How are students matched with employers?
The matching process takes into account which majors the employers would like to invite. Once matching between employers and students is complete, we send a list of students who have selected your company along with their resumes.

Is there a minimum or maximum number of students that must participate? 
On average, employers select 10-15 students. Some employers take as few as 5, some take as many as 30. Employers are able to set the maximum and minimum numbers of students, so you have control over how many students are able to sign up for your externship.  

What have other companies’ externship visits looked like?
This can vary widely between employers. Some do a full day of activities, others do a half day (ex: 10am-3pm). Students most enjoy being able to tour facilities and talk to actual engineers who can provide insight into what kinds of projects they work on and what their day-to-day is like. Short presentations about the company’s work, vision and culture also go over well. Meals are usually provided for students by the company dependent on the length and time of the visit.

Would the students be able to showcase themselves to recruiters/engineers while they’re visiting with us?
We view externships as an excellent opportunity for students to get valuable on-site experience with employers in their field of study. It is primarily an opportunity for employers to showcase what it would be like to work for that company, but the program is flexible enough to also allow for students to demonstrate what they offer as well. While the externship experience is not meant to be a formal recruiting opportunity, the externship day can be structured by the employer to offer plenty of opportunities for more informal interaction between students and recruiters/engineers. Employers have control over how they set the agenda.

Interested in participating in an externship? Interested students are encouraged to read through the following FAQs to learn more about externships. Please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional questions or concerns.

How long does an externship last?
Each employer has a different itinerary, but in most cases, there is an entire day of planned activities. The average Externship lasts about five hours.

Will I be interviewed?
No. The externship visit is not a formal recruiting event. It is an opportunity to learn more about the field of engineering without the stress of an interview.

Will an externship lead to a co-op or internship?
Not necessarily. We encourage you to bring a resume and network with the employer representatives; however, this is not intended to be a job-searching event.

How do I get to the employer site?
You will need to provide your own transportation to and from the employer site. However, upon registration completion you will be added to a discussion board that will allow ride coordination with your peers.

What do I wear to an externship visit?
Unless otherwise noted by the host employer, dress business casual. View interview attire guidelines on ENGR Direct Students.

Am I guaranteed an externship visit?
Yes and no. Although we do our best to enlist employers from each engineering discipline and in multiple cities, not all students will be accommodated with an employer in their major and preferred location.

Students are matched with one employer based on academic discipline in order of resume submission. Students who frequently check their emails and promptly act on them have a better chance of getting an externship with their top choice.

Keep in mind that even if you are not matched with your top choice of employer, you will still benefit from visiting another organization and learning about how engineering is applied in the corporate world.

Are there any consequences if I select an employer to visit, then do not attend on the day of the externship?
Yes. If you do not show up for your externship and fail to contact both the employer and the externship coordinator ll in advance, you will lose access to your ECAC Job System account. This will block you from using the online system until you come in to meet with the externship coordinator. Not showing up is not fair to the employer, who spends time and money preparing for you, as well as to other students who may have wanted to visit that employer.

Remember, once you select an employer to visit, you are obligated to participate. They will be expecting you and will communicate with the Engineering Career Assistance Center if you do not show.

How do I apply?
Students must have an ECAC Job System account to participate in the externship program. To apply:

• Create an ECAC Job System account
• Upload a resume
• View employers participating by searching for Externship Listings Jobs > ECAC System Jobs > Advanced Search > Select "Show Me: Externship Listings" > Search
• Submit your resume to Externship Listings you would like to attend when student registration begins.

How will I be matched?
Students are matched with one employer site based on major and slots available in order of resume submission. Students who submitted their resume to multiple listings will be matched based on first available. Students will see a message within the externship listing once they have been matched.