Granite

Plant Engineer Intern

June - October 2022 • Sacramento, CA

What I liked

The people I got to work with were so amazing and helpful along every step of the way. Learning more about the industry intrigued my interest in the field and enabled me to be more aware of certain processes and how they work.

What I wish was different

N/A

Advice

Come in with an open mindset and be ready to learn because there is a lot of new information if you have not been in this industry before.

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Project Engineer Intern

June - September 2021 • Bakersfield, CA

What I liked

I loved everything about Granite. Everyone that works there is extremely kind and helpful. Granite has an amazing culture and amazing employees. I enjoyed the how much responsibility they give me and how willing they were to help me throughout the summer.

What I wish was different

I wish the rotational program had spent more time at each rotation.

Advice

Don't be afraid to try new things and let your voice be heard. Also, don't be fazed by the responsibilities they give their interns everyone is there to help you and guide you. Employees at Granite like people who are willing to learn, work extremely hard, and aren't scared to fail.

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Engineer Intern

May - August 2021 • Bakersfield, CA

What I liked

I liked being surrounded by people who care for Granite. Everyone was nice and would not mind offering help when needed. As an Engineer Intern I got the opportunity to get exposed to what engineers do out in the field and in the office and how they both compliment each other. Granite's intern program was structured in a way that all the interns would get a view of the big picture, so that they would understand all the work that is behind getting a project done.

What I wish was different

Advice

One piece of advice that I would like to share is to be aware of what is happening around you. Ask questions if needed and remember to always have something to write notes. Trust me, I already knew this before coming but took me a few days to put it into practice. Do not be afraid of applying here, people are very welcoming and conscious of one's capabilities. Granite wants you to always feel comfortable with what you are doing.

1 One person found this helpful

Finance Intern

June - August 2020 • Watsonville, CA

What I liked

Fun and informative.

What I wish was different

More structured.

Advice

You get out of it what you put in!

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Project Engineer Intern

June - September 2019 • San Luis Obispo, CA

What I liked

I loved being exposed to lots of different work and being able to learn from the best. From underground, to dirt work, to roadway improvements, I was afforded the opportunity learn from several different people the process and journey that takes place on a construction site. Granite is like a family because you work with most of the same people every day and become more than just work colleagues and are always willing to help you and the project to success.

What I wish was different

I wish there were some more training in place on some of the software we use. Granite has every resource/software available for us to use but sometimes I feel that we only use a small portion of its true capacity. I think some more training or exposure to this would be beneficial.

Advice

Being in the field, seeing first hand how the work is being executed is the most vital role to success in and out of the office. Observing foremans, laborers, and other field personnel executing the plan will create a better understanding of the overall goal and project success.

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Construction Project Manager Intern

May 2020 - January 2021 • Sacramento, CA

What I liked

An internship at Granite really gives you a good insight into what its like managing heavy civil projects. They are not scared to give interns plenty of responsibility.

What I wish was different

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask questions and spend as much time as you can in the field learning from the foreman and superintendents.

1 One person found this helpful

Engineer

May - August 2020 • Idaho Falls, ID

What I liked

Hands on experience, meeting new people new perspectives. Most experience I have learned any summer before.

What I wish was different

Not so far of a drive as I was commuting 65 miles per day to the jobsite.

Advice

When you get the opportunity to become part of a company like Granite make sure you take full advantage of the experience and resources that are right at your fingertips.

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Project Engineering Intern

May - August 2020 • Northbrook, IL

What I liked

I enjoyed learning from experienced engineers and superintendents—they were willing to answer all of my questions.

What I wish was different

The work environment was dynamic and exciting, but I sometimes wished there was a more structured daily schedule.

Advice

Everyone is there to help you learn, so ask as many questions as possible.

1 One person found this helpful

Field Engineer

May 2020 • Salt Lake City, UT

What I liked

Granite pushed me to do my best, and trusted me with portions of the project to handle on my own. They put a lot of trust in their interns, without a lot of micro-managing.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have started sooner with them. I feel like by the end of the summer you are just starting to get good at your job, and then most of us have to go back to school.

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask questions, and learn as much as you can from the project managers!

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Engineer Intern

June - August 2020 • Rancho Cordova, CA

What I liked

I thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed my time interning with Granite. I was able to work alongside several engineers, project managers, and estimators, knowing full well that I had the freedom to ask questions regardless of how straightforward the answers may have been. Throughout my internship, I was directly assigned tasks that I was expected to complete autonomously, which required significant due diligence and care. I worked on Structural & Earthwork Takeoffs, contacted subcontractors to answer their questions, attended weekly project meetings, and much more. Working on projects as they progressed through their various stages of completion was a truly formative educational experience. I was also gracious for how welcoming, nice, and respectful the other engineers were towards me. They would always make sure that I was comfortable, and were especially accommodating throughout the uncertain summer months due to COVID. I was excited, and happy, to go to my internship every single day. Interning with Granite was an unforgettable opportunity.

What I wish was different

I would have loved to be in more consistent communication regarding the status of my internship, and the onboarding process leading up to the summer. With the long absence of communication, and the ever-growing COVID situation, I was under the impression that my internship would be canceled, however, I was happily surprised it was not! I believe that consistent communication (just monthly emails or follow-ups) with interns would be a great way to ease us into the experiences we will have at Granite! Because of COVID, we did not get to do the site visits, quarry visit, and asphalt plant tour that would normally be part of the internship experience, which was completely understandable. If I was to be invited back to intern with Granite, I would love to participate in these events, to get full insight into the life of an engineer at Granite!

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask questions! It is emphasized several times over that the most important thing is for you to learn new things! Specific to Rancho Cordova, CA (Heavy Civil West): Housing is not so readily available near the office location. In fact, I noticed a larger number of interns in the local area than places able to accommodate them. I would recommend that you book travel/housing arrangements no less than 3-4 months in advance, to ensure you have a nice place to stay. In addition, although a car would be incredibly useful to get around the surrounding area, it is not necessary. A bike can serve most of your needs, as there are a plethora of restaurants, grocery stores, and fun locations in near proximity to the office and in Rancho Cordova in general!

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Project Engineer Intern

June - August 2020 • Indio, CA

What I liked

Very welcoming, trusting, and good at teaching new employees.

What I wish was different

Honestly nothing.

Advice

Construction can be a lot at once if you are new to it and because Granite are very trusting of interns, it can also be daunting the challenges/work they give you. I personally like that but I know that isn't for everyone.

1 One person found this helpful

Project Engineer Intern

June 2020 • Santa Rosa, CA

What I liked

The Granite team was very welcoming and created a very productive work environment. Everything from the in office interactions to the tasks I was assigned made me feel like I was a true team member. Granite is not afraid to give interns hefty tasks to see what you can handle. This allowed me to learn far more about the Project Engineer's role within Granite Construction.

What I wish was different

I wish I had done more research into a Project Engineer's role prior to employement so I had a better idea of what I would be doing on Day 1. Other than that, there isn't anything I would change from this internship experience.

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Granite may give you tasks that you have never done before. Ask for clarification or support. The last thing Granite wants is their employees to feel as if they are on their own in figuring things out. Be proactive and ask questions to ensure you understand your tasks.

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Co-op

June - September 2020 • Reno, NV

What I liked

I enjoyed how hands on and fast-paced the internship was. In just 3 months I gained a ton of knowledge and construction experience. I liked how I was a good mix between office work and field work.

What I wish was different

Advice

If you want to work hard and learn a lot this is a great internship for you.

1 One person found this helpful

Rotational Summer Intern

June - August 2020 • Reno, NV

What I liked

I enjoyed spending the summer on the job site either in the trailer or out in the field. I learned a lot from this job from watching the construction being done to being apart of some of the work on the computer. In the beginning, I did a couple parts runs and got to know a lot of companies in the construction industry and common parts used. All the people working for Granite are insanely nice; the guys out in the field will make time to talk to you even in the middle of a task.

What I wish was different

I do wish I could have continued my work part-time with Granite through my last semester. It would also be nice to see the engineers have a more work-life balance; they do work very long hours most days.

Advice

Do not be afraid to just go out to the field and check things out. I learned a lot more this way and most likely the workers will like explaining to you what they are doing.

1 One person found this helpful

Construction Estimator Intern

May - August 2020 • Rancho Cordova, CA

What I liked

Granite is very interested in developing your career. I viewed it as an investment into my career and they have multiple programs to help you find your passion. The staff was very friendly.

What I wish was different

Covid-19 complicated my internship, but that was not something Granite could control.

Advice

I highly recommend interning with Granite. They are very supportive and very knowledgeable. Granite is one of the best companies to expand your knowledge. They encourage the interns to ask questions and they are understanding of the learning process.

2 ${count} people found this helpful

Carpenter Apprentice

June - August 2020 • Carpinteria, CA

What I liked

I enjoyed working with the crew. They taught me how to properly use the tools and how to build and strip concrete forms.

What I wish was different

I wish I spend more time with the project engineer and construction manager to understand how they solved complex problems.

Advice

Be prepare to work hard and long hours. Learn to deal with different personalities.

2 ${count} people found this helpful

Project Engineer Intern

April - September 2020 • Salt Lake City, UT

What I liked

Granite really cares for their interns. They provide you with good and challenging learning opportunities related to your major and make sure you have the resources and tools to be successful. Above all. the culture and the work environment are remarkable. I felt welcome and part of the team right from the start.

What I wish was different

I honestly think they do a great job with their internship program. I think getting to visit other job sites and get an overall view of different projects would have been a nice experience as well.

Advice

Be proactive, add value wherever you are, make your supervisor's life easier and learn as much as you can from everyone! The more you strive to understand as many aspects of the project as you can, the better you'll be able to contribute.

2 ${count} people found this helpful

civil engineering intern

June - August 2019 • Maspeth, NY

What I liked

Had a great time interning at Granite. I was given some real responsibilities to help the project. Took on the role of a field engineer. I worked very closely with the foreman, superintendents, and project engineers. I helped manage crews, track quantities and work being done, order material and tools, and ensured work met specific standards. The superintendents and engineers were always there if I needed guidance or help, and were eager to help me learn.

What I wish was different

Advice

It is important to take responsibility. If you are put in charge of something, it is your job to ensure it is done correctly and in a timely manner. The project engineers and superintendents trust you enough to take charge of something. Good communication is a necessity.

1 One person found this helpful