I really liked how many opportunities they give you. I mean literally within the first few months; I had already learned enough to be able to do a small-scale project on my own. Ferguson makes opportunities available to you that I feel other companies can't. Someone was always there to answer any questions I had, and they always made sure that what I wanted to do, I was able to do. I can't thank them enough for that.
What I wish was different
My second term I was sent to a project to help assist and learn from the project supervisor. However, the first day I got there it was like the supervisor wasn't expecting me. It took me three days to actually have a face-to-face conversation with him. On the other hand, this allowed me to talk and learn from other ironworkers and concrete workers and make experiences for myself.
Advice
One piece of advice I have is do the office internship first, then the field one second. At least for me this was one of the smartest decisions I could have made. In the office job I had a few holes in my knowledge from just not having the experience. My second co-op allowed for me to fill those holes and really see what I couldn't picture in my head before. Again, Ferguson was there to give me the opportunity to do that. Another piece of advice is if you have a desire to learn or do something, ASK. That's what I did every time, and I learned so much in the 8 months I was with this company.
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Engineering CO-OP
January - May 2022 • Dayton, OH
What I liked
Through this experience, I enjoyed how the company allowed for me to perform my own task. If i had a question, they would not hesitate to answer. This included any employee that was in the office or the field. The environment allowed for me to feel comfortable with my collogues as well as clients. In addition, I enjoyed that Ferguson gave me the opportunity to expand my skills by allowing me to become more hands on in the field in some cases.
What I wish was different
Overall, I enjoyed my experience. However, I do wish I had the ability to go home more often. Ferguson is accommodating when requesting time off, but in cases for holidays such as Easter, I would have enjoyed being with my family a bit longer. Ferguson Construction Company appreciates their employees and do their best to fulfill the employee's need. In my experience, I did not feel that there would be any difference that I would want.
Advice
One piece of advice I would share would be to ask questions. Though my internship I would ask questions daily. At first, I felt that I was being irritating asking so many. However, the company insist that you ask questions. The best way to learn in my case was asking questions. Asking questions allowed for me to understand an assignment I was given, and to make sure I was completing it correctly.
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Construction Estimator Intern
January 2022 • Dayton, OH
What I liked
One thing that I liked about my co-op experience was how much I learned about construction. I went into my co-op position with very little construction knowledge. Everyone in the office was friendly and answered all the questions I had about construction. Another thing that I liked about my co-op experience was the culture in the office. Everyone was there for each other when they needed help.
What I wish was different
One thing that I wish had been different was to go on more site visits. Site visits are an excellent way to learn about the construction process. Going into my co-op experience with little construction knowledge, I felt I learned a lot by going on site visits. Site visits helped me see how a building comes together. This helped my estimating skills by seeing what all was needed to have a complete estimate.
Advice
One piece of advice I would share about this experience is to not be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are an opportunity to learn. Someone is there to review your work for accuracy. They will bring the mistake to your attention and explain how it should be. They will answer questions you have and make sure you understand.
