Many Mines grads won't be jobless for long

Employers recruit students

By Kayla Gahagan, Journal staff | Saturday, December 22, 2007

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James Moisan doesn't need to sharpen his job-interview skills any more; he's had enough practice this semester.

On Tuesday, Moisan caught a plane to Iowa, his sixth job interview since the school year began this fall.

Moisan, a mechanical engineering major, is one of 100 South Dakota School of Mines & Technology students who will graduate Saturday, Dec. 22. Crossing the stage will be the students' final transition between post-secondary education and the workforce.

Career Center director Darrell Sawyer said this year's graduates are benefiting from the large number of companies and firms that attended the fall career fair. A record number of companies -- 121 -- visited campus in October to meet students, provide information and, for some including Moisan, start the interview process.

"I met a lot of (companies) on campus," he said. "After the career fair, six flew me to their plants."

He said he hasn't made any decisions yet.

"I'm just considering all my options," he said.

Which is exactly the advice Sawyer said he would dispense to students.

"I encourage students to explore as many options as possible," he said. "It's better to have too many choices than not enough."

But for some School of Mines students, like Liz Roberts, looking around wasn't necessary. Roberts, a chemical engineering major, completed an internship in Michigan and an extended internship, which lasted a semester and a summer, in Georgia for Cargill, a company that specializes in creating things like vegetable oil, flour and cornstarch found in popular food items such as Trix cereal.

She accepted a job with Wilbur Chocolates, which is a Cargill subsidiary in Pennsylvania. Her start date is Jan. 28.

"I didn't apply for very many jobs," she said. "I knew after my internship that I wanted to work for Cargill."

Sawyer said the success Roberts and Moisan have found is not uncommon for the students this year.

"It's been a good year. There was very active campus recruiting," he said. "Many students have second trips planned for interviews."

But Roberts' advice to incoming freshman has more to do with student life than with what to do to get a job. While on campus, Roberts became a familiar face to many, she says, because "I got involved in every organization that would take me."

She narrowed it down to what she believed best fit her, she said, and served as president of Alpha Delta Chi, a new-student-orientation representative and an M-Week organizer.

"Get involved, and know people on campus," she said. "The more you do, you don't sit at home and watch TV, ... and the more it feels like home."

Moisan agreed.

"I've enjoyed my time here," he said. "Find a student organization that fits you. There's a lot more to this school than what you see."

His advice to the administration of the school is to continue to allow student traditions on campus, such as M-Week.

He said he believes his teachers and the classes he took have prepared him for what is ahead.

"They're challenging courses, and I feel like I learned a lot," he said.

With a wrap-up of finals this week and a bittersweet end to all the activities she was involved in, Roberts said she is sure of one thing: "I'm looking forward to no more homework," she said. "It's a nice picture in my head, to see myself sitting on my couch after work."

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com