Comparison of Student and Practitioner Viewpoints Relative to First Employment Opportunities for Architectural Engineering Students

摘要

Every spring thousands of students graduate from this nation's colleges and universities and begin full-time employment for the first time. By the time this editorial is published, most companies interested in hiring these soon-to-graduate students will be well into the recruiting and placement process as it relates to entry-level engineering students. Architectural engineering (AE) students in these programs have endured years of examinations, semester projects and papers, class lectures, and untold hours of studying. Backed with education, knowledge, excitement, and the energy of youth, they feel ready to become members of the profession. However, these promising AE graduates are faced with yet one more monumental task: the selection of a company with which to begin their careers. The dilemma of employment selection cannot be solved in an hour, a day, or even a week. It requires many hours of careful thought and research. Complicating matters for the student is that employment is a two-way street. The student must "select" the firm, but the firm must be willing and able to hire the student.