On Feb. 25, ULM’s School of Construction Management hosted its biannual Career Fair at Bayou Pointe. The event brought companies looking for fresh talent and students eager to kickstart their careers. It was an opportunity for students to network, learn about job openings and glimpse into what construction management offers. With various companies in attendance, the fair helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world career opportunities.
“The goal of the construction management career fair is to raise awareness amongst students, faculty, and participants about all of the career opportunities that are available in the construction management field,” Kellye Blackburn, director of Career and Student Development, said.
Turner Industries, a contractor that manages all aspects of an industrial construction project, was among the 38 companies that attended the fair.
“All of your chemical plants and oil refineries we build from the ground up. We supply the labor, the men and women who are out there day to day maintaining those plants… we try to be one source one solution for all our clients,” Claire Dantin, a representative of Turner Industries, said.
Crest Industries attended on behalf of Beta Engineering, a company specializing in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of electrical substations.
“Their goal is to build substations. We don’t have the construction crew, but we have the construction managers that lead the project to bring electricity throughout the United States,” Jackson Adams, a representative of Crest Industries, said. “Also, the interestingness and niceness of our industry—electric power delivery substations—you are not going to get that a lot in the Louisiana area. It’s a very particular and growing industry.”
Attendees networked with various companies and explored their career options. Marley Churchmen and Elizabeth Moon, both junior construction management majors, attended their fourth career fair. It gave them the chance to reconnect with companies they had met at previous events.
“Every year, I just enjoy networking and meeting new people, seeing what’s out there, and seeing what my industry has to offer,” Moon said.
With the Education Career Fair coming up on March 13 in the Hanger, students should know how to prepare to secure a job at the event.
Kellye Blackburn gave tips for students attending students on how to make the best impression. She first urged students to join Handshake, an electronic employment recruitment platform. Handshake lists all the companies attending upcoming career fairs, it provides company descriptions, includes a link to the company’s website and mentions the job opportunities.
“So, I always recommend that students take several hours to review the list of employers in Handshake. Make a list of the companies that they want to meet with and come with a strategy and game plan,” Blackburn said.
