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OPINION
Internships provide real-world experience, mentorship, brand recognition, and foster long-term relationships, benefiting both students and organizations. Four benefits of summer internships
S ummers go by in a flash. The arrival and departure of interns mark the beginning and end of this short season within our professions. Students who take advantage of the three-month break between college years gain valuable work experience in the AEC industry and chosen fields. Although brief, internships provide many mutual benefits to students and organizations.
Eric Lannen
The benefits may seem obvious – students earn work experience to satisfy a graduation requirement and gain an advantage in the job market, and businesses have extra help on projects throughout the busy summer months. Providing quality internship programs is a beneficial experience for students, professionals, businesses, and our industry as a whole. At Westwood, our internship program benefits participants in four ways: 1. Real project work and job exposure. Busy summers require additional expertise. Our interns work on real projects for clients and are exposed to many markets and services in all areas of our business. They gain hands-on experience, bridging the gap between academic knowledge
and real-world application. Many also get the opportunity to see their work in action, traveling to projects across the country. Beyond project work, the interns also partake in invaluable experiences to learn more about office soft skills and post-graduate financial training. Working cross-functionally to gain knowledge of how teams work together can be invaluable for an internship. Project managers appreciate the increased productivity, new diverse skill sets, and knowledge sharing that will continue to propel our organization forward.
See ERIC LANNEN, page 8
THE ZWEIG LETTER SEPTEMBER 23, 2024, ISSUE 1554
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