100 years and counting...

The 2008-2009 academic year marks the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s centennial as an official college within the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, the name by which Auburn was then known. Auburn Engineering has made a commitment to build on its past and meet the needs of the future.

For more than a century, engineers have honed their skills at Auburn, going on to share their knowledge and innovations with the world around them. Graduates have become astronauts, fighter pilots, inventors and CEOs, while others have revolutionized the alternative energy, telecommunications, construction and wireless industries.

Over the past few years, the college has made a strong effort to increase awareness of the college and the achievements of its faculty, students and alumni. That’s because reputation matters when it comes to recruiting students and faculty, as well as attracting extramural funding. “The latest figures from the American Society of Engineering Educators reinforce this – the average ACT/SAT scores for our engineering students are the highest ever, as is the college’s extramural funding,” says Dean Larry Benefield.

"We’ve almost completed a major upgrade of our facilities and are now working to enhance our professorship and graduate fellowship offerings,” he adds. “In addition, program enhancements, such as the launch of the nation’s only wireless engineering degree and a new automotive minor are helping to ensure that our college and its graduates remain competitive in today’s fast-changing global environment.”

Facts About the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
The 2009 U.S. News & World Report ranked Auburn’s undergraduate engineering program 28th and the graduate program 42nd among the nation’s public universities.The college offers the state’s largest engineering program, according to the American Society for Engineering Education, and awards more than $1 million in scholarships annually

Auburn Engineering ranks 19th nationally in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to African-American students.

The university offers the nation’s first and only bachelor’s degree in wireless engineering, graduating the first students in 2004. It is the first program in the Southeast to offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in software engineering and the only state university offering a polymer and fiber engineering program.

Auburn Engineering students comprise approximately 25 percent of those who graduate with honors university-wide and 80 percent of co-op students.

Beyond the classroom, students gain hands-on, real-world experience on student competition teams for Formula SAE race cars, SAE Baja all-terrain vehicles and SAE Aero Design unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as fuel cell powered cars, robotics, ergonomics and materials handling design.

The college has educated four of Auburn’s six NASA astronauts – Jim Voss, Ken Mattingly, Jan Davis and Clifton Williams; three directors of the Kennedy Space Center – Richard Smith, James Kennedy and Forrest McCartney; and three members of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering – John Junkins, Oliver Kingsley and Philip Lett.

Auburn Engineering conducts approximately half of the university’s annual research. Research areas include transportation technology, food safety, materials processing, information technology, wireless engineering, aerospace engineering, bioprocess/environmental engineering, highway/asphalt technology, microelectronics, vehicle electronics, fiber technology, pulp and paper, occupational safety and ergonomics, and technology management

The college is highly ranked in research funding per faculty member. Ongoing investments in new research equipment, more than $30 million in renovations and $108 million in new construction are ensuring that the college’s facilities remain state-of-the-art incubators for new technologies.

Samuel Ginn College of Engineering Degree Offerings
Larry D. Benefield, Dean
Bachelor’s degree offerings: 13 programs with four minors
Graduate degree offerings: 26
Fall 2007 enrollment: 4,103
Undergraduate: 3,383
Graduate: 720

Aerospace Engineering
Biosystems Engineering1
Forest Engineering option
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Computer Engineering option
Environmental Science1
Polymer and Fiber Engineering
Polymer option
Fiber option
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Materials Engineering1
Mechanical Engineering
Software Engineering
Wireless Engineering
Wireless Electrical Engineering option
Wireless Software Engineering option
Minors: Business-Engineering-Technology
Automotive Engineering and Manufacturing
Computer Science
Information Technology

1 Interdisciplinary

Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
1301 Shelby Center • Auburn, AL 36849
Phone: (334) 844-2308 • Fax: (334) 844-4487
Email: webmaster@eng.auburn.edu
Website: http://www.eng.auburn.edu/

3 Strategies for Tight Job Market

The job market is tight, and the folks on the news would have us believe the "sky is falling." But rather than run around like Chicken Little, getting nowhere, make time for your job search and concentrate on these three areas: Resume, Interview Skills, Follow-up Strategy.

Resume

Your dad may have hired 50 people over the past 20 years. Your mom is likely proud of every accomplishment you've had since you were born and thinks there is probably room for that on your resume. However, it is likely that neither of them is a professional resume writer, career counselor or career coach. This is the time to seek out a professional! Use your best friend / English major to edit for grammatical/spelling mistakes; brainstorm with parents, supervisors and friends to come up with your skill set and personal traits; but find a professional to review your resume before you start posting it on job boards and sending it out.

Oh...and Microsoft...they don't specialize in resume writing either. Don't use their templates! Finally, don't let someone else write your resume. This is YOU on paper, and this paper will be what interviewers ask questions from, and you should be familiar with it!

Career Development Services offers several services. Use our handbook (also available in 303 Martin Hall) to get started. If you really feel that using a template would help you, try our free resume builder, Optimal Resume. Just know that it still needs formatting work when you open it in Word. Email your resume for feedback with e-Resume drop off service or walk-in between noon and 4 p.m., M-F, or call 844.4744 to schedule an appointment.

Interview Skills

So have you done it, gone on an interview without preparing? Maybe the "wing it" method has worked in obtaining on-campus leadership positions, but when you get asked questions like "Why should I hire you over other qualified candidates?" your answer should have some depth to it! Here is an example of how you might answer that question, "After reviewing the job description and the mission of xyz company, I feel my proficiency in account management, customer service, and strategic planning make me a unique candidate." (But the things you list need to actually BE important to the position and company!)

Here is another question: "What do you know about our company?" There is a difference between wanting a job and taking a sincere interest in working for the hiring organization. There are no shortcuts to answering this question successfully; you have to conduct research.

And here is a tricky question that is really looking for your weakness, "What areas of your abilities would you like to improve upon?" Choose an ability that needs improvement but isn’t an integral part of your job.

Career Development Services offers Mock Interviews (call 844.4744 to schedule) and also provides Perfect Interview to get you started.

Follow-Up Strategies

Want to stand out? Write a thank you letter after the interview. You aren't finished impressing them when you walk out the door after the interview. So many people have stopped writing thank you notes that if you write one, you will likely stand out above the rest. Also, if you haven't heard back from them in the time they say they would, follow up. I had a student who didn't receive an offer because of the size and it got blocked. If he hadn't followed up he would have missed out on that offer!

Last thought...

Following the advice above will make you more confident. Confidence leads to more interviews. More interviews leads to job offers. Job offers leads to career satisfaction.

Resource: http://www.salisbury.edu/careerservices/students/JobSearch/EconomicDownturn.html

You just gotta do it...Networking

Research says that 85% of jobs are obtained through networking. So...here are some tips to keep you networking...ALL THE TIME!

1. Remember you are always networking.
2. Contact cards are as important as your credit cards.
3. Keep contact cards easily accessible.
4. People will form an impression of you within the first five seconds.
5. Positive words are attractive.
6. Always extend your hand for handshake.
7. Shake hands with everyone.
8. Stand when you are being introduced to someone.
9. Write your first name in large letters on your name tag.
10. Wear your name tag on your right side.
11. Decide what your objective is before you go to any event.
12. You know what you know; ask questions so that you can learn.
13. The person standing alone could be the most interesting person in the room.
14. The way you introduce yourself should be fun.
15. Networking is about building relationships. People purchase products and hire people they know and like.

Need more help? Checkout CareerShift as well as the CDS Networking Tipsheet.

Resource: Valerie Matta, VP Business Development, CareerShift, LLC

Harrison School of Pharmacy

You probably basically know what a pharmacist does, and you probably think you know what you do in pharmacy school. Well, for that "basic" type of information visit their website, to learn what they are really doing, keep reading!

Return of a legend!
These red shirted P1’s helped revive “Hargreaves Day” after several years of dormancy. This event honors beloved professor George Hargreaves, who was instrumental in building up the pharmacy program in its early days and was a mentor to so many. Hargreaves Day consists of field games, including tug of war, wiffle ball, ultimate Frisbee and volleyball. Each class wears different colored shirts and competes against the other. In 2008, The P1’s went home with the trophy and bragging rights for the year.

Practical Experience
Student Pharmacists get practical experience administering routine health tests to State Legislators during Annual Legislation Day.

Drug Research
The Harrison School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmacal Sciences conducts important drug research in areas such as Alzheimer's and Diabetes. This research has the potential to enhance people’s lives and well being in the real world. Graduate and post doctoral students come from all over the world for a chance to study here.

Tee up!
The 12th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament raised $20,700.00 for scholarships this year. It’s also an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to get together informally with each other and pharmacy professionals.

Build Team Building Skills
Team Building can come in many forms. This year during Orientation Week, new P1’s were asked to build a tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows. It was fun, competitive and educational.

Mock Trial
The annual mock trial attracted media attention again this year with a film crew from the Alabama Public Television show, "On the Job," showing up to tape it as a part of a segment on becoming a pharmacist. The case revolved around the death of a fictional 25-year-old female whose pharmacist had overlooked a known interaction problem between her medications. This is the fourth year HSOP has presented a mock trial, an event unique among schools of pharmacy. The trial has proved a valuable tool to introduce students to the law and the professional responsibilities of pharmacists.

GETTING PAST THE TELEPHONE SCREENING INTERVIEW

When an employer calls to say, "We'd like to discuss your qualifications a bit." what they are really saying is, "We want to know more about your exact skills and verify your resume, before we offer you an interview."

Human Resources professionals refer to this interview as the Screening Interview. In today's job market this kind of screening process has become very popular and is frequently used. This initial employer contact is designed to narrow the pool of acceptable candidates, and you don't want to be the one who fails to be scheduled for the in-person interview.

Handling the Caller
The interviewers hope they will catch you off guard with their initial call. Employers typically phone in the evenings or on weekends. I've personally conducted a lot of these for employers and I am amazed at how many people say it is okay to talk when there is obviously TV, loud children, and other distracting events going on around them. Preparation is the key to success. Remember that if you don't pass this screening, you're sunk.

When you get this type of call, tell the person you are just finishing something and ask if you can you call them back in ten minutes. Then prepare yourself. Find a quiet spot, get your resume out and think about the questions the interviewer will ask. The employer's objective is to clarify experience and salary expectations. Mentally rehearse your answers. Have a pen and paper in front of you. Jot down the caller's name and take notes as they ask you questions. Smile, so your voice sounds friendly.

The interviewer's job is to validate an applicant's background (after all too many people lie on the resume). Employers need to hear that you have the experience needed to do the job. Demonstrate that you do with answers that offer examples of your past performance, and that reiterate your top strengths and key selling points. Be concise keep answers less than 60 seconds and, above all, sound interested and enthusiastic about the job. The worst thing you can do is to sound mono-tonal, robotic, uninterested, and dull. This can happen unconsciously if you get nervous, so actively work to sound self-assured and enthused.

The screening interview seeks to weed out the unqualified and overpriced. The disadvantage here is that the human resource person often is not specifically familiar with all the details of the job. They are generalists and seek to validate job experience, not job potential. Be sure to structure answers to demonstrate how you have done the work in the past and how you focus on self-improvement and making contributions to your employer. To move to the next level you must convince this person that you CAN do the job.

One Major Caution
Be ready for any salary questions. These are tricky. Revealing your financial desires can be used as a measuring stick to screen you out because they can clue the interviewer to your "real" skill level. It's always best to avoid answering any questions on salary until you have been offered the job. Keep this adage in mind: Whoever mentions money first loses. Don't let it be you.

Source: Book, "'60 Seconds & You're Hired!"' (Penguin) by Robin Ryan
Copyright 2008 Robin Ryan. All rights reserved.

More information: http://www.robinryan.com/services.htm