A college internship can be an invaluable, even life-changing, experience for young people trying to find their footing in the workplace. Some of our very best and longest serving employees came straight to Pinkard from college. So we translate our promise to “Partner, Plan and Build Better” directly into our internship program.
As part of our company’s greater belief in mentorship and continuous growth for employees at all stages of their career, Pinkard has long stressed the importance of providing a solid internship program. We believe in the valuable contributions that interns can make when given the opportunity, as well as the importance of training the next generation of construction industry talent.
For starters that means paying our interns for their hard work, but the most important thing is providing hands-on experience, learning opportunities, and guidance for the duration of their time with us.
With summer winding to a close, we talked with this year’s class of interns about what they learned on the job and how it shaped their outlooks on Pinkard, the construction industry, and their nascent careers.
“I felt like Pinkard wanted to invest in my future”
To begin with, we asked our interns how they chose to work at Pinkard Construction in the first place.
Juliette: I chose Pinkard for my internship because it is a highly respected and long-standing company in the construction industry, known for its excellent employee satisfaction. Pinkard showed a strong belief in my potential and offered a clear vision and pathway for my development in the field.
Kane: A lot of the relationships during internships are one-sided, where the company believes the intern needs the company more than the company needs the intern. I felt like Pinkard wanted to invest in my future and cared about my personal career goals just as much as I do.
As for how their actual experience compared with their expectations, the results were glowing across the board. For the interns who were new to the construction world, the experience left them with a positive view of our industry.
Cassie: I didn’t have many expectations going into this summer because I had never worked in construction before... [but] ...this was a great experience and exceeded my expectations. I learned so much about the world of construction and feel like I walked away knowing I enjoy working in this industry.
Juliette: My experience at Pinkard has far exceeded my expectations. The team [I worked with] has gone above and beyond, offering insights and guidance that I could not have gained in a classroom setting. The hands-on experience here has been more educational than I could have imagined. This opportunity has changed my perspective on the industry, and the unwavering support and mentorship from the team have been truly invaluable.
“[My team’s] trust in me...greatly enhanced my confidence in my abilities.”
When asked what surprised them about the experience, no one seemed to expect how involved Pinkard interns are in the real-world work that we do.
Liam: I was surprised about the amount of resources Pinkard provides for their interns.
Morgan: The most surprising aspect of my internship has been how swiftly I was able to integrate into the team and adapt to the daily processes.
Cassie: I think my biggest surprise this summer was how much I got to do. From my first day I was learning the finer details of the construction process. I have been working on things that I didn’t think an intern would be doing which has been very exciting.
Others noted the openness and transparency of Pinkard at all levels of our operation.
Kane: I had the opportunity to network with tons of people that have been in the construction industry for 40-plus years. I had great conversations with the CFO and President of Pinkard about my future and what is takes to become successful in this industry.
Juliette: My biggest surprise during the internship was how welcoming everyone was. Although I was initially apprehensive about entering the industry as a woman, the team’s openness and support exceeded my expectations. Their trust in me has not only eased my concerns but also greatly enhanced my confidence in my abilities.
As for their personal highlights, the responses were wonderfully varied.
Morgan: The most fascinating aspect of my internship has been learning about the closeout process.
Liam: I gained lots of knowledge on trade stacking and scheduling.
Kane: I loved getting firsthand experience as a preconstruction estimator and being a part of estimates involving multi-million-dollar projects that will house thousands of Coloradans.
Juliette: The thing that resonates with me the most is how crucial organization is for success. I've learned that being well-organized—whether it's managing materials, coordinating subcontractors, or keeping documentation in order—plays a major role in achieving success in this industry.
Cassie: One of the best things I’ve learned this summer is how much I truly enjoy the construction industry. I have met so many amazing people, both from Pinkard and on the subcontractor’s side. I walked into this summer scared that I wouldn’t be able to keep up or even really enjoy the process, but I have learned so much and been so successful.
“Everyone genuinely looks out for one another”
When asked about their impression of Pinkard’s company culture after such a short time with us, our people-first approach stood out.
Morgan: Pinkard is a company that invests in their employee’s success and growth. I can tell that everyone I’ve worked with works with respect for each other, even through misunderstanding and disagreement or conflict.
Kane: Pinkard is a company that built a culture around creating powerful relationships with clients, designers, subcontractors, and their employees. Pinkard’s transparent culture benefited me by making me feel like I could communicate freely with co-workers allowing my learning capabilities to expand at an unexpected rate.
Cassie: Pinkard’s culture is very inclusive and people-first. This entire summer I have felt very comfortable with bringing up any concerns or problems I may have had. I have felt very supported, like the people I am working with truly care about me and my experience, which has made this internship ten times better.
As a result, multiple interns said that their time with Pinkard also raised their standards for what to expect out of an employer.
Liam: Pinkard has made me more selective and company-reliable for resources in my future.
Juliette: My experience at Pinkard has significantly elevated my expectations for what I want in a future company. The supportive environment and strong team dynamics have set a high standard for my career aspirations and future workplace.
“Pinkard entirely changed my decision about my future career”
When asked how their internships at Pinkard changed their thinking about their future careers, the responses speak for themselves.
Cassie: My experience this summer with Pinkard entirely changed my decision about my future career. I wasn’t even looking into construction initially, but after this experience I have decided that the construction industry would be a great fit for me and something I definitely want to pursue.
Morgan: This experience has solidified my aspiration to pursue a career as a superintendent.
Kane: Pinkard solidified all my hard work in the last 5 years, working hard in the field and working toward my Construction Management degree, by confirming that working in this industry is what a want to do with my life.
As for whether they would recommend a Pinkard internship to others, the answers were (at least by this point) unsurprising.
Liam: YES!
Cassie: Yes, I definitely would!
Juliette: I would highly recommend a Pinkard internship. They invest time in teaching and mentoring, which provides a solid foundation for succeeding in this industry.
Morgan: Absolutely. The internship has been a valuable learning experience, and I believe it offers great opportunities for professional growth. Being assigned to a dynamic and active job site has enhanced my learning, and the supportive environment at Pinkard fosters development and growth.
Kane: I would 100% recommend a Pinkard internship.
