3 minute read
Empowering Futures
Empowering Futures
The Impact of Internship Programs
Words by Natalie Caudle | Photos by Topograph
The concepts of internships and apprenticeships have evolved over time with a rich history reaching back to ancient civilizations. Internship models are continually morphing as the 21st century workplace adopts a modern approach to business. For centuries, young individuals would learn a trade or craft by working under the guidance of a skilled master. This system allowed for the transfer of knowledge and skills from one generation to the next. But, with the rise of industrialization, formal apprenticeships became more structured, with the modern concept of internships taking shape in the early 20th century. The term “intern” was first used in the medical field, where young doctors would work in hospitals to gain practical experience. By the end of the 20th century, internships had gained popularity in multiple fields and had become a standard part of the educational experience. With the advent of the internet and digital technologies, remote and virtual internships have become more common.
Today, internships are considered a crucial step in career development while companies also benefit by identifying and nurturing talent early in their professional journey.
Local design and build firm, 4Creeks, launched their internship program in 2014. Interns worked closely with project managers while helping to establish the role of interns in the 4Creeks offices.
Like many businesses post-Covid, 4Creeks reevaluated their current models and made adjustments to help round out their interns’ development. Molly Muirhead, Chief People Officer, comments on the evolution, “In 2021, we decided to make a shift and kick our intern program up a notch. We started to do what we called ‘development days’ where our interns go out to a job site or we have an in-office ‘lunch and learn’...The job site visits allowed our interns to see the possibilities of different market sectors and understand everything from getting a signed contract to project completion.”
internship, my main goal was to find a place I could see myself working at in 5 or 10 years and 4Creeks was the perfect place to start my career.” Madison is currently working as an Assistant Engineering Designer for the firm and credits 4Creeks in helping her find her vocational passion.
Internships are a two-sided coin that benefit the company as well as the intern. Molly elaborates, “Interns come in with fresh eyes, excitement, and perspective that helps our businesses continue to grow and improve our processes. Interns have been a stable, consistent work force…and they so positively impact our culture!”
Interns are a valued and necessary component of the modern workplace and are vital to the development of future industry leaders. Locally, internships can be found in the private, public, and religious sectors. At 4Creeks, internships are offered each summer, with some opportunities to continue year-round.
