Career Fair Conversations Lead to Summer Opportunities for Two Tulane Students

When Balpreet Parmar walked into last year’s Tulane School of Science and Engineering Career Fair, he was nervous about approaching employers. Then he noticed an open table, introduced himself to a representative from Boh Bros. Construction, and discovered an unexpected connection: they had attended the same high school.

The conversation continued beyond the fair. They exchanged phone numbers, stayed in touch, and, by December, Parmar had received an offer for a summer internship. Months before arriving at a construction site, he had taken the first step toward the opportunity simply by walking up and saying hello.

For fellow Tulane student Trae’jon Turner-Smith, a conversation at the same company’s table led to an internship of his own. Now juniors, Parmar, a biomedical engineering major, and Turner-Smith, an engineering physics major, are encouraging other students to turn out, be professional, and explore the possibilities at this year’s fair.

The Tulane School of Science and Engineering Career Fair returns Friday, Oct. 9, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Lavin-Bernick Center. The free event connects students with employers recruiting for summer internships and entry-level STEM positions, and Boh Bros. is among the participating companies.

Turner-Smith arrived at last year’s fair having researched employers, practiced his introduction, and prepared his résumé. A local student who already knew Boh Bros. through his family, he approached the company’s table with a friend. Despite his preparation, he still felt nervous.

What followed was a conversation that went beyond engineering. They discussed football and connections around the city, giving Turner-Smith a chance to introduce himself as a person as well as a candidate. He handed over his résumé, and the company later contacted him.

“I just remember having a really good conversation with the guys there,” Turner-Smith said.

Their summer assignments put the students on different projects, each offering a close look at the coordination behind major construction work. Both worked directly with project managers and field personnel, learning how information, decisions, and daily responsibilities move between the job site and the people overseeing it.

Parmar supported work on an expansion project at the ASR Domino Sugar refinery in Arabi. His days began early, with site meetings around 5:30 a.m., and included helping communicate what was happening in the field. He saw crews install underground utilities, drive piles, and place concrete, gaining appreciation for the many interconnected tasks involved in moving a project forward.

Although construction was outside his primary academic focus, Parmar found value in the experience. Project management emerged as one of his biggest takeaways, along with the opportunity to learn from employees who brought decades of practical knowledge to their work.

Turner-Smith worked on a bridge replacement project, where concrete became an unexpectedly absorbing subject. He learned about finishes, material requirements, and quality control, including the decisions crews must make when a delivery does not meet a project’s specifications. Applying knowledge from Tulane in a working environment also helped him build confidence in his abilities.

Both students emphasized how willing their colleagues were to answer questions. For Turner-Smith, access to experienced employees made the internship an opportunity to understand how engineering decisions play out in practice. The experience even changed how he looked at the buildings around him.

Their advice to students attending this year’s fair combines preparation with openness: research the participating employers, bring a strong résumé, be ready to discuss it, and give yourself permission to start a conversation.

“Walk in and be confident,” Turner-Smith said. “Honestly, if you just speak with confidence and you have really good conversations with them, I mean, they’re people. That’s the way I see it.”

Both students plan to return to the fair this year. Turner-Smith hopes to explore an aerospace internship, bringing with him the experience and independence he developed over the summer. Parmar will return, having already seen how an opportunity outside his immediate field can build useful skills.

For students still deciding where their interests might lead, their experiences offer a reason to explore the 40+ companies who will be at the fair. A simple conversation can introduce you to an unfamiliar employer, reveal an unexpected connection, or open a path worth pursuing.

Meet employers and explore your next opportunity at the SSE Career Fair on Friday, Oct. 9, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Lavin-Bernick Center. Attendance is free. Visit sse.tulane.edu/career-fair to view participating employers and register through Handshake.