Danis Building Construction

Engineering Co-op

May - June 2023 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

This was my first term with Danis that I worked out on a jobsite. I was at the Miami Valley Hospital Perioperative Services Renovation project, where we were renovating two operating rooms and 10 PACU bays. I appreciated being able to work on the earlier side of the project, as I got to assist with submittals and procurement. I was able to see the demo and rework of the project, which helped to connect what I had looked at in the drawings to what was happening in the field. Danis also provided many opportunities to connect with other co-ops and Danis personnel to create a more memorable experience and form relationships with other people within the company. This, along with trainings, jobsite tours and service events, helped me to gain more insight from others while also helping me grow in this field.

What I wish was different

I was on a jobsite with a small Danis team, which was great in the aspect that I got to know all of them well and had the opportunity to directly ask them questions. I do however wish that there was another co-op or young PE on site with me as well. I think that this would have helped to have had someone to bounce questions and ideas off of that had a similar knowledge base as me. This would have just provided and additional level of depth into the knowledge and experiences that could be gained while working on a project.

Advice

One piece of advice that I would share is to go to as many Danis events as you can. As I mentioned earlier, Danis does a wonderful job of offering a variety of opportunities for co-ops to meet each other as well as other people within the company. Danis offers opportunities to attend co-op socials, service events, jobsite tours, a co-op challenge and trainings. The socials were enjoyable and I was able to talk to other co-ops about their own experiences at Danis. I went to various jobsite for tours that were led by fellow co-ops and benefited from learning about and walking through the other jobsites to see how they were run and witness their construction. One of the co-ops I met at a social even offered to give me a personal tour of the jobsite she was on! Take advantage of the opportunities that are offered and get on a jobsite as much as you can! This is where I was able to make connections between various aspects of my work.

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Project Engineer Co-op

May - August 2023 • Miamisburg, OH

What I liked

Danis runs an especially unique co-op program in terms of the experience you have inside and outside of work. Students from different schools and locations in the company create comradery by attending social events, building challenges, and volunteer work together throughout the term. Your assignment is selected with the idea of getting you to see and learn the most you can based on your interests. The co-op program generously gives opportunities, responsibilities, and unique experiences to students who are accepting. I was assigned to 3 on-site projects in the Dayton area and balanced project management responsibilities between all. I loved the opportunity to take on a special amount of responsibilities this assignment and stretch my limits.

What I wish was different

As an experienced co-op here taking on a higher role this semester, there was a learning curve that I was not fully prepared for until I was involved. Fortunately by being thrown into my role, I was able to quickly adjust and take on all expectations of me. Building up other's confidence in me may have not been immediate due to simply being on a new project with a new team. Once your team learns to trust you, your responsibilities and experience elevates.

Advice

The opportunities to get involved on-site are widely available. Get familiar with personnel you are working directly with and working adjacent to in the field. By making connections on your site, you are more comfortable asking questions and furthering your learning. This helps your rapport with others and starts to build your brand and style of doing work. Often you will be confronted with a challenge that is new to you and suddenly your responsibility is increased. This is a perfect opportunity to run with it and will greatly benefit you every single time.

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assistant project engineer

May - August 2023 • Tipp City, OH

What I liked

My most rewarding and joyful experience was experiencing the professional atmosphere on a jobsite. About halfway through my term I got transitioned from an offsite office to an onsite trailer. This move really made my internship a lot better and allowed me to see everything firsthand. Danis’ Co-op program is one of the best I have ever seen and gives you top of the line materials and information.

What I wish was different

My most challenging experience was learning the programs and website specific to my company. I understood coming into the internship that I would have to learn the websites of the company but did not understand how challenging they would be to learn. I found that once I understood the programs my life was a lot easier, and the internship was even more valuable. I received very good feedback and help from my supervisors over the term. I wish this could have been a better experience.

Advice

I would suggest to future students that asking questions is the best way to learn for a first-time intern. I would suggest to my company to continue the great co-op program they have made available to University of Dayton students. I would suggest to the UD programs to also continue giving great opportunities to students. This first intern experience was great, and I cannot wait to do it again.

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Project Engineer Co-op

May - August 2022 • Columbus, OH

What I liked

Very Professional

What I wish was different

Communication

Advice

Ask a lot of questions, the industry can be very confusing

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Assistant Project engineer

January - May 2022 • Beavercreek, OH

What I liked

I enjoyed almost everything about my experience. The company took great care of me in making me feel welcome. What I really enjoyed most was learning more about the industry. Every single day I was being taught something. I also really enjoyed being an on site co op, being able to see that my work has an actual effect on the project and how it flows is very rewarding.

What I wish was different

The only thing I wish was different was how first term co ops are handled. When I arrived I was completely new to the industry and i knew nothing. it would have been beneficial to all parties involved in my term if there was some sort of introductory course that could help ease me in. That way, i wouldn't be showing up to a project that is half completed, and have no idea how to pick up where the other co op left off.

Advice

My advice would be to think of this as a real full time job and not just as an internship that you are going to leave in a few months. This way you make sure that you are trying your hardest to put out work that is at the level of a full time employee. Starting your professional development as early as possible is critical to moving up in a company. Showing that you put effort forward sets you apart from the interns around you.

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Engineering Co-op

January - April 2022 • Kettering, OH

What I liked

What I enjoyed about my Co-op experience was the different tasks that were given to me. Every now and then I would be given a new task to complete and it would help me get a broader picture of what Project managers are in charge of. I also had weekly tasks that would stay the same. For instance taking progress photos and labor tracking. I also found the people here to be enjoyable because they would always chat with me and everyone would joke around here and there. I would say the Best part was having the flexibility to learn at your own pace as for they never rushed me on tasks and always gave me ample time to go out into the field to learn there.

What I wish was different

What I wish had been different would have been a more hands on experience where I am out on the field learning to hang drywall and frame walls and such. What I realized was that when I chose to be on site that meant in the trailer and to oversee people who complete such tasks. I also wish that I had more tasks to work on because every now and then my supervisor would run out of things to give me and I would have to either wait for him to find something or review plans. I also wish that I was given more training for the future roles that I was Co-oping for. I would have liked to learn more things about other fields such as estimating or precon as well during my Co-op instead of sticking to learning the Project Engineer role.

Advice

A couple pieces of advice that I would give would give to someone thinking about Co-oping in general would be that you get out what you put in. If you want to learn the most you need to go out into the field and talk to the guys out there and everyone around you to get a better understanding of how the jobsite runs. You want to keep yourself occupied at all times and not be afraid to ask questions about what's going on or about what certain terms mean. I would also recommend talking to the superiors around you and getting on a good basis with them so that they can give you tasks to complete as well as your direct boss. The final piece of advice would be to make the the most out of it.

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Engineering Co-op

August - December 2021 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

I liked the relaxed environment of the location I worked at, and I enjoyed the estimating-related responsibilities I had.

What I wish was different

I wish I had more field exposure because most first term construction co-ops are on a jobsite. I worked mainly in an office and visited a jobsite once a week or once every other week.

Advice

Ask questions! Since this was my first term, they did not expect me to know most things and were more than willing to help me understand my assignments.

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