Exploring Majors & Careers

Guess the U of M’s Alum’s Major

Guess the U of M Alum’s Major

• Current Job: Quality Engineer, Starkey Labs

– Quality Responsibilities: - Reliability Testing - Mechanical Experiment Design - Field Failure Analysis - Documentation

• Current Job: Software Developer, Wyde

– Project with Cosvi (in San Juan, Puerto Rico) - Gathered detailed requirements in the gap analysis and product design sessions with client - Documented requirements for product configuration and customization - Created entity relation models and class diagrams to exhibit the mapping for migration efforts - Documenting best practices and training material for partner company and client - Translating product documentation and reinsurance treaties from Spanish to English

Guess the U of M Alum’s Major

• Current Job: Product Engineer, Target

– Ensures product functionality, quality and safety. Generates product specification. Works with cross functional teams.

Guess the U of M Alum’s Major

• Current Job: Process Development Engineer, Medtronic

– I work for Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management at Medtronic. I am developing laser welding processes for our next generation batteries.

Guess the U of M Alum’s Major

• Current Job: Associate Manager, Accenture

– An accomplished Associate Manager with eight years of experience in Project Management, Business Analyst, Release Manager and implementation of technical solutions within various industries including Retail, Finance, Health and Energy.

Guess the U of M Alum’s Major

Explore CSE Majors

Math Interest

Chemistry Interest Chemistry Chemical Eng Materials Science Earth Science Biomedical Eng Bioproducts/Biosystems Eng.

Physics Interest Physics Mechanical Eng Electrical Eng Civil Eng Aerospace Eng Computer Science Computer Eng Astrophysics

Biology Interest

Math Stats

Science vs. Engineering

Science:

-Discovering new information for the future

Engineering:

-Application of science, what can I do with this

information now?

CSE Majors

Look through the List of CSE Majors and read

the descriptions.

• Put a next to the ones that sound interesting.

• Put an “X” next to the ones that don’t sound interesting.

• Put a “?”next to the ones that you’re unsure about or need more information. Jot down what questions you have about this major.

CSE Majors

Get into your small group and discuss:

• What majors did you put a next to? Why?

• What majors did you put a “X” next to? Why?

• What majors did you put a “?”next to? Why? What else would you like to know about this major?

What advice would you give to a friend to explore majors and careers?

Explore Majors

Learn about the majors (course descriptions, degree options, emphasis areas, faculty, research, etc)

• U of M Majors and Minors: www.catalogs.umn.eduprograms • CSE Majors: cse.umn.edu/deptsmajors/majors/ • Talk to faculty and Academic Advisors • Talk to other students • Take an introductory course

Resource Center

-What Can I Do With a Major In? -Major Binders -Career Books (example: “Great Jobs for Engineering Majors”)

Explore Careers

• Online is a good starting point for finding career information

• Find information about job duties, education/training, projected job growth, and salary information

Onet

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Iseek (specific information to MN)

• Read Job Descriptions: goldpass.umn.edu

Explore Careers

• Attend employer events (career fairs, panels, info. sessions): goldpass.umn.edu

• Professional and Student Orgs.

Student Orgs: cse.umn.edu/beyondclassroom/

Professional Orgs:

What Can I Do With a Major In?

• Find a Mentor: cse.umn.edu/beyondclassroom/

Active Exploration

• Test Drive Options (internships, research)

• Do an Informational Interview/Job Shadow

Info. Interviews

Informational Interviews are a way for

you to gather information about a

career that interests you by talking to

someone in that industry

Who to Interview • Start with people whom you feel comfortable talking with.

– Professors, Advisors, Internship Supervisors, Teachers, Coaches, Mentors

– Family, friends, colleagues – anyone they recommend

• Next, talk to people you know in a less personal, more professional way.

– Co-workers, former co-workers, professors, neighbors, relatives’ friends – anyone they recommend

• Finally, get in touch with NEW people

– Company Tours, CSE Mentorship Program, Student Organizations, Professional Organizations, Employer Databases, online networking: LinkedIn, Career Fairs

Networking

• Fill out the “Your Network” Worksheet

• Then in your small group discuss what careers you think you may be interested in exploring. Ask if anyone in your group has a contact that they would be willing to share that could help you (you will need to do a informational interview for this class).

How to Contact

• Send an email, linkedin message, or call the person

• Tell them how you got their information (such as, “I meet you at the career fair” or “my mom, Jane Smith gave me your contact information”

• Ask to set up a informational interview, be specific as to why:

-To learn more about your career path -To learn more about your company -To ask for advice about how I can get experience related to my degree

What to Ask

• How did you chose this occupation?

• What are your daily duties?

• What do you like most and least about your job?

• What experiences would be valuable for me to do while in college if I am interested in this type of position?

• What skills/qualities are important in this type of position?

• How would you describe the organization’s culture?

• Describe one project you are currently working on?

• Who else would you suggest I speak with to gain more knowledge about this career?

• Send a thank you note (email or handwritten)

-Be specific about what you enjoyed about meeting with them/what was helpful

-Example in Major/Career Exploration Guide • Stay in touch

• Ask them questions • Inquire about opportunities • Set up a Job Shadow

After the Interview

Job Shadow

• Allows you to live “a day in the life of” a certain job, takes informational interviewing a step further • Spend a half day or full day with a professional seeing what they do every day, asking questions, getting a tour of the company, and meeting their colleagues

http://www.roadtripnation.com/expl

ore/interest.php?interest_id=37

http://www.oneweekjob.com/docum

entary/

Examples

Major/Career Insight Discussion

Get into your small group and discuss:

• What was your reaction to the choosing a major articles?

• What did you learn from reading the career profiles?

• Anything Surprising? Disappointing? Interesting?

CSE Career Quiz • In your small group/team

• I’ll read a question and the four possible answers. Assign someone in the team to be the captain (the one to raise their hand and answer). Assign someone to track points for your team.

• The first team to raise their hand and answer, if they answer correctly, will earn two points. If they answer incorrectly then the next team to raise their hand will get a chance, if they answer correctly they will earn one point.

Percentage of Physicists with a Phd

A. 24% B. 52% C. 66% D. 18%

CSE Career Quiz

CSE Career Quiz

Percentage of engineers working in federal, state, and local government

A. 22% B. 35% C. 4% D. 12%

CSE Career Quiz

Biomedical Engineering is projected to grow by what percentage by 2018 (national)?

A. -2% B. 15% C. 72% D. 24%

CSE Career Quiz

Average starting salary of mechanical engineers (bachelors level-2009)

A. 54, 411 B. 66,866 C. 60, 640 D. 60, 739

CSE Career Quiz

Which industry/industries related to chemistry is expected to grow?

A. Drug manufacturing B. Cosmetics C. Consulting D. A&B

CSE Career Quiz

Which engineers had the highest median salary in 2008?

A. Petroleum engineers B. Electrical engineers C. Materials engineers D. Mechanical engineers

CSE Career Quiz

Which state employs a high number of actuaries?

A. Texas B. Maine C. California D. Illinois

CSE Career Quiz

Which engineers are often licensed?

A. Civil Engineers B. Materials Engineers C. Chemical Engineers D. Licensure is not required by any

engineering profession

CSE Career Quiz

Which state employs a high number of aerospace engineers?

A. Washington B. Minnesota C. Georgia D. New York

CSE Career Quiz

Which industry related to electrical engineering is expected to decline?

A. Defense-related electrical equipment B. Communications equipment C. Semiconductors D. None of the industries are expected

to deline

CSE Career Quiz

How many computer programmers work in MN (2009)?

A. 22,397 B. 500 C. 13,021 D. 6,748

CSE Career Quiz

Graduates of which major are mostly

likely to work in alternative energy and environmental research?

A. Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering

B. Civil Engineering C. Earth Sciences D. Chemical Engineering

CSE Career Quiz

Environmental Engineering is projected to grow by what percentage by 2019 (in MN)?

A. 17.7% B. 5.3% C. 22.8% D. -3%

CSE Career Quiz

About 1/3 of the work is created by the government for this type of engineering.

A. Civil Engineering B. Mechanical Engineering C. Biomedical Engineering D. Materials Science Engineering

CSE Career Quiz

Percentage of Mechanical Engineers with bachelors degree as highest level of education:

A. 29% B. 14% C. 60% D. 46%

CSE Career Quiz

Research Assistant, Laboratory Scientist, and Data Analyst are common job titles for which CSE major?

A. Biproducts/Biosystems Engineering B. Astrophysics C. Earth Sciences D. Materials Science and Engineering

CSE Career Quiz

Financial Advisor, Consultant, and Economist are common job titles for which major in CSE?

A. Statistics B. None, have to go to Carlson C. Math D. A&C

CSE Career Quiz

Which type of engineers design, develop, and test new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and space exploration?

A. Astrophysics B. Mechanical Engineering C. Geological Engineering D. Aerospace

CSE Career Quiz

Which type of engineering is heavily regulated by the government?

A. Aerospace Engineering B. Computer Engineering C. Biomedical Engineering D. Mechanical Engineering

CSE Career Quiz

Which type of engineers would most likely design and create products such as skis, golf clubs, and television screens?

A. Electrical Engineers B. Geological Engineers C. Chemical Engineers D. Materials Science Engineers