Great Lakes believes that Co-op programs serve as a great foundation for the student’s career path. A co-op experience allows the student explore different opportunities while providing the employer a preview of a candidate’s skills. Currently, 30 former co-ops have accepted permanent positions in our company including our President and Vice President of Operations.
Great Lakes Construction offers paid internships and co-op opportunities to students currently enrolled in a two or four year college program that focuses on Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Construction Technology, or related fields. Work location, level of responsibility and opportunity for future employment vary according to business needs.
The Co-operative Educational Program’s intent is to provide all Co-ops with the opportunity to work in various departmental areas in order to gain broad experience. We are looking for bright, articulate, ambitious, creative, hardworking, and ethical people who want to make a significant impact in a highly successful, very dynamic, and rapidly changing business.
As a successful student, you can build upon your existing skills and explore valuable positions within our company.
The position will entail use of general mathematics and science courses in addition to courses specific to the student’s discipline. The individual will be placed on an active construction project assisting the Project Engineer in his/her daily duties. A Project Engineer at Great Lakes Construction is responsible for measurement and reporting of all daily quantities of work performed, scheduling and coordination of all material deliveries, creation of daily production plans and reports, and maintaining project paperwork.
The ultimate goal of the student and Great Lakes Construction should be for the student to learn about the construction industry and how the course work relates to the work being performed, gain exposure and experience to the construction industry in anticipation of future full-time employment, and most of all, have fun.
Great Lakes recruits at several campuses each year to fill Summer Engineering Intern and Entry Level Field Engineer positions. Great Lakes participates in Career Fairs and conducts on-campus interviews. Please contact us at hr@GreatLakesWay.com for more information.
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LISA FAIRWEATHER, SHRM-SCP
Human Resources Manager
RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Summer Co-Op:
Send resumes by January 15th
Interview Phase begins January 20thFall Co-Op:
Send resumes by June 15th
Interview Phase begins June 20th
Recent Great Lakes Co-Ops
Were your co-ops with Great Lakes important in your success as a full-time employee? How?
My co-ops definitely were an important part in my success as a full-time employee. As I went through my co-ops, I was able to learn the majority of the fundamental steps that makes Great Lakes Construction the company it is today. With those fundamental steps (and some larger steps), I was able to apply them as I began my Project Engineer (PE) career. Another item that made my co-ops important in my success today was the connections I made. As I came into my first day as a PE, I already had multiple interactions and collaborations with my co-workers, which allowed me to grow in this position. Without those beginning steps and the people who helped along the way, I would not be the PE I am today.
What is your favorite thing about Great Lakes?
My favorite thing about GLC is the people. This goes for all levels, laterally and vertically. From the first day of orientation with all the officers, to boots in the mud in the field, everyone showed how much they cared about each other and the co-op program. Everyone was always happy to take time out of their day to teach something and I appreciated that the most.
What advice would you give to a first-time co-op at Great Lakes?
My advice to an oncoming co-op would be to not be afraid to ask any questions, no matter how stupid you think it may be. Not a soul knows how everything operates, is put together, terminology, etc. when they first become a co-op and the only way to learn is by asking someone who does know and can teach/inform.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
Working as part of a team on a project and doing more than just working on my tasks each day. Also getting to see the impact of the work you do.
Why are you passionate about civil construction?
I like to interact with and help people. I got into civil engineering because the projects are on a larger scale that help mass amounts of people. With Great Lakes, I get to do just that.