Professional Development Advising

Students or Recent Graduates, have you found a job (related or not to your major)? Please take a few moments and share it with us.

Thanks to those students who kindly shared their experiences! They are featured in our YouTube Channel!

Students: Learn what Employers expect from you; good professional skills are key!

Students: reminder we use Niner Engage to market our events. Your one-stop-shop for the latest details.

Charlotte has many opportunities for students and alumni to explore potential careers and various industries. Unsure of where to begin, or want to talk with someone about your professional career options? Start here:

Professional Development Advisor

Ms. Linda Thurman, Director for Employer Relations and Student Professional Development and Career & Co-op Director, is available to all students and alumni in the Lee College of Engineering at Charlotte.

With over 30 years of technical recruiting, employer relations, professional development, and career advising experience, Ms. Thurman is a valuable resource. She coordinates the Multi-disciplinary Professional Development courses (ENGR 3295 and ETGR 3295) as well as hosts various campus events that allow students to engage with alumni and employers.

She was the first public board member to serve as Chair of the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Land Surveyors and is now an emeritus member. Reappointed by the former NC Governor to the NC GICC (Geographic Information Coordinating Council). She is also a public notary!

Ms. Thurman is available to meet one-on-one with students, employers and alumni to discuss a wide range of topics including:

Need to reach Ms. Thurman Monday-Friday?
Appointments can be online, phone or in-person.
You can use Google Chat, Call or Email her at:
lthurman@charlotte.edu / phone (704) 687-5024.
Students, please include:

  • Your Full Name
  • The best way to reach you (email or phone-include your #)
  • What you want to chat about

Start Planning for your next Co-op Experience
View the short ‘co-op summary’ Google Slide Deck and Learn more about the steps and eligibility for co-ops.

Students interested in a new co-op, can schedule an appointment (online or in-person) with Ms. Thurman (a required step only for NEW co-ops).

Congrats to all the students who are doing a Fall 2025 co-op!

Read what our employers think of our co-op students!

  • Our co-op has been a great addition to our team. In addition to quickly and effectively working on assigned tasks, he has been generating ideas for additional improvements – ex. designing and 3D printing an additional hold down for an existing assembly fixture, in order to improve alignment and holding of the part being assembled. He is very engaged with the process, and eager to learn and experience new things. He has and will continue to make real contributions to our group and project which will help further the team’s goals.
  • I enjoy working with the UNC Charlotte team. The Engineering co-op students are always solid performers when compared against their peers.
  • We have had several coop students from UNC Charlotte and have had a pleasant experience with each one of them. They are well equipped to come into our company and contribute from the start.
  • We would love to see more co-op engineering students. We have a vast experience with co-ops coming out of engineering programs elsewhere, and the caliber of students after graduating a civil engineering co-op program are unmatched. We many former co-ops on staff now and would hire from that pool first.
  • Our Co-Op has been a huge help to us and is able to work very independently while performing high quality work.

Read what our students think of their co-op experience!

  • I wrapped my last week as a full time Base/HMV Support Co-op Engineer! My job mainly consisted of helping author Engineering Authorizations (EA’s) to maintenance. An EA is a tailored repair or clarification for a unique scenario. I gained exposure in every fleet type at AA by doing two separate Heavy Maintenance Visit (HMV) rotations in San Antonio, TX and Jacksonville, FL. In addition, I also made full use of my travel privileges by flying 78,785 mi consisting of 55 flights this year! I found that my Statics and Solid Mechanics knowledge from school was very useful in helping to design repairs for structural components of an aircraft. Overall, I had a great experience. – MEGR student, American Airlines
    • So far, my Co-Op experience has been phenomenal, despite the unexpected departmental changes. The way I see it, these unexpected changes showed me what to expect in the industry. I learned that engineering projects are always subject to cancellation or being put on hold. The key takeaway from this situation is the importance of adaptability, which is a lesson that I feel has better prepared me for my studies and career. 
      As for the actual work, I learned a ton about what it means to be an engineer in R&D. I learned that engineering is just problem-solving with unique solutions (with a million steps in between). I’ve been able to design prototypes and improve existing designs. I also play the role of a “consultant” engineer for the microbiologist. They go to me whenever they need a new tool or fixture of some sort for the lab. Speaking of the lab, I also became acquainted with lab work and safety. I regularly work in a BSL-2 lab. I’m also learning so much about microbiology, which wasn’t an initial interest of mine, but now it fascinates me. – MEGR student, bioMerieux
  • First, I want to say that this was an amazing opportunity, incredibly informative about how the industry works, and an all-around great experience for me as a student. I really found a sense of what I’m working toward in all of those merciless math classes.  – MEGR student, Siemens Energy
  • Reflecting on my amazing co-op experience across two different departments in the past eight months with Duke Energy Corporation. From diving into the mechanical system owner experience at Buck Combined Cycle Station in Salisbury for the spring, to expanding on my electrical and distribution knowledge with Mountain Zone 230 and the Franklin Operations Center for the summer, both opportunities further developed me as a future mechanical engineer and helped me find my true passion for engineering in the energy sector. I’m also incredibly grateful to everyone involved in Duke Energy’s student programs for allowing me this opportunity and developing such great programs. I’m excited to carry my newly learned engineering skills with me into the future! -MEGR student
  • Today marks the end of my second rotation at BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC, and I’m filled with gratitude for what has been an amazing journey. My time in the TX-200 Bodyshop as a Quality Improvement Engineering Co-op has been a deeply rewarding experience, allowing me to immerse myself in exciting projects and collaborate with some of the most brilliant minds in the industry. – MET student

Career Center

The Career Center is committed to providing comprehensive, innovative services and resources for diverse populations of students and alumni that prepare them for the competitive global market. The Career Center offers self-assessment tools, job shadowing, career treks, informational interviews, and many other options for students and alumni to explore their options and gain relevant technical work experience regardless of the stage of their college or professional career.

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