Interviews
We asked CP SWE alumni questions about their experiences at Cal Poly and beyond, as well as some tips to give current students. These are their responses:Kate Van Dellen
What was your major? BS AERO 2008 Engineer, now with Cessna Aircraft
Career Fair & Interview Tips: When I give people interviewing advice, my number one tip is to ask questions to the interviewer at the end to show your interest. Consider this question: "With the state of the aerospace industry, and many companies experiencing workforce reduction, how are layoffs conducted in your company? Do you have a first in - last out policy?" This is something you should know BEFORE you start working for the company, very helpful.
Andrea Shern
What was your major? Civil Engineering
What was your favorite part of Cal Poly? Living in San Luis Obispo
What subject/field interested you the most? Structural design then, combining engineering and architecture now
Where are you working now? Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.
What is your job? Building Technology Engineer
What is the best part of your job? Working on a wide range of assignments and seeking engineering solutions
Do you have any tips for current Cal Poly students? Make the most of your time at Cal Poly. Grades are not everything, so involve yourself in what interests you. Your interactions and connections with people will be what you take, and what you remember most, after you graduate.
What are your current hobbies?
Dancing, traveling, reading, writing poetry, exploring, growing
Andrea Graeser Bergamini
What was your major? B.S. Computer Science
What was your favorite part of Cal Poly? SWE, of course.
What subject/field interested you the most? Anthropology, Philosophy (of law and of mind), K-12 Education
Where are you working now? UC Davis Public Health Science Department
What is your job? Computer Resource Specialist / Web Programmer
What is the best part of your job? I write software that supports research studies that range from autism to toxin exposure. I love that my work directly benefits society. It also provides a unique opportunity to innovate and learn new technologies.
Have you had other schooling beyond your BS in Engineering? Not yet, but I plan to go back to school either in Law or Veterinary Science.
Do you have any tips for current Cal Poly students?
(1) Keep in mind what you are passionate about. With an engineering degree, you really have the opportunity to contribute great things to any field you are most passionate about!
(2) Staying involved in something outside of the classroom is a major part of your educational experience at Cal Poly. Having a degree qualified me for the job I wanted, but what I did independently and outside of school (my student job, my involvement in SWE, and my choice of Senior Project) helped make me stand out from the rest.
Betsy I. Huigens
What was your major? Civil Engineering
Where are you working now? Bechtel Corporation
What is your job? I work as a civil engineer for the Aviation group. We plan and design airports all over the world.
What is the best part of your job? Working on high profile projects each with unique challenges, working with a highly experienced team, and potential for travel.
Do you have any tips for current Cal Poly students? Begin to make connections as early as possible. Pursue whatever you have an intrinsic passion for... you will be successful as an engineer if you study and practice what you are truly fascinated by. Seek out opportunities that will give you valuable experience and a leg-up on your peers. Don't be shy!
Any other information about your life (hobbies, activities, etc.?) I love the outdoors and exercising. I love to spend time with my family and friends, and I love to travel. I am involved in SWE in the Bay Area. My new husband is also an engineer.
Rachel Santee
What was your major? Mechanical Engineering
What was your favorite part of Cal Poly? The sunshine and the swimming pool
What subject/field interested you the most? Renewable energy
Where are you working now? Rockwell Automation
What is your job? Engineering Leadership Development Program
What is the best part of your job? Great projects and cool co-workers
Do you have any tips for current Cal Poly students? Work hard and play hard
Danielle Norris
What was your major? General Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
What was your favorite part of Cal Poly? Meeting new people and making some great friends.
What subject/field interested you the most? The biomedical field.
Where are you working now? Abbott Vascular
What is your job? Manufacturing Engineer
What is the best part of your job? Working on a product that saves people's lives.
Have you had other schooling beyond your BS in Engineering? If yes, why was this experience valuable (if it was)? I also go my MS at Cal Poly. It was a great opportunity to work in research and figure out if research was something I wanted to pursue. It was very challanging but it was cool to have your work published.
Do you have any tips for current Cal Poly students? It's not about what you know its how to figure out the answers with the resources you have. As an engineer you will not have all the answers. So its important to know the right people to contact, the right software to use or what document has the correct answer.
Any other information about your life (hobbies, activities, etc.?) I love to dance, take pictures and travel. Its nice to have an engineer salary and have the opportunity to travel to all those places you wish you could in college.
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