In January, IBM announced it will open a service center in Dubuque, Iowa creating up to 1,300 jobs by the end of 2010. There are several waves of hiring with recruitment of the first wave, 350-400 employees, starting immediately.

Diana Trendt, Interim Director of the Career Center, said IBM will be represented by the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation at the UW-Platteville Career Fair on Feb. 10-11. The GDDC has been working closely with IBM to ensure a successful opening in the Dubuque building in downtown Dubuque.

On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Trendt is planning an event where IBM representatives will be on campus to focus on recruitment, and will answer questions of students, alumni and community members. This event is tentatively scheduled in Ullsvik at the Nohr Gallery from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.. Registration is required and can be done through the Pioneer Career Network on the Career Center Web site, or by registering at selected courses in departments of interest. Trendt said majors of interest would include computer science with an emphasis in computer technology and software engineering and business administration with an emphasis in computer science. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Career Center.

An e-mail from IBM said, “The technical service delivery center will primarily support U.S. strategic outsourcing clients, providing server systems operations, security services and end user services, including maintenance and monitoring of computer hardware and software systems. IBM will be recruiting both entry level and experienced technical service professions with education or experience in the following areas: Intel, Unix, Database, Mainframe, Storage, Performance and Capacity Planning, Commercial Middleware, e-mail and SAP.”

Mike Rowe, professor of the software engineering and computer science, has been teaching an IBM software suite for more than seven years.

“IBM coming to this area is potentially a tremendous opportunity for this campus,” Rowe said. “Graduating students have more career opportunities and our campus can offer IBM employees continuing education.”

Barb Daus, special assistant to the chancellor, said Mike Daniels, senior vice president for IBM’s global technology services, expressed a need for being involved with colleges in the area. Daniels said it is important to establish relationships with the institutions for higher learning not only for recruitment purposes for IBM, but also to help benefit the universities.

“IBM is very interested in being participants in external advisory councils,” Daus said. These councils share advances in emerging technology as well as helping to ensure our students are learning the skills necessary to compete for top careers.
All career opportunities are listed on the IBM Web site. Applications will only be accepted online and exclusively at www.03.ibm.com/employment/us/iowajobs/. It is recommended that applicants attend one of the above events prior to applying online.