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Unlocking Potential: A Deep Dive into Stanley Consultants' Internship Program

August 14, 2024

The Stanley Consultants Internship Program offers aspiring professionals a unique opportunity to launch their careers in the industry. During the summer of 2024, we onboarded 36 ambitious summer interns—a significant number for a company of 900 employees.

This program serves as a strong foundation for building a successful career in engineering, and we provide our interns with invaluable industry exposure and professional development in a supportive environment. Here’s what you need to know about the work we’re doing to create the next generation of engineers through our comprehensive internship program.

Internship Opportunities for Engineering Students

The engineering internship program at Stanley Consultants is geared toward undergraduate students passionate about solving complex engineering challenges. Our comprehensive internship opportunities span various engineering disciplines, including civil, environmental, mechanical, electrical and more. Each intern is assigned to transportation, energy, water or Federal project teams in offices across the U.S.

At the heart of Stanley Consultants' approach is a well-structured program that guides interns through a comprehensive journey from day one to program completion. The 8–12-week paid internship program is meticulously planned and personalized for each intern to ensure everyone receives maximum exposure to real-world challenges while being supported every step of the way.

Selection and Support

Our interview process helps us understand each candidate’s potential. Managers, section managers and team members conduct formal interviews, followed by a casual lunch to get to know the candidate better. Moving forward, our interview teams evaluate not only the student’s skill sets and prior internship experiences but also their motivation and drive toward their chosen career paths. We seek out students who are eager to learn, driven to succeed and enthusiastic about making a positive impact on the world.

Engineering Internship Preparations  

Once students accept our offer letters, we stay in touch through emails and text messages, fostering a sense of community even before their start dates. We send well wishes for their final exams and, with their consent, share contact information to encourage bonding among interns. This additional communication provides them with a seamless transition once their engineering summer internship starts.

Getting Started at Stanley Consultants  

The connection between our interns and their managers is paramount as we strive to create a welcoming and comfortable work environment. Managers guide interns through training on new applications, answer questions, provide insight into company culture, assist with project work and help prepare final presentations highlighting their summer experiences and learnings.

Interns at Stanley Consultants receive support not only from their managers but also from the Talent Acquisition team and the Young Professionals Group. Each intern is paired with two key figures: a mentor, typically a mid-level engineer, and a peer connector, who is a younger engineer. Together, these groups and individuals play crucial roles in ensuring the success of the internship program.

Award-winning Program with Proven Success

Stanley Consultants was thrilled to win both the 2023 and 2024 Campus Forward awards, sponsored by the recruiting firm RippleMatch, for our national internship program. Stanley competed with its peers on a series of judging standards, including standout candidate experience, impactful internship programs and multi-faceted and thoughtful approaches to university recruitment.

With over 95 percent of Stanley’s 2023 interns moving into full-time roles, this impressive conversion rate demonstrates the program's success in providing meaningful and substantial career opportunities.

Engagement and Inclusion

Engagement strategies are a cornerstone of the internship program, keeping interns involved and motivated throughout their journey. Interns perform impactful engineering work, visit project sites and gain exposure to a career as a consulting engineer. They learn first-hand how engineers from different disciplines collaborate on projects to solve client problems, gaining experience designing highways, bridges, water and wastewater treatment plants, utility substations, military airfields and more.

During their first week, interns receive a competency framework that articulates the skills, behaviors and knowledge to develop throughout the program. These include collaboration, critical thinking, ethics, leadership, professional conduct, teamwork and technical expertise.

Stanley’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is evident in every aspect of the program, which aims to create a welcoming environment for all. Engineering is a male-dominated industry, with Zippia reporting that just 13.7 percent of engineers are female. Our 2024 intern class more than doubles that number, with 29 percent female interns.

Annual Intern Celebration

One feature that sets our internship for engineering students apart is the Annual Intern Celebration. This hallmark event, held during the week of National Interns Day, is a time when all interns gather for three days at the company headquarters in Muscatine, Iowa, to be recognized for their hard work and contributions throughout the summer.

The interns meet with the leadership team, including our president and CEO, to learn more about the company’s rich history and become better acquainted with their fellow interns. They also participate in a team-building exercise where they assemble bikes, which are then donated to a local charity.

Successfully Preparing the Next Generation of Engineering Professionals

The Stanley Consultants Internship Program is more than just work experience; it’s about building a community, fostering growth and preparing future leaders. For those who participate, it promises skill development in a deep, supportive community and a stepping stone to a promising career. Contact us today to learn more about the program and when new opportunities will become available:

Lisa Nourse, Talent Acquisition Manager, at 303-649-7828 or NourseLisa@stanleygroup.com

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