The not-so-typical internship experience at Buildertrend
At Buildertrend, our internship program is anything but ordinary – and that’s just the way we like it.
As the #1 Best Place to Work in Omaha, we can’t just have our interns doing busy work. Instead, we want them to be busy working, truly making a difference each and every day as they get their foot in the door. After all, the Buildertrend team works together to change the way the world builds, but it only happens with the support of our awesome and ambitious interns.
Summer is (finally!) here, and for Buildertrend that means there’s a whole new crew of excited interns coming our way. This year may look a little different as the COVID-19 crisis has our staff safely working from home, but there are still plenty of great things in store for this troop in the months ahead.
While we could go on and on and on … and on (you get the point) about why the Buildertrend internship experience is not-so-typical in the best possible way, we narrowed it down to just three reasons. This one is for you incoming interns, potential future ones and those businesses looking to up their internship game.
1) A real-world experience with real work
Usually we don’t like to brag, but when it comes to our product, we’ll make an exception. The Buildertrend platform is kicka$$. But to be the No. 1 construction project management software, you need the brightest brains in the biz backing you up.
Enter our interns.
For the fourth consecutive year, we’re welcoming approximately 20 software development interns to give us their better-than-best work. It’s their fresh perspective and innovative ideas that’ll help everyone level up.
Even if we were back at Buildertrend headquarters right now, we wouldn’t ask our interns to fetch coffee or change ink in printers. Their time is just as valuable as the most senior leaders in our office. Rather, they’ll help make our powerful platform even more powerful and learn from developers with major coding cred (including the man who built Buildertrend himself … Jeff Dugger, co-CEO and co-founder).
“The Buildertrend Software Development Internship program is one of the best internship experiences I had throughout my college career,” said Grant Fishburn, Buildertrend applications developer I and former intern. “The program was structured in a way that promoted both learning and real-world experience in a setting that made you feel like your work actually matters.”
2) A culture where every voice is heard
Unpaid internships? Not cool. Being a part of one of the best workplaces in the entire nation? Totally cool!
The Buildertrend motto, a better way, starts with our culture. Our founders created a workplace intended for all employees to live life a better way. An atmosphere where passion and positivity are celebrated just as much as talent – and every voice matters, including interns.
It’s our people, not the perks, that create our culture. That’s why we listen to feedback and enact meaningful changes that impact both our team and customers. Here, it’s often those who speak up that get – and stay – ahead.
“Throughout the summer, don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help when you need it, even if it’s from someone that’s not necessarily working directly with you. It’s something Buildertrend encourages,” Fishburn said.
3) The [internship program] opportunity to do some (or a lot) of good
Our customers are busy building better communities, but so are we. Instead of nails and hammers, we’re using our time and treasure to create a better tomorrow, today.
It’s all part of BT Cares, our companywide initiative for giving back. We know many students want to get involved, especially now as the coronavirus impacts lives across the globe. That’s why Buildertrend provides all employees, including interns, Volunteer Time Off. Our founders believe life is more important outside the office (or work from home) walls. This includes both an employee’s personal life and philanthropic life.
The Buildertrend team has still found ways to give back together, even as they’re apart working from home. Just recently, employees participated in Omaha Gives! and a companywide blood drive for the Nebraska Community Blood Bank.
“The opportunity gives students the tools to be successful when they graduate, exposes them to Buildertrend as many have previously had the option to stay on full time but also gives them service opportunities through Volunteer Time Off and sponsorships with charitable organizations,” said Jake Johnson, vice president of engineering operations and founder of the Buildertrend Software Development Internship program.
Not all internships are created equal …
… and we like to think that our program sets a new standard of excellence. This summer, we’re excited to welcome another class of software developing wunderkinds to the Buildertrend family.
We’re proud this group of idea makers, rule breakers and risk takers chose us as the start of their professional journey, and we hope to continue being that jumping-off point for other students in the summers ahead.
We can’t wait to (virtually) meet you all!
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