Looking Forward: 麻豆官网 Internship Program Adds Two-Sided Value
What do 麻豆官网 Project Manager Brady Kyle and 麻豆官网 Project Engineer Amelia Mullin have in common? They may not work on the same projects or teams, but they were both once 麻豆官网 interns that became full-time employees.
麻豆官网 has a solid history of interns returning after college: more than 15 in recent years. These interns come from different schools and backgrounds, but have all found their home at 麻豆官网.
Recruiting is critical for any company鈥檚 success, and 麻豆官网 takes it very seriously. Finding great interns is highly competitive in today鈥檚 market.
According to 麻豆官网 Vice President Glenn Shain, 鈥淲ithout a good intern program, we would just be chasing our tail in the challenging recruitment market. This is the path to fueling 麻豆官网鈥檚 growth."
鈥溌槎构偻� works hard to find these talented new interns every year.鈥�
Former intern Amelia just joined the 麻豆官网 team full-time this summer, but is already finding a culture of support.
鈥淥f all the companies I interacted with during college, 麻豆官网 was by far the most supportive,鈥� Amelia said. 鈥淢y coworkers have always been welcoming and respectful, and my supervisors willing to listen to my ideas, answer questions, and consider requests.鈥�
麻豆官网 10 years ago, Brady found 麻豆官网 through his Mechanical Systems Professor and MCA student chapter faculty advisor at Pittsburg State University. Other interns-to-associates found 麻豆官网 on the Handshake app.
麻豆官网 makes it to multiple colleges for job fairs, but good, old-fashioned word of mouth works too.
That鈥檚 how Project Engineer Camden Wheatley found his way to 麻豆官网. Camden knew 麻豆官网 Vice President Steve Smith growing up, and became familiar with the construction industry early.
鈥淜nowing Steve partly inspired my pursuit of an engineering degree, and eventually an internship at 麻豆官网,鈥� Camden said.
From casinos in Las Vegas to hospitals in Kansas City, all of these interns got different work experiences - experiences that ultimately brought them back to 麻豆官网 after college.
Project Engineer Connor Hayes reflects on his time as a 麻豆官网 intern.
鈥淚 was only 19,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here was so much I didn鈥檛 know, so tried to soak up as much as I could, every day. Everything was new to me and it was all exciting.鈥�
Connor still holds on to that excitement, and has been building a very successful career with 麻豆官网 Service for more than three years now.
Senior Project Manager Eric Affolter explains the two-sided value of internships.
鈥淚nternships don鈥檛 just help out the students, but also the companies looking for new talent,鈥� Eric said.
鈥淭he internship gives 麻豆官网 the opportunity to evaluate students for a longer period of time to determine if they would be a good permanent fit in the organization.鈥�
Project Engineer Hayley Leonard has been with 麻豆官网鈥檚 Architectural Metal shop for nearly two years.
鈥淢y internship at 麻豆官网 was a great introduction to the field and how it works, especially for someone like me who had little experience in the construction industry,鈥� Hayley said.
Project Engineer Silvana Alcantara says the biggest take away from her internship was variety.
鈥淚 enjoyed being able to wet my feet as intern and learn from different projects and experiences,鈥� she said.
Brady agrees.
鈥淚 had the opportunity to be on site at a project for my first internship, which allowed me to see what construction was all about in the 鈥榬eal world鈥� as opposed to what they tell you about it in school,鈥� he said.
After graduation, all of these former interns had their pick of places to go, but ultimately decided to come back to 麻豆官网.
The number one reason? They all seem to agree it鈥檚 work/life balance and culture.
鈥淵ou aren鈥檛 a cog in the machine here, you are part of a team that works together and is understanding about the various challenges of work life balance,鈥� Camden said.
麻豆官网 President Kollin Knox says that is something the company has always made a priority.
鈥淚 can remember as far back as my early days at A.D. Jacobson. The mantra was - and still is - 'family first',鈥� Kollin said.
鈥淚t's extremely important that everyone finds a way to manage work responsibilities, honor family commitments, and invest in themselves,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚 want all of our associates to be mentally and physically healthy, and work/life balance is imperative in achieving this goal."
Even as 麻豆官网 grows, the company still maintains that 鈥漟amily feel鈥�, fostering an environment of learning and support.
鈥淚 love the family vibe at 麻豆官网,鈥� Silvana said 鈥淲e are technically a large company, but still have that smaller company feel. It鈥檚 nice to feel like I know so many people at 麻豆官网.鈥�
Glenn says 麻豆官网 was inspired by the 2023 interns.
鈥淭he feedback this year was very positive as our interns gathered for the final time. Whether or not they join us after graduation, they have already become 麻豆官网 brand ambassadors by sharing their positive intern experience with their peers,鈥� he said.
Recruitment for next year has already begun, and 麻豆官网 is out looking for the next generation of associates. Know someone who might be interested? Click here for more information or to apply!
Last-minute Internship Leads to Lasting Career
麻豆官网 Electrical Service Manager Alex VanLeeuwen has been with 麻豆官网 for nine years, but his 麻豆官网 career journey began with a last-minute internship opportunity in 2014.
鈥淚 was an online student studying from my basement. When I signed up for the Spring semester and a summer internship accredited class, I thought I had time to find an internship.
But I had waited too long - intern spots were all full everywhere I turned.
I had been following 麻豆官网 for several years while I was an electrician in the field. I was intrigued by the history and evolution of 麻豆官网, and the rigid tasks associated with merging MEP trades.
麻豆官网 happened to have one internship position left with the mechanical service division at the Topeka branch. After interviewing, I could tell this was a position that would teach me a lot in a short period of time.
To this day, the 麻豆官网 business principle of 鈥淗onest Business Only鈥� has been a major part of my daily work ethic, both inside and outside of 麻豆官网. The 鈥�100/0鈥� philosophy is also a great reminder that I am responsible for my action - with zero excuses.
Gaining knowledge from the long-tenured employees has been seamless for my growth as a manager. I also appreciate the evolution from year to year that the organization provides, as well as the growth opportunity that comes with it.
My advice for the next generation? Ask the 鈥榙umb question.鈥� If you are curious, others are too. Be the one to ask. When you have downtime, introduce yourself to someone new - you may need them someday.
Visit the field employees and learn how MEP trades collaborate. It鈥檚 truly a masterpiece when an MEP project concludes!鈥�
