Montana Tech to launch new platform “Career Forge,” offering students faster, more targeted pathways to jobs and internships

Montana Technological University is rolling out a major upgrade to its student job-search tools this semester with the launch of Career Forge, a streamlined career platform built to better connect Orediggers with employers who are actively seeking Montana Tech talent.

Career Services staff have been working toward the transition since spring 2025, when the university released a software bid for a new system. After several semesters of positive experiences using Career Forge’s technology for career-fair check-in kiosks and on-demand badge printing, the department selected the company to power the university’s next generation of career tools.

“Career Forge is going to be a great change,” Director of Career Services Aaron Frale said. “Employers will now specifically select Montana Tech in order to post to our job board. That means every job is from an employer who knows about our students, wants our students, and is intentionally recruiting here.”

“While many universities are seeing challenges with career outcomes and return on investment, Montana Tech is thriving,” Vice Provost for Student Success and Dean of Students Joe Cooper said. “Record numbers of employers continue to attend our career fairs seeking our students, and it’s critical we provide the absolute best platform and tools. We’re thrilled to offer Career Forge, which will benefit both our students and our industry partners.”

“Career Services works best when technology stays in the background and human relationships stay front and center,” Career Forge CEO David Nicol said. “Montana Tech has built something special by fostering real connections between students, career staff, and employers, and that culture shows in their outcomes. We are genuinely excited to support the Orediggers with a platform that strengthens those relationships and helps great conversations turn into real opportunities.”

Career Forge also removes a previous bottleneck: résumé approvals. In the old system, students were required to have their materials reviewed before they could apply. That requirement is now optional.

“We don’t want to slow students down,” Student Success and Internship Coordinator Cynthia Weir said. “Some jobs get hundreds of applications the same day they’re posted. Speed matters. If a student’s materials are ready, they should be able to apply immediately.”

Résumé feedback, cover-letter reviews, and one-on-one appointments will still be available directly through the platform, and Career Forge includes resources to help students prepare for applications and interviews.

Career Forge comes as part of a broader push to modernize the career fair and recruiting experience at Montana Tech. The university has already seen success using Career Forge’s tools during recent career fairs—especially its on-demand badge printing system, which eliminated week-long badge-stuffing sessions and cut long entrance lines.

“On-demand printing freed us to spend the week before career fair actually helping students—doing workshops, pop-up events, and classroom visits instead of stuffing badges,” Frale said.

Paired with Montana Tech’s new mobile ID credential, students can now check into Career Fairs by tapping their phone on a reader, speeding up entry for recruiters and students alike.

While national headlines point to a tough job market for graduates of some colleges, Montana Tech’s outcomes remain strong.

“It’s a great time to be a Montana Tech graduate,” Frale said. “For most majors, there are more jobs than applicants.”

Paid internships are abundant, competitive, and often lead to multiple offers. Career Services continues to push early outreach to help students secure internships as soon as their freshman or sophomore year.

Staff noted that even students in majors outside engineering—such as business—benefit from the strong reputation employers associate with Montana Tech.

“I’ve had engineering firms tell me they’d rather hire a Montana Tech business student for their front office because they know the rigor of our programs,” Frale said.

Career Forge is now open in early-access mode for Montana Tech students. Logging in is simple:

Visit https://careerforge.com/

Select ‘Log In’

Choose ‘Login with University Email’

Students can explore job postings, book appointments with Career Services, view upcoming career fairs and workshops, and test new features.

“We welcome feedback,” Frale said. “Play around with Career Forge and tell us how it’s going. Employers are just getting on the platform, and we’re excited to see it grow.”

Career Forge will replace DiggerRecruiting, which will shut down on January 31, 2026. Students are encouraged to download any documents they have saved to the old platform before access is removed.

To supplement the job pool, Montana Tech has also partnered with the Indeed Job Search Academy, giving students access to one of the world’s largest job boards along with educational tools for résumés, cover letters, and job-hunting strategies. Career Services advises students to check Career Forge first for highly targeted opportunities, then explore Indeed for a broader search.

Career Services also asks students to mark their calendars for Montana Tech’s Spring Career Fair, which will be February 19, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.