During winter intersession, 13 construction management and engineering students spent between one and three days job-shadowing at engineering and construction firms. Each student was matched to an employer based on their interests and the content of their applications. Students were responsible for their own transportation. Employers who participated included Hensel Phelps in Washington, D.C.; Whiting-Turner in New Haven, Conn; C.W. Brown in Westchester County, N.Y.; Bovis Lend Lease in Lexington and Waltham, Mass.; Konover Construction in Farmington, Conn.; Loureiro Engineering in Plainville, Conn.; Shawmut Design and Construction in Boston and Providence; Skanska at Devens, Mass.; cm&b in Westboro, Mass.; J.H. Lynch & Sons in Cumberland, R.I.; and Dimeo Construction in Providence and New Haven.
Student feedback included the following statements:
- "Now that I participated in the externship, I feel capable to make a career under the title of ‘construction manager.’"
- "I learned that I really like heavy highway and site work."
- "One thing that surprised me the most is the amount of organization and management skills that a project manager must have to be sufficient in his position."
- "My classes prepared me for this externship by providing me with the construction terms and methods in order for me to fully understand the process of the projects that I was exposed to."
- • "Because I am an engineering major, I wanted to get a better idea of what the engineer’s role is in this project. I definitely learned a bit about the process of engineering the building from my tour. I believe this program was very beneficial, and I would recommend it to any other CM or engineering student."
- "I learned that I am able to network with ease among other people and that construction management/engineering is what I want to do for a career."
- "I had an excellent time and would like to participate in this program again for the remaining years I have at RWU."
Employer feedback included the following statements:
- "This student demonstrated a very positive attitude and sincere interest in learning as much as possible. He seemed to be very appreciative for the opportunity. He represented himself and RWU very well."
- "This student was a pleasure to have on the job site and asked many good questions."
- "The externship opportunity proved to be a super success. The student was great, and he asked very inquisitive questions related to the CM field. We shared many personal goals so not only did we discuss the day-to-day operations of my role as a PM, but also how my company’s promote-from-within mentality has helped my career."
- "By instituting the winter externship program, Roger Williams University is not only providing its students an opportunity to network with industry professionals, but to also differentiate themselves in the eyes of potential employers. One recent extern was so impressive, he was given the opportunity to interview for a competitive internship at Shawmut and secured the position."
Due to the success of this program, the Career Center will again run it for the School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management next year. We invite other schools to partner with us to further expand this program.
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March is the month to celebrate student and alumni who study liberal arts disciplines. The Career Center hosted three panels of alumni, employers and staff who graduated from a liberal arts major to discuss their professional life after college. Broken into the three areas of liberal arts recognized by Roger Williams University, the Career Center offered panels in the social sciences on March 9, the natural sciences on March 26 and arts and humanities on March 30. From RWU to DC brought alumnus Matt McNally ’04, back to campus to discuss his role as a research director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). Matt graduated with a degree in political science and began his interest in politics while doing an internship in Washington, D.C., for the Democratic National Convention. Matt discussed the role of the DSCC and the nature of senatorial elections.
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March and April are the times for career fairs! Students and alumni who want to teach had six opportunities to meet with hiring personnel from the K-12 arena. As a member of the New England Association of Colleges and Employers, the Career Center can invite our students and alumni to attend the numerous Gearing Up for Educators job fairs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. As a member of the Rhode Island Consortium of Educators, the Career Center also has the ability to bring our students to a collaborative educators’ career fair open only to member institutions. The RICE fair brings national public and private K-12 schools to Rhode Island to recruit teacher candidates. On March 31, students attended the collaborative Careers in Government Day at Bryant University. Organized by the colleges and universities of Rhode Island, this event brought about 20 federal and state agencies into our state who are recruiting. In April, the Career Center hosted our annual Career Fair on campus. Graduate schools and employers with summer, part-time and full-time jobs and internships converged on the Field House.
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In economic downturns, networking is more important than ever. The few jobs that do exist will probably be filled with people known to the institution by its employees. Getting to know professionals is vital to career success. This fall, the Career Center hosted networking events for the Schools of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management, Justice Studies and for accounting students. This spring, more networking events took place for the Gabelli School of Business and the School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation. Professionals will also be on hand for panel presentations to the Justice Studies students, the Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences students and all students who attend the Career Fairs. The Cooperative Education Program, run by the Career Center, hosted the first annual Employer Appreciation Receptions to recognize those employers who have consistently hosted a student for an experiential educational opportunity. The labor market has also necessitated increasing the educational opportunities for alumni and students. The Career Center is offering a program to discuss how to navigate a career in turbulent times. Offered as an evening conference, attendees can learn how to reinvent themselves professionally, how to use technology to source jobs and can perfect their resumes.
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