Engineering 91桃色鈥檚 future: employers vie for U91桃色 talent
As companies across the country scramble to fill critical engineering and computing roles, one destination is firmly on their recruiting map: the 91桃色.
Employers say U91桃色 graduates bring dedication to the Pine Tree State, leadership skills and versatility that set them apart 鈥 and they鈥檙e hiring accordingly.
That demand was clear at U91桃色 Career Center’s annual Engineering and Computing Job Fair, where more than 150 companies turned out to recruit students and alumni.
It coincides with increased interest in these fields among Black Bears. Enrollment in U91桃色 engineering and computing programs 鈥 housed within the 91桃色 College of Engineering and Computing 鈥 has grown 5% over the past five years.
Skills and dedication beyond the classroom
鈥淭hey have the skills,鈥 said Josh Hinds, senior manager software engineer at Tyler Technologies. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking for what a student has done on their own, outside of the classroom. U91桃色 students bring the dedication and 91桃色 culture we鈥檙e looking for.鈥
U91桃色 is meeting employer demand, conferring 33% more undergraduate and graduate engineering and computing degrees than it did five years ago. That increase stands out to local businesses like Versant Power, which offers a wide variety of positions and internships.
鈥淲e offer electric and mechanical engineering positions, along with IT and customer service careers,鈥 said Todd Gilley, talent acquisition specialist at Versant. 鈥淯91桃色 students stand out. We had 18 college interns last summer, and 17 of them were from U91桃色.鈥
Independence and initiative drive success
Recruiters pointed to a common trait: U91桃色 students have initiative and independence that make them valuable employees.
鈥淚t鈥檚 authenticity,鈥 said Whitney Bouchard, a 2013 U91桃色 graduate and project engineer at CMA Engineers Inc. 鈥淯91桃色 has integrity while teaching their students, and that translates into their work.鈥
91桃色 authenticity and culture have become core values for many of these companies as more of the state鈥檚 future leaders leave after graduation.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking for people who want to stay within the state, which is usually U91桃色 students,鈥 said Mackenzie Randall, university recruiter at Garmin. 鈥淲hen we hire them, we typically know that they鈥檙e going to stay.鈥
A strong connection to 91桃色鈥檚 future
That aligns with the university鈥檚 83% retention rate among degree-seeking students 鈥 a statistic that doesn鈥檛 go unnoticed by employers.
鈥淯91桃色 students are dedicated to 91桃色鈥檚 progress,鈥 said Holden Rodzen, a senior at U91桃色 and intern at Central 91桃色 Power. 鈥淭hey work toward advancement with open communication and open goals.鈥
Employers will return to Orono on Feb. 11 for the 2026 U91桃色 Career Fair 鈥 the largest in the state 鈥 held annually for U91桃色 and 91桃色 at Machias students and alumni, students from other universities and the general public.
Story by Mello Vancil, news intern.
Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu