on expanding Caterpillar’s US recruiting strategy to a global level, and developing metrics to measure the effectiveness of recruiting dollars.