POP QUIZ: What do Mars, Mohawks and MINI coopers all have in common?

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) hosted the NACE Face2Face on Friday, April 26. Assistant Director of Employer Relations, Emily White and I  jumped on the southbound 101 bright and early destined for Pasadena. We were eager to connect with SoCal colleagues and recruiters as well as learn more about employment opportunities at JPL for UCSB students. We spent the first part of the day with Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director, who shared interesting trend data and insights on the future of college recruiting.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a federally funded research and development center and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) field center, has been recruiting at UCSB for several years. JPL is managed by the nearby California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for NASA and its primary function is the construction and operation of robotic planetary spacecraft, though it also conducts Earth-orbit and astronomy missions.
 
You may have heard of JPL’s recent Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. The Curiosity Mars rover, the most technologically advanced rover ever built, landed in Mars' Gale Crater the evening of August 5, 2012 using a series of complicated landing maneuvers never before attempted. View JPL team member’s riveting account of the Curiosity Mars rover's final minutes and the challenges faced with landing on the surface of Mars. ‘Challenges of Getting to Mars: Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror’ [VIDEO]. Curiosity's mission is to determine whether the Red Planet ever was, or is, habitable to microbial life. The rover, which is about the size of a MINI Cooper, is equipped with 17 cameras and a robotic arm containing a suite of specialized laboratory-like tools and instruments.

From inside the mission control room in the Space Flight Operations Facility, we got a glimpse of all that was involved in the tremendously complex Curiosity Rover mission. We sat in the seat where JPL Director, Dr. Charles Elachi, collaborated with rocket scientists and project managers and saw where MSL Flight Engineer Bobak “Mohawk Guy” Ferdowski played an integral role in the Curiosity rover’s landing sequence. It was truly an eye-opening experience and a wonderful chance to learn more about exciting job & internship opportunities for UCSB students.
 
Pursuing a non-technical degree but interested in a career with JPL? Aside from a pool of talented scientists and engineers, they also have positions like business analysts, facilities specialists, human resource practitioners, public outreach communicators, and administrators to ensure their success. Check out the JPL website for job information specific for college grads and check GauchoLink to find out when they’ll be on campus again.

 Ignacio Gallardo
Director, Career Services

UCSB Selected as One of Twelve Universities in U.S. Where Oracle will Recruit to fill 450 Positions!

Are you graduating in June and looking for a job? Oracle is hiring 450 June graduates now! We recently had our Oracle rep on campus to meet with a select group of student leaders and our Career staff to learn more about the positions as technical sales consultants and pure sales positions available. The Oracle team will be on campus over the next several weeks for Resume+ (4/10 from 2-4pm), an Information Session (4/10 from 5:30-7pm), the Spring Career Fair (4/18 from 12-4pm), and other events to continue recruitment for these amazing positions—so put your best foot forward and apply soon!

Oracle is currently recruiting 300 students for pure sales positions with exceptional communication skills, a passion for the digital world, a competitive mindset and a BS or BA degree in any major. Graduates with an athletic background or those who are driven to win usually excel in this position.

Do you have a BS or BA degree in science or engineering and an interest in working with the latest business software and hardware products? Oracle is also recruiting 150 students who are passionate about computer technology to work as technical sales consultants!

All selected hires will spend the first three months at Oracle headquarters in

Redwood Shores—just 20 miles outside of San Francisco—training alongside your peers on all aspects of sales and technology to ensure that you are equipped to thrive in your new role. Basically, you will have the chance to experience the excitement of a “start-up” feel on your team with the stability of an extremely established company. After training, positions will be in their Boston area, Austin and Redwood Shores offices.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity. Email your resume to: salesgrads_us@oracle.com.