Information For Parents & Families

The Engineering Career Resources & Employer Relations office serves the career development needs of all Penn State engineering students.

In addition to providing general career-related advising, our staff can also help students develop job search strategies to find both full-time positions and short-term opportunities. The Engineering Co-op & Internship Program, one of our office's most successful programs since 1985, connects hundreds of students each year with domestic and international co-op, internship, and research experiences.

Our staff recommend that parents and family members encourage students to start thinking about their career development as early as possible during their college years. The sooner students start to explore their options, the more opportunities they will have to gain practical experience prior to graduation. Employers generally find that students who have completed co-ops and internships have an advantage over less-experienced students when they enter the workforce. They develop not only the technical competence they need for professional success but also the "soft skills"—including a positive attitude, collegiality, professionalism, and self-awareness—that are important in all workplace settings.