Graduating, exploring opportunities, interviewing, and entering the workforce is an exciting transition, and there is support available to help you navigate it with confidence. Whether you are searching for a job, building your resume, or preparing for interviews, there are services and resources available to help engineering students take the next step.
For electrical and computer engineering students looking to graduate with career-ready skills and hands-on experience, a PEY Co-op or internship can be an excellent way to build experience, expand your network, and explore potential career paths.
Professional Experience Year (PEY) Co-op: A 12–16-month industry placement for second and third-year students. The PEY Co-op enables undergraduate engineering students to graduate with up to 20 months of work experience, earn a competitive salary while doing so, and develop invaluable professional and job search skills. Students are able to expand their network with industry professionals worldwide and enhance their learning journey with practical insights that complement their studies.
One of the services available to engineering students is the Engineering Career Centre (ECC), which would be your point of contact for anything PEY-related. To better understand the job-hunting process, we chatted with Kaisa Morgan and Ryan Hand, Co-op Coordinators of the Engineering Career Centre (ECC).
Kaisa and Ryan were able to provide more information on the assistance available to ECE students beginning their job hunting and/or career journey.
1. When it comes to networking, what types of services or events are available to me through the ECE program?
As an ECE student, there are a number of ways that we offer you support throughout your academic journey. Firstly, specifically in your first and fourth years, we really encourage you to focus on career exploration and education. Be sure to take advantage of the ECE Industry Days. These Industry Days bring in top employers and industry leaders to offer insight into the current market and serve as a networking opportunity.
In your second and third years, we recommend that you make use of the ECC – the Engineering Career Centre. The ECC aids in connecting engineering students to purposeful professional experiences to better shape their path.
Platforms like Engineering Connect allow you to network with alumni, learn about companies, and find job postings. It serves as a niche platform similar to LinkedIn.
Not ECE-specific, but all students are welcome to take advantage of Career Exploration & Education through Student Life. You can connect with the team for networking opportunities (with alumni or industry experts), advice on how to improve your resume or online presence, and insight into how to go about finding work or how to explore further education.
2. Are there workshops or events catered to job searches?
Yes! The ECE program and ECC host various workshops and events, including:
Resume and Cover Letter Writing Workshops: Improve your job application materials with expert guidance on highlighting your skills and experience effectively.
- ECE Industry Days: Meet employers, explore industry-specific opportunities, and ask in-depth questions.
- ECC Hosted Events: Learn about company culture and roles directly from hiring representatives.
Each workshop has a specific goal, so align your attendance with your job search strategy.
3. When should you start your job search?
For ECE students, it’s best to start exploring job boards as soon as they open in September. Recruitment begins as early as late August, with some employers posting jobs up to 12–16 months in advance.
For those in the Professional Experience Year (PEY) program, job searches typically focus on second and third years. If you plan to opt into the PEY program, be sure to reference Student Life resume workshops and complete the necessary PEY paperwork. On the other hand, first-year students should prioritize summer employment. Most summer job postings appear between late fall and winter. You can track hiring trends using the PEY Co-op Activity Report to identifyhigh and low periods on the ECC Job Board.
Employers who work with the university’s career centre are aware of final exam periods and adjust their hiring timelines accordingly, but job postings remain available year-round. As Co-op Coordinator, Kaisa puts it, think of job searching as a marathon, not a sprint—applying to a few well-suited positions per week is more effective than submitting many applications at once. Quality over quantity will set you up for success.
4. How much time should I dedicate to job searching?
Treat your job search like a part-time job and create a strategy. Research companies that align with your interests, identify where they post job listings, and attend networking events. Realistically, it depends on one’s schedule, a good rule of thumb is to allocate time based on your year:
- First Year: one hour/week
- Second Year: two hours/week (challenging due to coursework, so adjust as needed)
- Third Year: three or more hours/week
- During peak recruitment season, plan to spend 10+ hours per week. Building experience early on will make future searches easier.
Pro Tip: Do your research! Attend events like ECE Industry Days to meet employers, ask genuine questions, and learn about corporate culture.
5. What should my job application look like?
Many applications require a cover letter, resume, and transcript. For high school students seeking a part-time job, a resume and cover letter are sufficient. The key is to tailor your application to each job by highlighting skills relevant to the job description. For example, emphasize your superior time management skills, your dedication to teamwork, and excellent communication skills for jobs where those skills are an integral part of the role and stated as so in the job description.
The Career Centre highly recommends having a staff member review your resume. First-year students and fourth-year students have access to the Career Exploration & Education office as a resource, while second-year and third-year students can benefit from specific skill-building mini-courses and the resource of the Engineering Career Centre (ECC)
6. When should I expect to hear back from employers?
The typical wait time is one to four weeks, with an average of two weeks after the deadline. However, industries like finance, banking, and government may take two to six months, possibly due to extensive background checks.
Once you accept a job, commit fully. Backing out after accepting a position can harm your professional reputation.
7. Where should I be looking for jobs?
CLNx (Career & Leadership Network): A great starting point for all students. Find opportunities and resources for career, advising, research, mentorship and co-curricular experiences.
- Research Positions: Connect with professors looking for assistants, particularly for summer research opportunities after your first year.
- General Job Boards: LinkedIn, Indeed, and government job boards are reliable options.
Once you’re in your second year, the U of T Engineering Job Board becomes accessible through the co-op program, offering even more specialized opportunities.
8. What if I can’t find an engineering job right away?
Don’t worry if your first job isn’t related to engineering. Focus on the transferable skills you will gain from employment, like time management and communication. Whether you’re taking on a role as a camp counsellor or stocking shelves, any work experience will make you more competitive for PEY roles later.
Fast-tracking your career
Many ECE students graduate from undergrad and find that they want to further specialize in one area, delve deeper into a specific specialization, or perhaps they’ve gone into the workforce and want to further pursue a focus on a part-time basis. For these students, exploring an MEng degree is a great fit. An MEng degree can be an excellent option to help individuals fast-track their careers as it can provide them with a competitive edge.