On the Job: Conversations With Summer Interns

John Vincent C., a Class of 2027 student, just finished an eight week summer internship through Clark County’s Summer Business Institute with AtkinsRealis, an international engineering and construction firm that works closely with Clark County Water Reclamation District to improve wash channels. We caught up with John Vincent to learn more about this invaluable learning opportunity.

What skills are you learning? 
“What I’ve learned in the first week includes how to read engineering plans, CAD Files, and signing and marking plans on Civil 3D. Next week, I’m looking forward to learning about quantities, streetlights, electrical, and pull box plans. Within the SBI program, I’m also learning about communication skills and getting to know other student interns.”

What has been most surprising about the internship?
“What has been surprising is how interesting and fun it is. It is interesting because I learn a lot in a single day, and I get to experience what it is like to work in the engineering field. I also have a lot of fun because the company invites their interns to lunch and listens to them as they share their ideas.”

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a similar opportunity? 
“Ask questions if you don’t know something. Wear business casual clothes and study what company you are working for.”

SBI, the Summer Business Institute, has been sponsored by Clark County for 30 years and provides paid internship opportunities in a variety of fields including law, business administration, engineering, education, recreation, information technology, and communications. Summer interns work full time Monday through Wednesday at their internship sites and then participate in workshops, seminars, and other employability training on Thursdays. SBI applications typically open in January and close in February.