Share your experience and knowledge with Carnegie Mellon engineering students by hosting a Real World Engineering experience.

Serve as a mentor and guide during a site visit to your company or organization. Help our students prepare for their own engineering careers by sharing information about your job duties and career path, taking them on a tour of your facilities, and introducing them to hiring managers and other professionals.

You can plan the length and content of the visit however you like. A visit typically ranges from two hours to a half day, depending on the company. Below are some suggestions on how to make the experience as enriching as possible.  Feel free to involve your human resources department. While our students are looking for an informational experience with you, they may also be curious about internships or job opportunities. Learning more about your company and the type of candidates your company hires is worthwhile for the student.

  • Include your coworkers (especially alumni) in the visit. Meeting professionals in multiple engineering roles can help them think more critically about their own interests and desires.
  • Let them participate. If appropriate, invite the students to sit in on a meeting or ask them to solve a problem, which can not only enhance their experience, but also gives you a chance to evaluate their skill sets.
  • Share your educational and professional history. How did you succeed? What do you wish you had done differently? What experiences were most beneficial? Share your suggestions about courses they should take, skills they need to develop, and organizations they should join. Your perspective is valuable!

Please let us know within one to two weeks of the visit how much time we should plan to spend with you and if there is anything we need to do to prepare for the visit, including any attire to wear, security clearances or NDAs to be aware of.

Get more information

If you would like to volunteer your time or your company for a Real World Engineering program, or if you would like more information, please contact us at citundergradoffice@cmu.edu.