- There’s always something to learn
As Gilbane welcomes interns to the family, they educate them not only about the AEC industry, but also what makes Gilbane different. Leveraging their Gilbane University educational program and supplementing with external training resources such as LinkedIn Learning, interns feel prepared and confident that they can be a contributing team member on their assigned projects. For example, I found that an internship at Gilbane and within the AEC industry was different than anything I had been exposed to in the academic setting. The environment created by the people both in the office and on the jobsites formed a rich and challenging experience that fostered creativity and room for growth.
- You won’t know until you try… Jump right in!
Gilbane believes there are some things you can only learn from experience. Construction management is made up of many moving pieces and parts, and it takes an organized and passionate team to bring a job to successful completion. Giving interns the opportunity to communicate directly with subcontractors regarding the bid process, RFIs and schedule planning lets them see the full complexity and uniqueness of each project no matter the scope. I spoke with Neil Heckerman, an intern on a school summer renovation project, and he said, “working on this renovation project gives me the chance to assist and learn from an experienced project staff on how they continue to solve problems and collaborate with subcontractors to meet the schedule so school can start on time.” With an opportunity to get on site and assess project progress alongside his Gilbane team, Neil found the value in being detailed oriented and always keeping open lines of communication.
- Your experience is what you make of it
It is important to explore your passions as you grow to discover what drives you when journeying along your career path. For interns to get the most out of their time at Gilbane, team members work closely with each of them to tailor their internship experience to what they find interesting. Take for example, Mark Duetsch, an intern with passion and academic background in engineering. Mark said, “Gilbane did an amazing job at tailoring the internship toward my knowledge and interest in engineering. While learning about RFIs and submittals, I looked at examples involving the boilers and chillers on site, which allowed me to use my knowledge as a mechanical engineering to better understand the process.” Mark said his team wanted him to get the most out of his time, so working on the project site through an engineering lens allowed him to not only increase his engineering knowledge but also better understand the construction management industry.
- No matter where you go, you will always be part of the Gilbane family
Gilbane treats their employees, interns and people they work with as part of one family. Defining core values such as integrity, teamwork and dedication to excellence drive every decision, meeting and project. They instill a mindset of entrepreneurship and loyalty among team members to spark innovation as they look to their future. Emily Voigt was a construction intern on a site for a client that Gilbane has worked with for over 25 years. Emily immediately connected with the people on her project site and felt proud as she shared her unique perspectives of being a woman in a male dominated field such as construction. She said she felt empowered by the opportunity to be treated as an equal and valuable asset to the team during the summer.
It is very clear that our summer interns got the full picture of what life at Gilbane is really like. Their dedication, innovative ideas and curiosity are inspiring. We look forward to seeing what they do next. Check out this video that I created as part of my internship experience to get a sneak peek of their summer at Gilbane:
Interns at Gilbane Building Company from Gilbane Building Company on Vimeo.
