 |
In this issue:
|
Announcements
|
Back to School Savings from ASCE!
We know that as a student, you’re on a tight budget. That’s why we’ve decided to offer you 60 Minutes to Becoming a More Successful Engineer at a special reduced rate for Student Members only!
While you learn engineering technical skills in school, many personal development skills are widely ignored. Skills such as prioritizing, reaching goals and organizing time are critical for success and can be more important than technical skills in advancing your career. This audio CD will help you apply these skills and prioritize the most important things in your life. For a limited time only, this CD-ROM is available to ASCE Student Members for the special reduced price of $19.95. This is a savings of more than $55 compared to the regular member price.
>>Let your ASCE Student membership work for you and take advantage of this limited time offer before November 1 and get on your way to becoming a more successful engineer.
What's Your Status?
If you haven't heard, ASCE Government Relations has a Facebook group with close to 200 members who are dedicated to improving the nation's infrastructure and advancing the civil engineering profession. If you're not a member, join today. If you are a member, why not share your passion for civil engineering with your friends and get them to join the group? An easy way: just put a quick note in your status message. When Facebook asks, "What are you doing right now?" answer back with "saving america's infrastructure," or "advocating for my profession!" Be creative and post it on the group's wall.
>>Join ASCE's Government Relations Facebook Group today and show your support for the profession.
|
Career Resources
|
Connecting Inspiration and Experience
Inspiration always strikes at unexpected times. So why would you wait until the summer to apply your inspiration? Top employers are constantly looking for motivated, creative interns who bring new energy to their companies. These companies look for their interns on Career Connections.
It's time to apply your classroom lessons to gain real-world experience.
>> Next month, Part 3 of this series will help you utilize your professors to find out what your civil engineering strengths are and how those translate to the job market.
Civil Unrest in the Job Market? Not for Engineers
Civil engineering students are finding jobs easily after graduation. In fact, ASCE's 2008 Engineering Income and Salary Survey, reports that the median pay for civil engineers increased this year from $77,000 to $78,000. Many local firms, however, may have to downsize as construction projects slow down because of the economy.
>>Find out the full story on the engineering job market from the Worcester Business Journal (Mass.)
>>Was this article helpful? Get the day's newest civil engineering stories delivered to your inbox each day by signing up for the ASCE SmartBrief.
The Summer Internship World Accord ing to Ken Maschke
Summer internships are essential to gaining experience while still in college and, in addition to putting your classroom knowledge into practice, you can figure out exactly what you want (and don't want) to do when you graduate. Just ask ASCE Younger Member and blogger Ken Maschke, P.E., A.M.ASCE who had five different internships before joining the workforce.
>>See where Ken worked and the advice he has for you when it comes time to select your next internship.
Check Out this Month's Featured Internships
|
Younger Member News
|
Take Advantage of your Student Membership
By Doug Knapp, P.E., M.ASCE
Western Geographic Member – Committee on Younger Members
douglas.d.knapp@usace.army.mil
One of the many advantages of being a student member is receiving discounted registration fees for ASCE conferences. Registration fees are often discounted hundreds of dollars for Student Members. For instance, the ASCE Annual Conference will be held November 6-8 in Pittsburgh at the Westin Convention Center. If you register by October 23, 2008 the student registration fee is only $75! Go to www.asceannualconference.org to register today.
Check out upcoming ASCE conferences to mark on your calendar.
If you don’t have time to attend an ASCE Conference this year, we encourage you to stay active with your school Chapter. Another great resource for Student Members is your local Younger Member Group. Younger Members are those ASCE members who are 35-years-old and younger. Your local ASCE Branch or Section probably has an active Younger Member Group. Younger Member Groups across the country participate in community service events, technical seminars, and social activities. Getting involved with your local group while still a student will help you to make contacts that could help you with getting an internship or job after graduation.
The Younger Member Groups around the country are under the Committee on Younger Members (CYM), which is the national ASCE committee representing members age 35 and under.
Not sure if your local Branch or Section has a Younger Member Group? Find your local Section, Branch, or Younger Member Group. Still not sure, feel free to contact Loreen Choate at asceymf@earthlink.net.
|
My ASCE Membership
|
What Has ASCE Done for Me?
By Tom Pasko, P.E., F.ASCE
Retired, Director, Office of Advanced Research,
U. S. Federal Highway Administration
Chair, Membership Application Review Committee (MARC) and Member of ASCE Membership Committee
As an undergraduate and graduate student at Penn State, I participated in ASCE Student Chapter meetings where speakers came from technical/marketing organizations, such as The Portland Cement Association, Asphalt Institute, Concrete Pipe Association, American Iron and Steel Association, American Institute of Timber Construction, etc. The presenters’ knowledge of how the various materials are used in the civil engineering field helped to make the connection between “book learning” and reality. They often distributed handy learning/teaching aids, which made designing with their products easier. The presenters often became valuable contacts to help in job-hunting or as problem-solvers later in our careers.
Immediately upon graduating, I applied and obtained the Associate Member grade from ASCE. I realized that my resume was very sparse; a few earlier summer jobs, a few honors, and later a thesis for my Masters in Civil Engineering. There was little civil engineering related experience, so I listed ASCE to indicate that I was serious about what was happening in my chosen field. I also passed my EIT (toward a P.E. license) and became more active in ASCE.
These are just a few ways ASCE helped me get my career started. Here's how you can make ASCE work for you:
First, you need to get involved to build a local network to help you in furthering your career. Second, there are potential employers in industry, who, like me, look at a resume and ask, “What is this applicant involved with (what kind of literature is he/she reading) and does he/she have a professional involvement with his/her peers?”
Find the local Section and Branch near you to start getting involved.
|
Conferences & Competitions
|
ASCE Annual Conference Early Bird Registration Rate Extended
What: ASCE 138th Annual Civil Engineering Conference
When: November 6-8, 2008
Where: Pittsburgh, PA
Register: http://content.asce.org/conferences/annual2008/registration.html
Details: As a Student Member, you can register at a discount until Oct. 23, 2008. Find out how you fit into the workforce of the future, and as part of the next generation of civil engineers to enter the workforce, find out how companies are planning to accommodate your needs. Plus take part in ASCE’s first annual Career Zone where you can meet with top civil engineering employers and sit in on workshops aimed at helping you find the perfect job.
Inaugural SEI/ASCE Student Structural Design Competition
What: The Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE is sponsoring a structural design competition for universities with ASCE Student Chapters
When: April 30-May 2, 2009
Where: Austin, TX
Deadline for Submssion: 12 Noon ET, Jan. 15, 2009
Details: For competition guidelines, entry form, and a poster to promote the competition, visit www.SEInstitute.org
SEI is seeking innovative projects that demonstrate excellence in structural engineering.
Awards include cash prizes and an opportunity to present the designs at the 2009 SEI Structures Congress.
|
ASCE WORLD HEADQUARTERS | 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191-4400 | 800.548.2723 (toll free) | 703.295.6300 (international)
|
