Hi everyone! The Caltech Hispanic and Latino Association (CHLA) once again had the opportunity to take students to the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) National Conference. This conference is focused on career development for engineers – perfect for Caltech students! It’s a place where you can land internships, entry-level positions, and make amazing connections outside of Caltech. 

This past fall (2025), the conference took place in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia during Halloween weekend and I’m excited to share my experience.

Being part of the CHLA Executive Committee this year–I am vice president and helped make this trip possible–was no easy task. However, as an organization, we are committed to creating these opportunities for our members. We were able to raise all the money we needed to take 20 of our students all the way to the east coast.

Let me start with one of the most exciting parts of the experience: travelling all the way to Philadelphia. Pennsylvania is such a beautiful city, and I had a great time walking around and looking at all the beautiful buildings. 

Here is a picture I took! I genuinely loved this city vibe.

This was my second time going to the SHPE National Conference, and I truly believe it is an experience that can change someone’s life. And although more educational than recreational, I definitely recommend every student to attend these types of career conferences at least once, especially if your end goal after Caltech is to go into industry.

This year’s experience was even better than my first, largely because I knew what to expect and because of the amazing upperclassmen who shared valuable advice and tips beforehand. I highly recommend looking at the SHPE 2024 blog from Priscilla Vasquez for another perspective!

Career conferences can definitely be scary, but the best way to get over the fear of networking is by practicing! And there is really nothing to lose in that.

Some of the things that helped me make the most connections and land the most interviews at the career fair were:.

1. Know your projects well and talk about them with enthusiasm. Recruiters love hearing about interesting projects, especially when you can explain them in a way that’s engaging and accessible
2. Always ask questions. People love talking about themselves, and I’m sure you’ll find more middle ground the more you ask them questions.
3. Visit your dream companies first. Large career fairs can be overwhelming, so having a prioritized list beforehand is a game changer. Interview slots fill up quickly, and going early gives you the best chance.
4. Take breaks. Talking is very exhausting so you want to make sure you go to your room and recharge. Trust me, you need it.

Overall, SHPE 2025 was an unforgettable experience, and I’m incredibly grateful to CHLA for making it possible. I hope more students consider attending in the future, you never know how much it might change your path.