As U.S. News stated, “Degrees are great, but internships make a difference”. Several studies have proven that students graduating with internship experiences are more likely to land a job post graduation.
We interviewed our own star intern, Taylor Wood as well as one of our PM’s, Tyler Maxey, to gain some insight on ways to rock your internship and eventually land your dream job.
Taylor attends the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL studying Engineering Technology and Construction Management. He will be graduating this Summer, 2018. Taylor is Lord and Son’s first intern – which began as a class requirement at UWF. The class came to an end last semester and he continues to work for Lord and Son while still taking classes full time.
Day to day activities? It always varies. Taylor gets to work in every facet of the company, including quality control, keeping a log of the meeting minutes, new safety orientation, and “whatever else is asked of me”.
Tyler Maxey, Project Manager for the Costa Blanca project jumped in and added that internships are sort of like a “trial run” – “It’s the only time when you can figure out which side of the business you want to be in – field or operations management/project management. This way, you can start your career getting off on the right foot. Figure out what you enjoy and what you’re good at. Tailor your jobs after college based on that.”
When asked about his internship experience thus far, Taylor said, “I am very grateful for the opportunity to be an intern with Lord and Son. I get to work both in the office and in the field, gaining knowledge in all areas of construction.” Taylor also added that being an intern allows you to establish yourself amongst your peers. During class discussions, Taylor has real life knowledge to add – so it not only helps himself but his classmates as well.
Taylor had a few tips for those looking to pursue an internship.
- Have a good mentality and positive attitude. That’s something that i’ve learned from Jim Wilson, whom I work under.
- Never say no.
- Lastly and most importantly, I always make decisions like it’s my money at stake. That mentality sets everybody up for success!
