Students connect with company reps at Corporate Connections After Hours

Last week, the ECE Building lobby was filled with students and recruiters eager to discuss internship, co-op, and full-time employment opportunities.

Corporate Connections After Hours is an informal reception for ECE and CS students to meet company representatives in a relaxed atmosphere. Facebook, Qualcomm, Google, and IBM were among the more than two dozen companies that participated this spring. Attendance typically includes over 800 students.

“ECE ILLINOIS is one of the best programs in the country. It’s top of the line and their students are creative with their projects,” said Katie Crona, a Facebook university recruiter. “We are looking for bright students who are excited about technology and can bring a different perspective to our company.”

After Hours gives students the opportunity to meet recruiters in a more comfortable setting. The primary focus is on relationship building and casual conversation, with less emphasis on resume dropping.

“We search for personality beyond just engineering curriculum—students who are well-rounded and take advantage of the many opportunities Illinois has to offer like hackathons, clubs, and competitions,” said Ellie Bass, Qualcomm recruiting specialist.

For both students and company representatives, connections made at After Hours can be the key to finding the right fit. “We have had a lot of success in the past from hiring ECE ILLINOIS students and we want to continue the trend,” Crona says.