In the Growth Zone: Building New Confidence through the Kent Companies Internship Experience
I have one piece of advice for students taking on a Kent Companies internship – buckle up. I was uncertain of what to expect on my first day, but I knew I would be stretched and challenged more than ever. I was drawn to Kent Companies as a top-ten nationally ranked contractor, and I wanted to hone my marketing skills. I had a lot of questions, but the Kent team had a building plan designed especially for me.
From the moment I stepped inside the office, I was overwhelmed by the warm, friendly culture. The entire team immediately welcomed me as one of their own. I was a member of the Kent family from day one. Kent felt like home to me right away because the people accepted me into their community without hesitation.
However, it wasn’t just the atmosphere that impressed me early on. Kent Companies balances their people-driven values and warm culture with a relentless expectation of quality. Every member of the team performs their work with excellence, striving to be the best at what they do. The details matter. The Leaders in Concrete truly live up to their name, not just with the finished product, but especially behind-the-scenes.
Fast forward twelve weeks later – and I have discovered that these values foster the best possible learning environment for those who are hungry to grow. I faced fears on day one and every day since that I never thought I would overcome. I found myself achieving tasks that were beyond my wildest dreams to tackle in an internship. Performing research for opening a new division location, creating corporate marketing plans, and providing networking event recommendations to company leaders are just drops in the ocean of all I contributed to the team. I made mistakes along the way, but the stellar mentorship and gracious guidance of the Kent team have pushed me to overcome them and improve. My marketing skills have developed significantly through my internship with Kent Companies, to be certain – but my confidence has grown even more.
I’m not the only Kent newcomer to recognize how the company’s values have facilitated learning. As I have interacted with the other interns, I have noticed strikingly similar patterns in their Kent work experience. Many of them came with fears and hurdles to conquer – and each one will leave with hands-on experience in their chosen field, thanks to the support of those working alongside them.
Kent Companies’ internship program was established ten years ago to help students gain field experience in the construction industry. The program continually evolves and is laser-focused on meeting each intern’s personal goals and educational curriculum. This year, Kent Companies hosted eleven interns across our national offices, with work experiences including multifamily and commercial concrete, underlayments, marketing, and accounting. Kent Companies will continue investing in the future of the industry by providing students with practical work experience to set them up for success.
There are many people who make this opportunity possible. Division leaders from every location coached interns all summer. Countless field team members, from craft through foremen and superintendents, have instructed our interns about safety, field production, and equipment. Project managers and estimators exposed our interns to the financial and operational management needed for successful projects. Behind the scenes, the Kent Companies talent team organized the entire program, enabling this group of students to benefit. I know I speak for the entire Kent Companies intern class of 2023 in expressing our deepest thanks to all the people that helped us build something more this summer.
For more information on the Kent Companies careers and student experiences, visit https://www.kentcompanies.com/careers/
