Coaching the next generation
Alumnus helps prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers for their careers
When he was lead R&D recruiter for the engineering internship program at Boston Scientific, Kent Howe (EE ’88, M.S. ’91) spent a lot of time talking to college students about careers. During one recruiting trip to Iowa State, Howe wondered why he wasn’t recruiting at his alma mater, the University of Minnesota, so he started doing just that.
Howe began attending the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) Career Fair in search of top talent to join him at Boston Scientific.
After talking with hundreds of students, Howe recognized an opportunity to help prepare students for interactions with recruiters and decided to sign up for the CSE Mentor Program.
“A lot of students didn’t know how to prepare for an internship or interview, and I thought it would be good to help coach some students on how they could prepare themselves,” Howe said.
Since 2011, Howe has shared his inside knowledge as a mentor in order to help prepare students for interactions with recruiters such as himself. He’s also been able to advise his mentees on how to build a resume that employers want to see, and he volunteers at the CSE Resume Marathon to review other students’ resumes.
Howe, who now serves as an engineering team leader and project manager at Boston Scientific, knows first-hand how rigorous the application process is for scientists and engineers.
“I once commented to one of my peers that if we were to apply [to our jobs] today it would be very difficult for us to get into a company," Howe said.
"What we are expecting students to do, and how they’re supposed to market themselves is something you don’t learn in classes,” Howe added.
As to why Howe gives so much of his time to students in CSE, he remembers what it was like as a young graduate looking for a job. “I was very fortunate to have somebody help me get my first job, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without that support,” he said.
In addition to his time, Howe is also a donor.
“I am blessed to have a successful career and therefore can financially support a variety of causes that are important to my family, with education as a top priority. It is especially rewarding to see the impact of scholarships on [student’s] lives,” Howe said.
If you’re interested in giving your time and money to help students prepare for the future, visit the CSE giving web page.