Getting the Most out of your Internship

By: Ken Leland, PE, SE - Principal

Now is the time to secure your summer internship! If you are interested in interning with AHBL, we are accepting applications in our civil engineering, structural engineering, and land use planning departments. We are also looking for CAD/Revit Technician Interns. To view job postings and application requirements, click here.

At AHBL, we have welcomed interns for more than a decade, and appreciate their creativity, fresh perspective, and curiosity. When working with our interns, we want to make sure they get the most out of their experience.

Whether you’re looking for an internship, or helping a young person find a great place to spend their summer, here are three ways AHBL ensures students gain the experience and insight necessary to have a successful internship.

1. We will put your skills to work. At AHBL, we don’t give our interns rudimentary tasks. In fact our interns can expect to complete tasks similar to what is expected of our junior level engineers and designers. We have found this approach is one of the best ways to help our interns build competency and confidence in their skills. Kyle Gysler is a structural project engineer in our Tacoma office, and was an intern in 2015. When reflecting on his internship Kyle said, “I never felt like an intern. From day one, I worked on a variety of projects, and was able to learn how different structural materials impact construction. Since my internship extended from the summer and through the fall, I was able to see projects come together in the field. It was really exciting to see my work come to life.”

2. We help you make sure this is what you want to do. Internships provide a glimpse of what the working world will look like, so use that time to reaffirm your career choice. To facilitate this, we encourage our interns to explore various specialties and project types. Sarah Singleton Schroedel, landscape project manager, has been with AHBL for nearly 13 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English, and a master’s in landscape architecture. During her internship with AHBL, she knew landscape was the career for her while working on the Landscape Management Plan for the Puget Gulch Natural Area because, “It combined my love of writing and research, and allowed me to return to my master’s program with a fuller understanding of the field.”

3. You’ll leave with a stronger resume. The application of your skills and reaffirmed passion for the profession should yield great additions to your resume. Before the end of your internship, take some time to update your resume with specific outcomes and results. When reviewing applications and resumes, hiring managers want to see the types of projects you have worked on and your specific duties. They also want to see any new skills you acquired such as proficiency in Civil 3D, Revit, or the Adobe Creative Suite.

AHBL’s application period for internships will close February 28th. If you have questions, please direct them to careers@ahbl.com.