Undergraduate Students
ENGR 395 Professional Development is a course made specifically to give you a competitive edge in the job market. This one credit course is ideal for sophomores. Visit the course bulletin for more information.
The 5 Top Reasons to Take ENGR 395:
- Create professional documents that will get you noticed (i.e. resume, CV, etc.)
- Connect in person with companies such as CoStar, Dominion, Altria and more
- Learn how to effectively market yourself through elevator pitches and networking
- Learn proven search strategies for jobs/ internships/ co-ops
- Build your professional network
What do other students think?
“The Professional Development class combines all the resources a student needs to present a polished image in obtaining an internship or job. Whether one has never had a job or is a nontraditional aged student starting a new career, the class will provide the tools necessary to market oneself in this competitive job market… I would highly recommend this class to any engineering student looking to improve his or her chances at launching their career.”
-Stephanie Fulenwider, Mechanical Engineering (2018)
If you have questions, please reach out to Michelle Carter with Engineering Career Services by emailing mdcarter@vcu.edu.
ENGR 396 Internship Experience is for after you take 395 and land an internship, you should take ENGR 396. It is a free, zero credit, online class that only requires about one hour of your time. *Required for MNE and CLSE
The 3 Top Reasons to Take ENGR 396:
- Define meaningful work and career development goals for your internship
- Get help with updating your resume
- Have access to a career services professional through the duration of your internship
Graduate Students
ENGR 691 Research Ethics and Professional Development is a two credit course, only offered in fall, designed specifically to help graduate students succeed after graduation.
The Top 5 Reasons to Take Professional Development:
- The textbook for the course, The Two Hour Job Search, is provided for free
- Meet requirements for the Responsible Conduct of Research training
- Build your professional network
- Learn how to find a job and successfully transition from academics to industry
- Participate in the end of semester networking dinner with VCU alumni, faculty and staff
What do other students think?
“The professional development course has been great for developing my networking habits and job search skills. Additionally, the class has better prepared me for the transition into a career in industry and is a fun flexible class overall.”
-Michael Berger, Biomedial Engineering Doctoral Student
If you have questions, please reach out to Michelle Carter with Engineering Career Services by emailing mdcarter@vcu.edu.