Student-Organized Career Fair Brings Big Names to the Department of Civil and Urban Engineering

On March 26, the NYU Tandon student chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), and Associated General Contractors (AGC) came together to host a bustling career fair that found almost two-dozen leading companies setting up booths and interview rooms on the sixth floor of 15 MetroTech, home of the Department of Civil and Urban Engineering.

“Our founder, Joseph J. Jacobs, earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees here in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and he was deeply involved with the school as a benefactor throughout the remainder of his life,” Vanessa Jimenez, who was representing Jacobs Engineering at the event, said. “We’re proud of that historical connection and happy to have the opportunity to recruit students from Dr. Jacobs’ alma mater, which he credited for much of his own success.”

Like many of the recruiters, those from Jacobs took ample time with the students and recent alumni in attendance — perusing each crisply printed resume, offering career advice, and explaining their corporate culture.

“Skanska is very visible throughout the city and beyond, given our work on major projects like the renovation of the LaGuardia Airport and the building of the new Kosciuszko Bridge,” HR service coordinator Leslie Kalucki said. “We have the name recognition and solid reputation to recruit from among the best engineering students in the country, and we’re always eager to speak to Tandon’s bright, motivated aspiring engineers.”

Emily Dethlefs, who is earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and who helped organize the event as a member of the AGC, was one of those bright and motivated people. “Between studying, participating in track and field for NYU, and staying active in clubs, it’s sometimes difficult to have the time to network and focus on career,” she says, explaining that she would eventually like to work in structural or geotechnical engineering. “Events like this are an enormous help to all of us, and I hope many good connections are forged here today.”

The many companies represented at the career fair included Shawmut, Iannelli, YAS Engineering, Eastman Cooke, and JRM Construction — a wide cross-section of the possibilities the industry holds for recent grads. “Everyone in our department is deeply invested in making sure our students are well-prepared for the demands of the workplace,” Professor Lawrence Chiarelli asserted. “And we greatly appreciate those agencies and firms who recognize the value that our graduates bring to them.”