Monday Night H.I.R.E.D. a huge success
Over the past year Monday nights have become something of an event around the Faculty of Engineering. An average of 100 students would come together each week to eat and hear from industry. We called it Monday Night H.I.R.E.D.
The idea for these Monday night get-togethers came from the Faculty’s Director of Co-op/IIP – Carolyn Geddert, P.Eng., and a student running for Senior Stick – Dan Nenadov. Ms. Geddert had approached the University of Manitoba Engineering Society (UMES) to ask if they thought students would attend regular industry information sessions if food was provided. Dan, already serving on the student executive, thought it was a great idea and made it part of his campaign platform when he ran for Senior Stick last year.
UMES was challenged to come up with a great name for these events and Vice-Stick, Ben Marriott, proposed H.I.R.E.D., which stands for Helping Industry Reach Engineers Directly.
Over the past year the event has been a huge success with an average of 100 students attending each Monday, many of them “regulars”. It has also been well received by employers. Every Monday night for the entire year was booked before the end of the first term! Topics included resumé writing, interview skills, safety in the workplace, success in the workplace and a Friends of Engineering panel discussion. Presenting Companies included MacDon Industries, Manitoba Hydro, MTS, Emteq, Standard Aero, Magellan, Boeing, VALE, Agrium, Stuart Olsen Dominion, the Composite Research Network, the Friends of Engineering, ACEC and Terracon Development.
It is clear that Monday Night H.I.R.E.D. has been a great benefit to both students and employers. Students have a better idea of the opportunities that await them upon graduation, and a better understanding of what the employers of engineers are looking for in an engineering graduate. Students were given the opportunity to meet individuals that they normally may not have had access to, including presidents and CEO’s of major companies. Some students were even offered employment right on the spot!
For employers Monday Night H.I.R.E.D. has given them the opportunity to meet their future employees and to express to them, while they are still students, the importance of professional skills and how to get the most out of their engineering education. With the demand for engineers so high, these participating companies took advantage of their chance to get in front of engineering students and promote their industries and companies as desirable workplaces.
The Co-op/IIP office and UMES are looking forward to Monday Night H.I.R.E.D. returning in the fall.