February 8, 2005
Construction roundtable brings recruiters, industry insight to Purdue
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – When more than 100 companies come to Purdue for one of the nation's largest university-based construction job fairs, they won't just be bringing jobs, they will also be bringing insights into industry needs.
Purdue's Department of Building Construction Management will sponsor its semi-annual Construction Roundtable from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday (Feb. 11) in the Purdue Armory. The job fair is open to Purdue students in building construction management and construction-related majors.
Stephen Schuette, building construction management department head, said the roundtable is more than a job fair, it is a way to keep connected to trends and needs within the construction industry. While company representatives are on campus, Schuette and other faculty will talk with them about industry trends, opportunities for collaboration and companies' employment needs.
"We have responded to our industry partners by offering specializations they need," Schuette said. "Those specializations have come directly from what industry leaders have told us about the types of skills they need in their new employees."
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The department is in the process of developing two new specializations – health-care construction management and demolition – that will be the first of their kind in the country. Both will prepare students to work in the general construction management industry and in the specialized field.
Health-care construction management refers to any facility used in the health-care industry – ranging from hospitals and clinics to nursing homes and laboratories. Project managers working in the field must be familiar with factors such as infectious materials control, vibration control, and advanced mechanical and electrical systems that are not typical in other types of building projects.
The demolition specialization, Schuette said, will focus on selective demolition, and to a minimal degree large-scale implosions.
Both new programs are expected be offered in the fall semester.
The department previously was the first to offer specializations in electrical construction management and mechanical construction management, and their implementation led to such a tremendous industry response that many universities have followed suit to help fill the demand for trained workers, Schuette said.
"When Purdue started graduating students with specialized training, every company that would have trained its employees in that area wanted to hire Purdue graduates," Schuette said. "I anticipate the same thing happening with these specialties, and we are planning to help other universities set up similar programs as the demand grows."
Schuette said he expects the new specializations to add to an already robust job market for building construction management students. While many sectors of the economy have suffered, building has continued to be strong. The department's graduates enjoy 100 percent job placement, often with several job offers to choose from.
"I have never seen the job market as strong as it is today," Schuette said. "In addition, Purdue students are recruited from companies throughout the country more than any other university, so regional fluctuations in the market have little affect on students' job searches. The companies that will be participating in the Construction Roundtable come from all over the United States."
At the Construction Roundtable, companies will be recruiting students for a variety of positions, including project managers and project engineers. Companies with representatives at the fair will include Pulte Homes, Pepper Construction, Gaylor Group, Bowen Engineering, Exxon Mobile's drilling operations and Shiel Sexton Co.
The Construction Roundtable is sponsored by the College of Technology's Department of Building Construction Technology with assistance from building construction management student organizations.
Purdue's Department of Building Construction Management began in 1946 as a non-degree program designed to teach building skills to returning World War II veterans. Since then it has grown into one of the top construction management programs in the nation, producing graduates trained in managing people, construction processes, materials, equipment and financial assets.
The department is part of the College of Technology, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. One of the first of its kind in the country, the college educates more than 6,000 undergraduate students at eight locations throughout Indiana.
In addition to building construction management, the college comprises eight departments: aviation technology, computer graphics technology, computer technology, electrical and computer engineering technology, industrial technology, mechanical engineering technology, and organizational leadership and supervision.
Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu
Sources: Stephen Schuette, (765) 494-2465, schuette@purdue.edu
Dara A. Michael, placement coordinator, (765) 494-2465, damichael@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
Students and recruiters fill the Purdue Armory for last year's Construction Roundtable, sponsored by the Department of Building Construction Management. The event is one of the factors leading to the department's consistent 100 percent job placement for graduating seniors. (Purdue University file photo)
A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2005/schuette.roundtable.jpg
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