1. Build Confidence: Practice Talking with
Employers in Person
Donovan Ohms, CCAPS Class of 2026
“[I’m] Coming here for the career fair mainly to get my first internship this summer, and I'm looking forward to networking and just seeing what other opportunities are there and talking to companies and just getting more of an idea into the industry. There's a lot of opportunities. I mean, being able to be here and face to face and speak to someone, not reading on a website.”
Kadance Gordon, CCAPS Class of 2026
“My biggest fear coming in was being able to talk to as many people as possible without super repeating myself and saying the word “like” a million times, but also just projecting the good parts of me. I'm really just looking into absolutely everything and saying “no” to nothing. So it's important to me that I just get around and talk to as many people as possible.”
2. Explore Exciting Job & Internship Opportunities
Tyler Gross, CCAPS Class of 2026
I'm looking to find, possibly, a summer internship and just build any connections I can, and network with any company here. Everyone I've talked to, everyone's been really nice and respectful. I've learned a lot about a lot of companies so far, and it's been a great networking opportunity for me.
Emily Cendejas-Garcia, CCAPS Class of 2025
[At] the career fair, there's many companies you can talk to, many booths to stop by, and they can just explain what they stand for, who they are and what opportunities they have available and see if you're a good candidate for it.
Tim Praxaya, Mortenson Construction (CCAPS Alumnus)
There's so much opportunity when you are in the construction management field. You can be part of the financial, which I’m in, is financial cost and controls, and all of them are perfect opportunities for any student to seek out.
Myles Schwerzler, CCAPS Class of 2025
I interned with Hensel Phelps in the Pacific region--Hawaii. Met them through the career fair here, had an interview the next day.
I was on a healthcare project this past summer, working in rooms where they make all the chemo drugs. So super important work that feels like you're building towards something larger than just a construction project. I was out there for about 14 weeks, had an absolutely amazing experience, learned a whole lot, and then they ended up offering me a full time position after graduation, and I ended up accepting. So I'll be going out there after graduation.
3.Get Inspired: Discover Career Possibilities
Daniel Morache, Stanley Consultants (University of Minnesota Alumnus)
I would say that now, after being through in 25, 30 years of different experiences, you should just reach out and just get to these different events and start talking to people. Because in reality, you're not going to find the best fit for you unless you talk to as many people as you can about what might be appropriate for you.
If you have a resume, take that with you. All it takes is you and your two feet, and get ready to shake some hands and say “hello.” You'll probably come out of it with a lot of new ideas, and maybe it changes your mind about what you wanted to do in the future.
4. Employers Are Eager to Meet You and Want to Help You Succeed
Ben Bowman, Adolfson & Peterson Construction (CCAPS Alumnus)
If a student were to come here, they've got no experience … You know what? That's fine. We all started somewhere. When I decided to get back into the construction industry, that was me. We, as the employers, recognize that skills can be taught. On the industry side there's a big need right now. So what I'm really hoping for, and what I'm hoping to get from the career fair, is to find folks who are eager to learn, are eager to try, who recognize that they don't know everything, but they want to learn.
Brooklyn Mishler, TKDA Human Resources
At career fairs, it's really very casual. We just want to have a casual conversation with you about what you're looking to pursue, so that we can tell you a little bit more about our company and how we can provide you with the opportunities that you're looking for. So, there's nothing to be nervous about. We just want to talk with you and hear about what your goals are.
Franklin Dempsey-Hess, CCAPS Class of 2026
Very easy to talk to. Chill conversations. They ask me about myself. I ask about them, you know. So, I would say, yeah, Overall pretty good.