Bennett Smith
Research Scientist II at Carbon 3D
"Before enrolling in MSE Academy, I had no idea what I was going to do after I graduated, and I only had one semester left to figure things out. I had one year of experience working in a research group at my university, but no internship experiences at all. I knew I wanted to go into an industry role, but I didn't know what industry I wanted.
I benefited greatly from networking within in the community. I got to speak with the people who made the videos in the course, and I got to speak with some guests from the It's a Material World podcast! For me, the networking was the most helpful for deciding what industry I wanted. It even helped me land an interview at Nike for a dream job as an R&D Engineer!
I interviewed at 6 companies: Intel, Boeing, Carbon 3D, Desktop Metal, New Balance, and Nike. I received an offer from Intel, Desktop Metal, and Carbon 3D. I ended up accepting a role as Research Scientist II at Carbon 3D.
I put a lot into this course and this community, and I got even more out of it. I was always open to feedback, and constantly implementing what I learned to market myself in the best way to potential employers. It's crazy how in just 4 months I went from no interviews and no idea where to start, to 6 interviews, 3 offers, and accepting a full-time role. I would recommend this course and community to any MSE student who feels lost, stuck, or apprehensive about finding a job they will actually enjoy. This is the place to put all those feelings at ease and find the answers to all your questions."
Annika Dasher
Manufacturing Engineer at Boston Scientific
"Before the MSE Academy I was using the mentality of quantity over quality when applying to jobs. I knew that I wanted to be in the medical device or pharmaceutical industry, but I wasn’t sure of which specific roles to apply for. I had some internship and lab research experience, but I was having difficulty getting that across that in my job applications.
The MSE Academy provided me with so many beneficial resources and taught me to focus more on the quality of the applications I was sending in rather than on how many applications I was filling out. I was able to connect and speak with many different types of engineers from several medical device companies, which allowed me to discover which roles I was really interested in. The advice I received also helped me to better prepare me for specific types of interviews.
After interviewing at a 3 different medical device companies, I accepted a position as a Manufacturing Engineer at Boston Scientific! I would recommend the MSE Academy to anyone who is struggling to know what type of positions to apply to and is having difficulty demonstrating their qualifications to the hiring committee."
Onel Valdez
System Integration Engineer at Whirlpool
"To make sure I was a well-rounded candidate, I was involved in executive positions with the Iowa State National Society of Black Engineers and Material Advantage chapters. However, if you can’t represent your skills or worth to companies, accolades get forgotten. The MSE Academy helped grow my networking skills and professionalism. You belong to these professional spaces; it’s about how you portray your skills to peers and recruiters.
The MSE Academy provides top-notch resources that are easy to find and use. Access to fellow MSE students' resumes, testimonials, and weekly community meetings shaped me into a better candidate when undergoing my job search. I sought out resumes with similar backgrounds, seeing how you can describe processes from a different perspective. Furthermore, I was able to expand my network within the Academy. MSEs stick and learn together; the growth you have in this program is phenomenal.
I enjoyed undergoing on-site and virtual interviews with a diverse set of companies. Some of the companies that I completed interviews with were SpaceX, QuantumScape, HexCel, Whirlpool, Raytheon Technologies, Bridgestone, Boeing, Benchmark Electronics, and Medtronic. Although I was seeking out the Aerospace & Defense Industry, primarily Boeing, I chose to join the Whirlpool family due to the community fit and offer letter."
Alex Marin
Chemical Engineer at Honeywell
"While I did several research and technical jobs in high school and on Georgia Tech's campus before graduating, I didn't have any manufacturing experience (partially due to COVID limiting in-person opportunities in Summer 2020), which is something that a lot of companies were looking for. I wasn't really sure what industry that I wanted to work in, although I knew I preferred to work with polymers which was my concentration in MSE.
I found many different aspects of the MSE Academy program helpful. First was Punith helping me narrow my focus into a few top companies that I could really concentrate my efforts so I could show them that I could give them more than their typical applicants. He also encouraged me to make a detailed PowerPoint showing how I fit a certain role at one of my target companies, and how I could differentiate myself from other candidates, which was very useful in interviews. David's mock interviews, especially the technical questions, gave me the confidence to impress recruiters with my skills and knowledge of how I could apply them in a certain position. David's negotiating tips were also very useful for having a professional discussion with companies about my deadline, salary, and benefits.
I interviewed with Corning, International Paper, Honeywell, GE Aviation, and Solvay. I received an offer from Honeywell for a Chemical Engineer role, which I accepted."