While Co-Oping for Ulliman Schutte I worked on multiple big tasks, things like drawing layouts in AutoCAD for dowel layouts, writing RFI's, putting Submittals together, kept our As-Builts updated, and took daily progress photos. Each task was challenging in its own way and it was fun to find new ways to approach each challenge. Of course my co-workers were ever so patient with me and genuinely wanted me to learn how to be the best engineer I could be. They made sure I was working on things that were hard enough to push me to learn and ask questions, but easy enough that I wasn't thrown into the deep end without knowing how to swim. I also liked getting a taste of what working a full time job was like, it made me more focused on my goals and gave me a better understanding of how to achieve them.
What I wish was different
Something I wish was different was the stage of the jobsite I worked at. The jobsite I worked on was purely making new buildings and leaving old buildings alone and untouched. However, the company held a co-op day where I got to visit a jobsite in North Carolina that was about refurbishing a very old water treatment plant. It was interesting to see and it peaked my interest having to gut old buildings of equipment and install new equipment. However, as I've been told many times "no two jobs are the same" so I know that one day I will experience in something like that, and the ever changing jobsites is what is going to keep my interest and keep this job exciting for me.
Advice
One piece of advice I would give to Co-Op's is to not be afraid to ask questions. The hardest part for me to understand was that my co-workers weren't only my co-workers, but they were also my teachers. They were so willing to help me when I needed it and I wish I knew that earlier. Another piece of advice I have to give is to not be afraid to ask for work. Something I wasn't the best at was seeking work, but looking back asking for work could've exposed me to new concepts and I could've learned one more thing on my cop-op.
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Project Engineer Intern
May - July 2021 • Raleigh, NC
What I liked
I enjoyed the amount of responsibility and autonomy I was given. My housing was also paid for which was a huge financial benefit.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had more of an opportunity to interact with the corporate office and estimating and bidding work that goes on.
Advice
My advice for this role is to keep a very open mind and always be willing to learn. Pretty much everything will be very unfamiliar in the beginning so it is important to stay motivated, ask good questions, and learn from your mistakes.
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Project Engineer Co-Op
January - August 2019 • Baltimore, MD
What I liked
-Hands on construction experience
-Work that held real responsibility
What I wish was different
-More structured on-boarding/training
Advice
Be eager to learn
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Project Engineer Co-op
May - August 2019 • Baltimore, MD
What I liked
The team was phenomenal, friendly, and very fun to work with and learn from. Ulliman Schutte takes care of its employees and it shows. The company takes on interesting and challenging construction projects which are exciting to be apart of. US provided excellent housing and paid for my relocation traveling expenses.
What I wish was different
Although the project engineer role allows for some time working on the site, it is primarily performed at a desk, behind a computer, in a job site trailer. I wish that my role was more hands on and field oriented and that I had more work to do while I was behind my desk.
Advice
Ask for tasks and work in the areas that you find interesting.
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Civil Engineering Intern
May - August 2019 • Baltimore, MD
What I liked
I really enjoyed the project itself as a whole. I also enjoyed the people I worked with and the place my job was located.
What I wish was different
I wish it would have been longer so I could have had a bigger role in the project.
Advice
I would share that in the moment I didn't really feel as I was learning a lot but when I went back through at the end of the summer and got to give a review, I learned more than I ever thought and that was a great feeling. My passion for this discipline only grew from this experience.
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Field Engineer Intern
May - August 2018 • Perry Point, MD
What I liked
Ulliman Schutte provided an atmosphere that allowed plenty of learning opportunities and responsibility. Your input is wanted and used to innovate the job and allow for a more efficient work flow. It was a fast paced environment that made the day go by quickly and a sense of ownership to be felt at the end of every day.
What I wish was different
I wish I was able to stay on the project longer
Advice
Keep a mindset that your opinion matters and jump at every opportunity to try something new and out of your comfort zone.
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Co-op Engineer
August - December 2017 • Perry Point, MD
What I liked
There are two main things I really enjoyed about this internship. The first is how hands-on the work was. I worked in a mobile office that was on the job site, so the engineers and I were able to discuss plans in the office and then go out and actually see them being executed. The second was that the work I did was meaningful. I was accountable for a lot of things (such as purchasing equipment and scheduling concrete pours), and having that responsibility gave me a sense of what the real world is like.
What I wish was different
As previously stated, I performed a lot of meaningful work. After talking to friends about their co-op experience, I would say that the pay for this internship is not as high as it should be.
Advice
Be very engaged in the work and ask a lot of questions. When I was on site, I was always asking questions about the things that I saw and it increased my understanding of the construction process.
