Does your company have an intern program? More importantly, does it have an estimating program for interns? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be an average of 18,000 openings for construction estimators each year to replace workers who leave the workforce.
Where will the next generation of professional estimators come from? Did the estimators working in our profession just walk into the office and decide to become estimators, or did someone say the company needs help in the estimating department, and they reluctantly became the ones to start counting and measuring?
Intern programs help both the student and their employer. They immerse the interns in various aspects of the construction process — from blueprint analysis to on-site management. The structure of the program only works if it provides a benefit to both the student and the company.
Program Overview
A good construction project starts with a good estimate and a schedule structured from the beginning that is realistic and follows a logical sequence. The following intern outline, successfully used, is structured — and follows a sequence that mentors and grows estimating and construction knowledge for the intern.
Preconstruction interns, new estimator hires, and project engineers doing a rotation in the Preconstruction Department all benefit from the following program. It follows a logical day-to-day sequence of learning, with firsthand training, to help with understanding estimating and gaining more construction knowledge that’s not typically taught in college-level construction courses. The detailed training program can be found here.
Program Structure
The program centers around a 10-week period — which typically matches the time students are out of school for the summer. The agenda contains training modules, performance tracking, and feedback from the interns on methods to improve the program.
Interns are assigned specific tasks and responsibilities, working with seasoned, experienced estimators. In addition to helping the estimators obtain work, the interns attend classes every day. Each intern should be comfortable with their early work assignment; as the interns progress through the program, their duties grow.
Each will receive the same general training module adjusted to their needs and abilities. Those responsibilities would include site inspections, doing takeoffs, attending project design meetings and subcontractor negotiations, attending Prebid meetings, learning to use construction software, and any other duty an estimator in the company performs. The interns shadow different estimators in the department, helping them learn by doing.
This program is a complete firsthand experience. The interns are exposed to the latest computer estimating, takeoff programs, BIM, 3D modeling, and drones. As our industry moves to more computer-based systems that tie takeoff to pricing a job to dynamic estimating in the future, if our up-and-coming estimators don’t understand the basics, we as professional estimators have not done our job to grow our industry.
Interns will also use traditional methods such as a #2 pencil and a yellow pad of paper to verify the accuracy of software-generated numbers, tied to a training section called “Rules of Thumb,” emphasizing that if something doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t.
Outline
When the interns arrive on their first day, they receive a daily outline of the items covered in the program over the next ten weeks and find out which estimator is their primary contact for the training modules. Some modules tie to industry standards that all companies use, and other modules tie to projects in the office that the Preconstruction team is working on.
The modules include:
• Discussions of what preconstruction is, how it differs from estimating, and why it’s more than just counting and measuring
• How to read drawings, use estimating tools, and industry software
• The benefits of professional groups to look at during college and after graduation, such as the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE) and SAVE International — how they’re beneficial professionally, and how they help the interns to experience growth
• The importance of networking
• Exploration of various levels of estimates from square foot, unit price, manhours, and rough order of magnitude
• How to back check an estimate; the second set of eyes; rules of thumb; what are and when are MasterFormat or Uniformat breakdowns used. For example, if one modules covered hollow metal doors and frames, the intern would do a count (takeoff) of the hollow metal scope and present their data and estimate to the estimator assigned to that scope for the bid. Then together, they would conduct a debrief to cover work product and accuracy
Each Friday the interns update their journals to reflect on their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned. The journal is for the interns to prepare their presentation on the last week before they leave, titled, “What I Learned and How to Build a Better Program.” Their presentation is to the entire office, and by teams to the job sites, with a farewell lunch for the interns. There is an exit interview covering suggestions on how to improve the program. If the intern is returning to their last year of college, they might get an offer extended for employment.
The Program
The following outline captures the essence of the training program and provides a snapshot of the weekly focus areas of the 10-week program. Each activity, when finished, is marked completed to keep a record of progress. Each activity is assigned an estimator who is responsible for that training module.
Conclusion
What are the benefits of an intern estimating program, and why have one? The program helps bridge the gap by providing practical hands-on experience that complements academic learning. The classroom imparts valuable theoretical knowledge, but nothing beats the practical insights gained on construction sites. Interns gain real-world experience that is often not covered in college courses.
They learn to apply theoretical knowledge to actual projects, which enhances their understanding and skills. Interns work closely with seasoned estimators, receiving mentorship and guidance. This helps them learn best practices, industry standards, and valuable insights that only experienced professionals can provide. Interns are exposed to the latest technologies, including BIM, 3D modeling, and advanced estimating software. This exposure ensures they are well-prepared for the increasingly digital future of the construction industry.
By training interns in both the basic and advanced aspects of estimating, the industry ensures that future professionals are well-equipped to keep and improve industry standards. Intern programs benefit both the student and the employer. Students gain valuable experience and skills, while employers can find and nurture potential future employees, ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified professionals.
Interns who go through structured programs are more likely to grow into competent and confident professionals. This growth benefits the entire industry by raising the overall level of expertise and professionalism.
With an intern estimating program, your company can ensure they are contributing to the development of future construction professionals while also reaping the benefits of fresh talent and innovative ideas. The intern program also benefits your full-time estimators. Through the intern’s curiosity and willingness to learn, they contribute to the ongoing evolution of construction practices and technologies and help your estimators sharpen their skills to market and present their work product to architects and clients.
No intern will leave as a Senior Estimator after ten weeks in the program, but they will understand that Preconstruction is far more than just counting and measuring. They will leave with an understanding of what teamwork is, and deadlines take on a new meaning. Hopefully, your team made such an impact through mentorship that a couple of your interns now want to pursue a career in the field of Preconstruction.
By combining these elements, you can create a comprehensive training program that equips construction interns with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed in the industry. If your company does not have an intern estimating program start one, it will benefit your company and our industry to start one. The construction industry benefits when we teach, train, and provide professionals for the future.
About Austin Industries: Austin Industries is one of the nation’s largest, most diversified construction companies. With more than 7,000 employee-owners, Austin Industries provides premier civil, commercial, and industrial construction services through the expertise of their operating companies: Austin Bridge & Road, Austin Commercial, and Austin Industrial. For more information, click here.
