At Sundt, we don’t just build bridges, schools or water treatment facilities, we build careers. To achieve our mission of becoming the most skilled builder in America, we must staff the most skilled experts in the industry – and what better way to do that than to train in-house, from the ground up?
One of the ways we do this is through our internship program. The goal of our internship program is to provide hands-on experience in the field and a high-quality education that prepares students for success in their careers, whether that be at Sundt or elsewhere. As of 2022, 83% of Sundt senior interns end up staying on in a full-time position.
“We set our interns up with all of the tools and opportunities to make the most out of their summer,” explained Marissa Anderson, Sundt’s college recruiting specialist. “The program allows them to go beyond their textbooks and get into the field to experience what the daily operations of a jobsite look like. For us, it’s really about fostering the next generation of talent and teaching them the right way to build.”
This year, we’re proud to have a class of almost 100 interns from over 30 universities, and at least one intern assigned to almost all of our jobsites across the nation. We spoke with a few of those stationed at job sites in our Northwest region to get their perspective on what they’re enjoying, what they’ve learned so far, and what their plans are after graduating.
Meet Some of Sundt’s Interns in the Northwest
Jonah, Emilia, Ben, David, Nick, and Azul are working on Sundt’s projects in Portland, OR
What’s been your favorite thing about interning for Sundt?
Emilia: I am enjoying the hands-on experience a Field Engineer achieves both in the office and field. My favorite task I’ve been doing is leading our 6:30 a.m. meeting where all our subcontractors and staff attend and give their updates and tasks for the day.
David: My favorite thing about working with Sundt so far has been learning about and interacting with all the intricacies of such a complex jobsite. Sundt has helped kickstart my love for this industry.
Azul: I love all of the staff and the community they’ve built. Everyone is supportive and friendly, and the emphasis on safety is refreshing. Since my first day at Sundt, I have been shown just how much the company values safety.
What has been the most valuable lesson or experience for you?
Jonah: I believe the most important lesson I’ve learned is that it truly takes a team to build a project. Everyone needs to be on the same page, coordinating, planning and carrying out their tasks for job progression. I also got the opportunity to mark and complete inventory on concrete slab forms in the field. With any forms that were deemed damaged, I worked with the field team to remove them from the pack and get them moved to a material laydown area for further evaluation. I got a crew to help me out, along with a craft professional to help rig up the panels for the crane. Something I’m still trying to learn or get more comfortable with is asking people to do things. I expressed this to one of the craft professionals on site, and he said, “No one can build this alone,” and to always ask for help whenever I need it. Hearing that really raised my confidence to do just that.
Ben: Communication and planning. The emphasis of these two aspects before work is even being done in the field is something I haven’t seen at previous internships, and you can immediately tell the impact it has on the people as well as the job.
Nick: The most valuable skill that I have learned from working at my office space this summer is the importance of safety on a jobsite and how everyone wants their co-workers to be able to go home to their family the next day. Secondly, the dedication to detail for the preconstruction phase and how every aspect of the project is not looked at just once, but multiple times from different perspectives or sets of eyes.
What are your plans after graduating?
Emilia: My career goal is to become a project manager with a background in estimating or logistics. Sundt will allow me to achieve my goal because of the broad range of opportunities and expertise here. I have seen how possible it is to change from the Concrete Division to the Transportation Group, which demonstrates that Sundt values well-rounded engineers. You can forge whatever path you want for your career just by asking.
Azul: My goal is to work for a construction company as a field engineer. My internship with Sundt has given me a lot of valuable knowledge and practical experience that I could apply to any jobsite.
Jonah: As of right now, I don’t have a “concrete” plan of what exactly I would like to do following graduation. I’ve met so many interesting people here at Sundt who have lived so much life before settling down in a construction career, and that definitely inspires me to do the same. Though an opportunity to be hired on full-time to work on projects that help people would be very hard to pass up, especially at Sundt Construction.
How to become a Sundt Intern
Are YOU a college student who is interested in a career in construction? Sundt offers a wide range of opportunities for internships, from field engineering to virtual construction design. Give your career the best head start you can: Check out our open roles or reach out to Marissa Anderson to stay in the loop about upcoming opportunities.