My RAND Summer Internship: A Hands-On Experience


RAND Summer Intern Alex Saglamer at work.

RAND Summer Intern Alex Saglamer's last week at the office before he returns for his junior year at Penn State.

Going into a summer internship after completing only my sophomore year of college, it was hard to know what to expect from an internship at RAND. On my very first day, I was already out and about going on site visits with project managers. I knew this would end up being one of the best internships I would be involved in through my college career, and I was right. The amount of hands-on experience and real-life situations I was put in truly made me learn more and expand my passion for this field of engineering. From being able to help choose which mortar samples to use on the job, to helping making decisions at meetings with contractors and such, I was able to actually make a difference within the job while only being an intern.

From an outsider’s perspective, it's hard to understand what really goes into conducting a construction project on a building in the five boroughs. Working at RAND has given me a much deeper perspective on what truly goes on behind the scenes. As an intern on the Facade & Roofing Team, I was given the amazing opportunity to work with project managers and see what role they play in the grand scheme of a construction job. From going on to active construction sites to attending important meetings with clients and contractors, I was able to develop a much deeper understanding of the field I wish to start my career in, and I also learned why construction is not as easy and free of problems as people may think.

While working with the project managers, I was not only able to see up close the construction process of the projects we take on, but also the complex policies, procedures, codes, and regulations behind these projects. Behind the scenes, much more goes on than people think. For example, if a building is deemed a ‘landmark building’ by the LPC (Landmarks Preservation Commission), everything fixed on the building must be approved by the LPC before any construction commences. Things that needed to be approved, for example, are mortar mixes, bricks, stone work, etc. This application and approval process not only takes a lot of time, but is also very difficult for project managers, contractors, and building management to coordinate. Learning about it has expanded my line of site within the field, and has given me a much broader knowledge of the trade.

Besides the immense amount of knowledge I gained here at RAND, I also was able to make very strong connections with the employees. I was greeted on my first day with smiles and a welcoming environment. It only took a few hours of being in the office before I was offered to go on site and begin the wonderful journey that I experienced working here for my 10-week internship. The skills and knowledge that I have developed while interning at RAND are priceless, and I don’t think any other engineering firm could offer the same experience RAND has offered to me.


Alex Saglamer, a Civil Engineering major at Penn State, is RAND's Facade & Roofing Team Summer Intern. He'll be starting his junior year this fall.  

 

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

* Copy This Password *

* Type Or Paste Password Here *

 
Signup for our Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter more information, tips, and updates.
Article Categories
Follow us on Twitter