Woolpert, Inc.

Administrative Assistant Intern

May 2022 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

The work culture

What I wish was different

Gone into the office more often, my internship was remote

Advice

Just to apply to as many places as possible!

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Transportation Engineering Co-Op

May - August 2022 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

Throughout my time at Woolpert, I felt that my learning and personal journey within civil engineering was valued and prioritized by my team and the company as a whole. I was invited to attend conferences, gain technical skills in multiple programs, and network across professional organizations, such as the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS). One of the best parts about this particular internship was that in a previous internship, I mentioned that I would like to sit in on a client meeting in order to gain a wider perspective on the projects I assist with. My supervisors valued my request and had be join several different calls, which has greatly informed my understanding behind project processes. This summer, Woolpert did a fantastic job of connecting its interns and employees all across the country though virtual meet and greets, social events, and the annual Intern vs. Leadership Wiffleball Game!

What I wish was different

COVID-19 has changed the work culture and times that people come into the office to work. With hybrid work being an option for most employees, there have been fewer individuals working in the office. This proved itself to be an obstacle for learning in person, however many people were patient and helpful on virtual calls. Once a month, many people would meet at a designated office location to further collaborate and make up for time that would have been spent in the office together, which helped me feel more connected to my coworkers in a hybrid setting.

Advice

I would advise a student interning at Woolpert to take advantage of all the various types of experiences this company has to offer, and to try anything that may interest them. Woolpert has expertise in Architectural, Engineering, and Geospatial practices and is constantly growing, so there are many oppportunities and areas to explore. Woolpert has a student's genuine success in mind, so it is important to network across the company and experience as much as possible in order to gain a full and well-rounded internship.

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Civil Engineering Intern

August - December 2021 • Beavercreek, OH

What I liked

The flexibility and the wide variety of experiences that were offered to me. I was able to attend conferences and go on plant tours outside of Woolpert. Also, everyone at Woolpert cared about each of the interns' specific interests and worked to give us projects we would really enjoy.

What I wish was different

I would have liked for more people to be in the office during my term. With Covid, the majority of people worked remotely while the interns worked from the office. It was difficult at the beginning to adjust and form relationships with people. A suggestion might be for other employees to come into the office for our first week and then return to remote work so that we are able to meet more people face-to-face.

Advice

My biggest piece of advice would be for people to ask a lot of questions. Asking questions is the best way to advocate for yourself and to learn everything you can. This also comes with making sure to attempt to figure out the problem before asking. I believe trying to solve it yourself first allows you to develop more meaningful and strong questions.

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Transportation Engineering Co-Op

May - December 2021 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

One of my favorite experiences while working here was being able to try different types of civil engineering by working across departments. For example, I expressed interests sustainability and technical writing, both of which extend beyond my job description, but I was given the opportunities to learn more and work on projects in both areas. I enjoyed being able to work with both full-time engineers and interns alike, as well as being able to work flexible hours. Woolpert provided several fun social events or luncheons in which I got to meet other interns and employees within the company. There were also several experiences in which I got to practice my leadership skills, such as leading an intern group project and speaking at local schools to encourage STEM careers. Finally, Woolpert invested in my learning through earning sustainable design credentials and attending professional conferences that included both learning sessions and networking opportunities.

What I wish was different

While I did get to visit a few of the project sites, I would have liked to visit more of them to get a better feel for what I was working on with the design team (this may have been restricted due to Covid-19). I also would have liked to sit in on more meetings to better understand how communications and operations go with clients or other departments within the company, such as the Proposals or Marketing teams.

Advice

I would advise students to not be afraid to ask questions or explore any interests they might have. As an intern, you have a strong support system to help in your understanding of tasks and the industry. You are also trusted and given important responsibilities while still being able to learn and ask for help. Seek out anything that interests you within the industry as Woolpert has extensive learning and exploration opportunities available to all students.

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Technical Writing Intern

January - August 2018 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

I really liked the team aspect of the position. I got to work with a lot of great people and make new professional relationships, while also improving on my writing skills. This position was really eye opening and got me one step closer to figuring out my future career.

What I wish was different

I wish that I could have worked more and contributed even more to the team. When we entered our slow season I often felt that I wasn't doing enough to help my team and wish there could have been more learning opportunities during that time period.

Advice

Internships are an amazing opportunity that everyone should pursue. When looking for that internship make sure that you look at more than just the position. You want to make sure that you like the people you're going to be working with and get a good sense of the workplace culture before you say yes to an offer

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