Tesla came to McMaster to meet and engage with Engineering students and hire co-op students. Here’s what some of their employees said about the skills and experiences they look for when hiring engineers and what makes Mac Eng students stand out.
Layne Austin, University Recruiter
What makes Mac Eng students stand out?
“The students are extremely enthusiastic. They have great hands-on experience and are hungry to get industry experience, they’re excited about the magic of engineering and the possibilities in the field. There’s also a lot of support from the University through student design clubs and projects.”
What skills and experiences does Tesla look for when hiring engineers?
“Hands-on experience. Even if you don’t have prior internships or co-ops, being able to look at a problem and know you can either fix it or have the resources to be able to learn to fix it is important. Also, people who aren’t intimidated by big challenges and people who are driven by sustainability.”
Rafael Zalewski, Quality Engineer
What makes Mac Eng students stand out?
“As a Mac Eng graduate, a lot of the experiences I learned at McMaster contributed to the work that I do. Being in the Engineering and Society program really influenced my career path.”
What skills and experiences does Tesla look for when hiring engineers?
“Leadership, initiative and the ability to get your hands dirty. We want people who can take an idea and run with it, as well as be able to work independently and as a team.”
Lisa Zhu, Recruiter for Manufacturing
What make Mac Eng students stand out?
“Tesla is always passionate about hiring the best engineers and McMaster has proven to be a school with successful engineers. We’ve met with a lot of passionate students. I’ve spoken with many students who have expanded their horizons with different projects and societies. They have the ability to work together as a team. I’ve seen a lot of strong clubs, which is vital to what we’re looking for.”
Shawne Beaulac, Production Engineering Manager
What skills and experiences does Tesla look for when hiring engineers?
“I always look for hands-on experience. At the beginning of your career, you learn a lot about design and the real-world. You become a better engineer because you get more of the nitty-gritty of what goes on in order to support bigger projects.”
What make Mac Eng students stand out?
“The students are very excited. The student clubs are very hands-on, which was exciting for me to see. The projects they’re working on are very relevant to the trends in the auto industry right now.”
