No engineer left behind

If you’re an engineer in search of work, here’s some info on free networking opportunities. The guts of this article appeared more than one month ago, but it continues to be among the most forwarded from our site each day. 

As reported here in mid-September, software reseller Fisher/Unitech (Troy, MI) launched the second installment of No Engineer Left Behind, a virtual job fair for engineers. Fisher/Unitech has collaborated with 6Connex (Campbell, CA) to make over 800 jobs available leveraging the 6Connex Virtual Experience Platform. The virtual job fair can be accessed at funtech.veplatform.com and will be online through November 30th, 2009.

Fisher/Unitech planned three live chat days where representatives of the companies exhibiting at this virtual job fair will be available online to answer questions, interact with job seekers, and accept resumes online via chat sessions. Two of these live chats have taken place; the last one is scheduled for this Thursday (November 12) from 1-4 pm CT/2-5 pm ET.

The virtual job fair is a continuation of these companies’ community service commitments to helping displaced designers and engineers get back on their feet. Through 6Connex, the company is offering this service at no charge to either exhibitors or attendees who visit. In January 2009, Fisher/Unitech launched No Engineer Left Behind, a six-month program that provided free SolidWorks 3D CAD training, software license, and internship opportunities to over 260 displaced engineers throughout the Midwest.

Interested candidates will find over 25 exhibiting companies such as GE Lumination, Nook Industries, Utilimaster, Haworth, SolidWorks and SPX amongst the exhibitors looking to hire. An entire hall is dedicated to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), with over 800 job listings, information on member benefits, technical communities, local events, and professional development resources, as well as an area for displaced workers to apply for SME membership at a reduced rate.

Job seekers shouldn’t miss the Career Development Hall, which provides details on how displaced workers can apply for grant money through their local workforce development agency to advance their skills through education and training. The fair also features a Technology Pavilion that showcases SolidWorks 3D CAD software and a variety of partner products. —[email protected]