Ferris State University students gain valuable work experience through internships. Internships also can confirm or redirect career decision-making, provide marketability, develop people skills and enhance classroom learning. Many academic programs require one, but the experience is encouraged regardless to provide students with a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the workplace.
Many students are participating in internships this summer. Meet:
Ryan Lefor
He Is: from Dowagiac, Michigan, and is entering his junior year in the College of Engineering Technology’s Construction Management program.
His Internship: Ryan is affiliated with the Detroit office of Turner Construction, working near his hometown in Saint Joseph, on a project at the Lakeland Medical Center. “My summer internship has taught me what the construction field is truly like. My experiences have ranged from the satisfaction found by meeting an aggressive schedule to the stress of trying to solve a design issue as quickly as possible. I am getting hands-on experience by managing the IDF (Intermediate Distribution Frame, or data/electrical closet) rooms from the framing of walls all the way to completion. Luckily, I have a helpful staff that can always quickly answer any questions I have.”
How Ferris Helped Ryan Secure His Internship: “The annual career and internship fair held by the university is the reason I was lucky enough to secure this position. The Construction Management faculty played a huge role in promoting the event and explained the importance of getting experience in the field. They preached the importance of preparation for multiple weeks leading up to the event, ensuring that students had all the tools they need to pursue a construction internship. They provided generous help with resumes and offered other professional advice.”
Future Plans: “I hope to become a superintendent at a commercial construction company. This summer internship has paired me up with an amazing company that has taught me many valuable lessons. Hopefully, this summer shows I have valid experience in the construction field and can demonstrate I am ready for the next challenge the industry throws my way. I hope this internship leads to a career with Turner Construction, it is a great company with a knowledgeable and helpful team.”
Previous Internship Experience: “After my freshman year, I interned, with Clark Construction Company, out of Lansing.”
Other Campus Activities: “I work as a resident adviser in Brophy/McNerney halls. I participate in various IM sports such as corn hole and flag football, and I am a member of the ‘Snow Shredders.’”
Ferris Core Value Ryan Relates to: Collaboration. “Particularly for the construction field, the team and how well they
collaborate will determine how well each project goes. If there is minimal and poor
communication, issues will arise when it is too late to make an easy fix. On the other
hand, if there is positive communication between the trades and the management team,
a collaborative effort can help develop the right answer in a reasonable amount of
time.”
MEET THE INTERNS HOMEPAGE