Students get job-ready at annual engineering fair

Like most students, Clinton Baverstock is at school for one reason – to get the necessary training to find a job after graduation.

The third-year Lakehead University engineering student still has another year to go before that reality sets in, but spent much of Wednesday making contacts with employers at the school’s annual engineering job fair.

It’s a good chance to put some feelers out and find a way to bridge the gap between his education and the work force, the Gravenhurst, Ont. native said.

“It makes a whole lot of sense for students to get out and see what students, who have gone through what they’re going through, are doing in the real world and how they can get paid to do what they want to do,” he said.

“It’s really important to get out there and hand out some resumes and get information about the workforce and decide what you want to do when you grow up.”

Baverstock is hoping to find work designing machinery, hopefully with an agricultural slant.

A total of 15 companies and organizations were on hand at the career fair, including DST Consulting Engineers, Goldcorp, North Bay Hydro, Aecon, the Ministry of Transportation and the Department of National Defence.

About 500 engineering students are enrolled at Lakehead University and student success advisor Christina Buzzi said she’s hopeful as many as 150 might use the opportunity to springboard into a post-university career.

Some of the exhibitors were even conducting interviews during the day-long event, she said.

“This all contributes to a high employment rate after graduation for our students,” Buzzi said.

“It gives younger or earlier students a chance to explore career opportunities and have a chance to speak directly with company representatives. And it gives a concrete opportunity with job interviews and a connection to job opportunities for the upcoming grads.”