I loved how willing everyone was to help me get used to the office life, and making sure that I was on my feet. I truly felt like my team was there to help me and make sure I had everything I needed to flourish. Going out to do counts and parking studies was really nice and allowed me to get out and walk around instead of being in the office all day, I was also given a bit of creative freedom to try and figure out ways to present the data we collected and display it in a way that was digestible for the city council. I also really loved that they were willing to have me do tours of different public works buildings so I could better understand everything the public works department does, I especially loved the tours for the Mississippi Watershed District and the water treatment plant. This internship is more than just an internship, there are a lot of great connections, experiences, and things to learn about the city.
What I wish was different
It was a bit of a rocky start to begin with and I was uneasy with a technical glitch with my city account login (granted it was solved once they got in touch with the software company, so it's not really the city's fault). I luckily did not ever get sick but would appreciate the ability to remotely work in some capacity if I ever did like my coworker, otherwise its really hard to come up with things that could have been different.
Advice
Do not get too nervous about this job like I did, the culture within the city government is warm and welcoming!
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Public Works Equity Team Intern
May - December 2023 • Minneapolis, MN
What I liked
I appreciated the opportunity to be a part of different projects that pushed me to learn new skills. I really enjoyed the team I got to work on during this internship. I was able to connect with so many people at the City from different divisions who were passionate about equity within the City and learn about their stories and careers.
What I wish was different
At the beginning, I wish a got a comprehensive overview of the City and the Public Works Equity Team. The transition into the role was a little overwhelming, but 100% worth it.
Advice
Don't be afraid to ask questions and ask for help/feedback. Everyone at the City is happy to help and see you grow.
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Street Name Analysis Intern
June - August 2023 • Minneapolis, MN
What I liked
I really enjoyed the freedom I had within the role to match my interests. I also liked the opportunities I had later in the summer to collaborate with another intern on a group project. My supervisor and other staff were very supportive of informational interviews and other opportunities to network and learn more about departments in the City/Public Works.
What I wish was different
At the beginning, my role was fairly independent. While this changed as the summer went on, I would always support more opportunities to connect with other interns or different staff members.
Advice
To not be nervous to reach out and network. There are so many types of roles and departments within both the City of Minneapolis and Public Works specifically. I have always found that people are happy to support/talk to interns.
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Intern
May 2023 • Minneapolis, MN
What I liked
They had an established internship program that made the transition into the job very easy. The work that I conducted was the same as the full-time employees so I got very excellent real-world experience.
What I wish was different
Sometimes the work can be monotonous but that may have just been the division of public works I worked in.
Advice
I think that if you get the opportunity to take it, it will be a great experience and you will make a lot of connections in the city that could be useful throughout your career.
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Public Works Intern
June - September 2022 • Minneapolis, MN
What I liked
My manager gave me the freedom to operate independently after training and that allowed me space to make mistakes, learn, and grow into my role.
What I wish was different
I wish there had been more emphasis on everyone learning how to test all materials as some days we were too busy to go back to the lab.
Advice
If you show up everyday and are willing to learn from other people, you’ll gain a lot of hands on experience and the knowledge behind why we do certain tests & procedures.
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Land Survey Intern
May - August 2019 • Minneapolis, MN
What I liked
Working directly under the Survey Crew chiefs who had 10+ years of experience was extremely helpful and interesting. They knew that this internship was a learning experience, and made sure that I learned how to do something new every single day. I even learned techniques that didn't require the robotic survey equipment that tested my critical thinking and required me to always be on my toes.
What I wish was different
Working for the city government is slower-paced. I wish I could've been involved with more projects, rather than the limited amount of projects I was assigned to.
Advice
Make friends with your coworkers and other interns -- it makes the slow, rainy days a lot more enjoyable. Also, get out of your comfort zone and make sure you try every aspect of this internship; you can really learn a lot!
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Survey Intern
May - August 2019 • Minneapolis, MN
What I liked
A variety of projects and responsibilities. Lots of hands on learning time spent in the field. Good opportunities to network within the various Public Works departments.
What I wish was different
I wish I had taken more advantage of the opportunities to talk to Professionals within my field given the depth and extensive experience that the Public Works has to offer.
Advice
Be eager to learn and challenge yourself to understand the scope of the whole project even outside your role. Ask questions and meet people.
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Engineering Lab Intern
May - August 2019 • Minneapolis, MN
What I liked
I liked the field work that I did. I also enjoyed that Monique put together field trip opportunities so it was easy to learn all about the opportunities at Public Works. My coworkers we really nice and that made it fun to come to work. I had a lot of individual responsibilities and the interns in the lab ended up doing the same work as the full time employees. I learned a lot about road construction and the City of Minneapolis. This was a really amazing experience and I would highly recommend working here.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Transportation engineering and design
May - August 2019 • Minneapolis, MN
What I liked
What I wish was different
Advice
take pictures as the project progresses, and don't hesitate to ask questions.
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Recycling Outreach Intern
June - August 2019 • Minneapolis, MN
What I liked
I liked the variety of work and research I was able to see on the field. The communication skills and events with the community made me feel more connected to the city.
What I wish was different
I wouldn't change anything.
Advice
Be open to opportunities and jobs outside of your major. I was able to apply my major to an environmental job and bring a new perspective to the workplace. It is ok to not be on the " traditional" path for your major.
