Today is National Intern Day, and p+d would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the interns we have had since our founding. Many of our interns have been hired as full-time engineers, and we feel grateful to witness their growth from students studying theory and design models to full-fledged civil and environmental engineers applying their calculations to the designs of real-life structures and systems.
In celebration of National Intern Day, we’re sharing our thoughts on the importance of obtaining an internship if you plan on entering the engineering field.
Obtaining an internship demonstrates commitment and curiosity. We truly value curiosity here at p+d; it’s how our founders Jason and Darren got started: Jason getting his hands dirty at a wastewater treatment plant while beginning his studies as a civil engineering student, and Darren, at a very young age, pulling apart a pen to examine its inner-workings. Engineering is a hands-on job, so employers like to see that students have sought out ways to get physically involved in the field and are eager to move beyond their textbooks and classrooms.
We give our interns major responsibilities and significant roles to play in the projects we manage. Our goal is to make their experience here as similar to their future lives as full-time engineers as we can. Our interns correspond directly with clients, learn key skills in clear and transparent communication, draft plans and engineer’s reports and visit project sites to observe existing conditions and needed improvements. We also encourage our interns to collaborate with one another, run their ideas by our seasoned principals and ask project-specific questions that will help them develop their problem-solving skills.
One of the most important lessons to take from an internship, and perhaps the hardest learned, is that engineering is never as tidy or formulaic as it can appear to be in the classroom. Working with ever-changing processes and regulations, aging systems and various clients inevitably leads to some organized chaos—which we have learned to love! But you have to know how to adapt to curveballs.
If you are currently an engineering student and are ready to get your hands dirty, here are some awesome resources we found to get you started on your journey. And what an exciting journey to be on! Firstly, the College of Engineering at San Jose University put together this comprehensive list of engineering internship myths you might want to check out in case you have any fears or doubts about the importance of obtaining an internship.
Next, we suggest conducting some independent research of engineering firms near you. Check their websites to see if they offer an internship program, or reach out to their human resources department to inquire. We also strongly suggest utilizing your career resource center if you are a college student. They typically have many professional connections, and they can let you know about any upcoming internship fairs. They can also give you professional advice on your resume and cover letter.
And once you’ve landed an internship—CONGRATULATIONS! Affiliated Engineers, a technical consulting firm, offers this list of tips on how to make the most of your engineering internship.
We are proud of our interns and are impressed daily by their growing technical skills and knowledge. p+d is honored to help young engineers get started on their careers. From all of us here, happy National Intern Day!