Career Connect Brings Industry to Clark
Students find opportunities in STEM and Advanced Manufacturing at the 2026 winter Career Connect event
Pictured: Students at the Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Career Connect event practice welding on a simulator.
The welding torch sparked to life — digitally — as a student steadied her hand, watching the screen calculate the angle and speed of her weld. A crowd gathered behind her as she maneuvered the simulator under the guidance of Clark welding professor, Wade Hausinger.
It was the second Career Connect event of the winter term, and tables were covered with props and tools, including the welding simulator, that gave students a glimpse of the careers they could pursue in the advanced manufacturing and mechanical industries.
Coordinated by Career Services, the quarterly event provides students and community members with an opportunity to meet industry professionals, ask questions, and learn about potential career paths. These events are held twice per term, rotating through various areas of study offered at Clark.
The first event of the term welcomed organizations from the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field, filling the STEM Building lobby with animated conversation as students arrived prepared with resumes. Many STEM students already knew which specialty they wanted to pursue — they came to the event laser-focused on finding internship opportunities that aligned with their career goals.
Other students are still exploring where their degrees might take them.
“A lot of students are looking for different ways to use their degrees,” said Courtney Linkous, Program Coordinator for Advising, Career, and Student Success. “For example, one student came in looking for opportunities to use their business administration degree in positions with skills that overlap, such as project management.”
One student at the advanced manufacturing event, Andrew, returned to school after seven years in the workforce. He is pursuing a mechanical engineering degree with a focus on robotics, and conversations with industry professionals are helping him narrow down his plans after graduation. It’s a field he’s always been interested in — he loved taking stuff apart as a child — so his goal at the event was to establish connections and find opportunities aligned with his passion.
Coming Up Next
The next Career Connect series will take place in May and will focus on public service, and education, and creative and communication arts.
Learn More About Career Services
Career Services provides resources and strategies to support students in their career and employment goals, including career plans and choosing a major, resume and cover letter writing, and finding internship opportunities. Career Services also provides resources to support faculty members’ work with students. Learn more about Career Services.
Photos: Clark College/Malena Goerl
Story by Malena Goerl, Staff Writer, Communications and Marketing