Job possibilities for the engineering department’s 2010 Career Day have been cut in half and the number of employers attending has decreased by 30 percent.

While the event will provide the opportunity for students to interview and apply for nearly 1,700 jobs, department staff remain optimistic of the event, attributing the reductions to the recession and the housing industry collapse.

“A lot of these companies have stimulus package money,” said Cici Mattuizzi, director of the Career Service Office in the engineering department. “And even when you have the worst economy, there is always that little window of hope.”

In addition to the opportunity to interview for jobs, students will be able to attend seminars in the University Union, hosted by companies such as San Diego Gas and Electric, PG&E, General Electric Energy and Chevron. The seminars will include job openings and business goals.

Matt Johnson, senior electrical and electronic engineering major, will be attending the event to find an internship.

“It’s an opportunity to get face time with the companies and see what kind of person I am,” Johnson said. “It’s almost like a preliminary interview.”

Johnson, a student in Mattuizzi’s career planning class, said he has e-mailing different companies, including a number of the companies that will be in attendance at Career Day.

“If you sit down and spend time working in her class, she will basically program you to get the most out of the career fair,” Johnson said.

Students are able to log on to the Engineering and Computer Science Career Services website and see which companies will be conducting interviews in person on Career Day.

“Any student will be able to log on to my website and read each job description and minimum requirements, along with tips on how to impress the potential employers by the way you dress and act,” Mattuizzi said.

On the website, students of all majors are able to search for job hunting and interviewing skills, without paying for the units and textbooks.

“We want students to be prepared, which involves researching the company and assessing themselves,” Mattuizzi said.

Career Day will be held Friday in the University Union Ballroom. For a schedule of events and a full list of companies attending, see the website at ecs.csus.edu/career.

Ricky Alejandro can be reached at [email protected].