CDCR connects Auburn engineers with employers year-round

From first-year students exploring career options to seniors preparing for the job hunt, the Office of Career Development and Corporate Relations (CDCR) connects engineering students with employers year-round. A key part of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s student support network, CDCR offers coaching, résumé reviews, mock interviews and other services to support every stage of career development.

Working with faculty, CDCR integrates career readiness into engineering courses, prompting students to take action early. Customized support is also available through one-on-one coaching, feedback on application materials and practice interviews with industry professionals.

During the 2024–2025 academic year, CDCR has hosted 532 employers on campus and engaged with more than 3,200 students — a turnout that highlights the reach and demand for its programs.

Career Fairs

CDCR will host four career fairs in the fall, expected to draw more than 200 employers. General engineering fairs are scheduled for Sept. 22, Sept. 25 and Oct. 23. A fourth fair, focused on biosystems and civil and environmental engineering majors, will be held Sept. 30.

Students can also participate in a mock interview event with Auburn Engineering alumni on Thursday, Sept. 11. Career Fair Ready drop-in events will also take place Monday, Sept. 15 through Friday, Sept. 19, before career fairs taking place the next week.

To prepare, students are encouraged to schedule appointments with career coaches through Handshake for help with résumés, interview strategies and networking. Drop-in sessions are also available for quick, 15-minute consultations.

The free Career Fair Plus app offers an interactive map of the venue, filters employers by major and lists open positions — making it easier to research companies ahead of time.

“Career fairs can feel overwhelming, especially for those who attend for the first time, and we’re here to support them throughout the search process,” said Heather Rush, CDCR manager of career coaching. “Employers know the caliber of an engineering student at Auburn, and they want them on their team.”

Industry Days

CDCR will also host two industry-specific events this fall: Aerospace Industry Day on Tuesday, Sept. 16, and Automotive and Motorsports Day on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Each event typically includes a networking lunch for students and company representatives with a short program and a browse session where students can speak directly with company representatives.

Participating organizations share information about co-op programs, internships and full-time job opportunities, as well as ways students can connect with industry leaders.

“These events aim to initiate, develop and deepen industry partnerships, showcasing the interest and talent of Auburn students to companies and organizations,” said Apryl Mullins, CDCR director for corporate relations.

Career Readiness Support and Coaching

CDCR works with faculty across all engineering disciplines to provide in-class facilitation and career development assignments through the Next Level Program that will naturally help students prepare for the next step toward their futures. Assignments include topics such as preparing a customized résumé and references, industry and job function research exercise, behavioral interviewing video, LinkedIn profile and engagement or financial literacy exercise.

In 2024–25, CDCR implemented over 50 assignments across 36 courses that reached over 2,800 students at all course levels.

Beyond the classroom, CDCR offers group and individual coaching to further customize support for student career readiness. Nuts + Bolts of Engineering Résumés is a recurring group coaching session held weekly during the first four weeks of the semester. The session helps students identify and articulate relevant experiences, refine content and formatting, develop bullet points for academic work and plan next steps in their career search.

In the 2024–25 academic year, Auburn Engineering students made 2,236 career coaching appointments through CDCR. The office reports that students who complete a co-op or internship are twice as likely to be employed six months after graduation.

Civil engineering major Ethan Lynde said he wasn’t sure where to begin when searching for an internship until he discovered CDCR.

“The Co-op and Intern Ready program was extremely helpful throughout the internship process,” said Lynde, who is currently interning at Relativity Space, an aerospace manufacturing company in Long Beach, California. “Without CDCR’s support and the resources provided to students, I wouldn’t be where I am career-wise.”

More information is available at eng.auburn.edu/cdcr.