INTERNSHIPS

A construction internship is similar to a co-op, but is generally considered a “capstone” experience that takes place near the end of formal education when the student has amassed considerable technical skills and/or academic knowledge in the construction field. As such, it may be more structured to provide practical application of academic knowledge, may require more detailed written feedback from the employer, and oversight (including jobsite visits) by a school-based internship coordinator. 

At the high school level, the internship experience involves four parties: the student, the internship supervisor (employer), the internship coordinator (school), and the minor student’s parents/guardians, who must agree to the work conditions, agree to provide insurance, and help provide the means of transportation to work. For college students aged 18 or older, the parties to an internship are the same except for the parents/guardians. 

Student interns are typically required to meet certain standards set by the school, such as completing the OSHA 10-hour safety training course, establishing a training plan with the employer, adhering to standards of dress and decorum, submitting regular reports to the school regarding work activities performed, and writing a final summary report. Employers must typically agree to such things as creating a training plan that covers a variety of work activities, providing adequate supervision of the student, and providing timely feedback on student performance as required by the school. 

The internship may be for a specified time period (e.g., fall semester, senior year of high school), or a specified number of hours (e.g., 320 clock hours). College internships are often done during the summer between junior and senior year. Rates of pay are typically set by the employer. Unpaid internships, if permitted by the school, are uncommon in the construction industry. 

Internships benefit all the parties involved. Students receive practical experience and organizational and time management skills that cannot be taught in the classroom, and are able to determine whether the “dream job” of their childhood will be the right fit for them as adults. Employers get a long look at an individual, learn what is happening inside the local educational institutions, and get to provide feedback to shape and improve student learning. Schools benefit from the input from industry practitioners and the expansion of learning opportunities for their students beyond the campus facilities. Communities benefit from more mature, experienced workers who may be more likely to remain in the area after graduation and work for local companies.