On Nov. 29, the University of Rhode Island’s College of Engineering hosted a seminar with submarine manufacturer General Dynamics Electric Boat, focusing on internships, job opportunities and other important areas of interest.
Based in Groton, Connecticut, the company employs over 14,000 people to develop nuclear and naval submarines, while also operating eight offices in five different states and Washington, D.C..
Engineering students of all different class years attended the event and watched a presentation from a company director about the ins and outs of their internship program.
Along with a plethora of internship opportunities for interested students, the company also offers an extensive co-op program in the fall and spring, which allows students to become full-time employees and gain real, hands-on experience in their field of study, while also receiving benefits such as paid time off, exclusive discounts with various corporate partners, and access to the company’s intramural sports league, which according to fourth-year Engineering student Jeffy Wang, was something that stood out to him in the presentation.
“That was a cool thing about the workforce that I didn’t know,” Wang said. “He mentioned rock climbing, and I thought to myself, ‘I wonder if they have Pickleball too?’”
Wang also spoke highly of the presenters ability to deliver material not just from a recruiter standpoint, but appealing to a student perspective as well.
“He’s giving us tips to not only apply ourselves towards Electric Boat, but just towards the workforce in general, which I think is really generous,” Wang said.
Several slides were dedicated to topics both students and recruiters can agree are essential to the application process, such as crafting a resume. These can include certain tips like tailoring it towards the job or internship you are applying to, keeping personal information to a minimum, accurately listing your past job history to show growth and development throughout your time in college, and being ready to discuss anything on your resume in an interview if it is brought up by your recruiter.
Emily Molino, a fourth-year chemical engineering major, liked how Electric Boat provides numerous opportunities to move up within the company and assume different leadership roles, citing a slide in the presentation that addressed the ‘technical versus management’ types of careers that one could take on.
“I’m a leadership minor here at URI,” Molino said. “And seeing that as a company they give development and resources to help further your leadership skills is really awesome, where you can rise up from your entry-level position and stay in your field or group.”
The seminar is just one of many pieces of evidence showcasing URI’s partnership with EB, with many students choosing to complete their required capstone assignments with the company as well, according to the URI Engineering website.
The seminar was an example of the positive working relationship URI has with EB, and how it helps set up its students with opportunities for internships and potential future careers down the road.