Meet Simon, an enthusiastic intern who starts his mornings by arriving at the trailer half an hour before the crew. Simon thrives on the unpredictability of his internship, where each day brings new challenges that keep him on his toes. His journey this past summer, filled with pivotal moments and valuable lessons, has sparked a keen interest in pursuing a career in construction. Join us as Simon offers insights into the challenges, learnings, and mentorship at JP Cullen.
My mornings start with getting to the trailer about half an hour before our crews arrive. This routine gives me time to check emails, jot down my daily to-dos, and prioritize tasks that need my immediate attention. One of the things I love most about my internship is the unpredictability—each day brings new challenges that keep me on my toes. While I start with a plan, I frequently have to pivot and switch to whatever comes my way.
One of the standout experiences this summer was during a heavy demolition phase of a project. We had to decide where to start and stop our demo work based on the prints. After going out to the project site and looking at the existing roof structure, I quickly realized the plans didn’t quite match up with reality. There was a fireproofing layer that hid the roof structure previously, which meant we had to adjust our approach. Luckily, I caught this before any demo started and we were able to adjust and continue work to stay on schedule.
Spending a lot of time in the field has been very valuable to me. I’ve learned it’s not just about learning the technical side; it’s also about improving how I communicate with the crew in the field on a daily basis. Being able to understand what happens at the face of the work allows me to be better at my job in the trailer. One moment that really pushed me out of my comfort zone was when we had to install support angle irons under an existing brick for demo of the brick below. Working up in a lift, fully harnessed, alongside the foreman to move these heavy angle irons into place was a new challenge that taught me a lot about working together and safety protocols.
Looking back on my internship, I’m amazed at how the things I’ve learned on-site translate back into the classroom. Seeing firsthand how theoretical knowledge plays out in real construction scenarios has been incredibly helpful in my schooling. As well as seeing how my field experience can help me be ahead of my classmates in the classroom. It’s given me a greater understanding of the industry and sparked my interest of a career in construction.
Interested in becoming one of our interns for the Summer of 2025? Check out our intern positions and apply today!
