Can you think of a better way to spend your summer than by gaining valuable industry knowledge, learning transferable skills and meeting experts in your prospective field? Interns at Clark Patterson Lee certainly can't! This past summer, Clark Patterson Lee (CPL) offered an abundance of internship opportunities for students interested in gaining relevant work experience in their chosen field. These exciting opportunities were offered to students who were interested in learning more about architecture, interior design, code enforcement, marketing and human resources, as well as mechanical, structural and civil engineering.

Nowadays, it's not uncommon for employers to view internship experience as an important factor when hiring new college graduates for full-time positions. In fact, CPL has always been eager to hire interns who not only demonstrate impressive skills, but who also exhibit an unyielding passion for their practice. Civil Engineer, Dan Insinna, is an excellent example of this as he was given the opportunity of a full-time position after interning for over a year at our Rochester office.

Internships are more than just about getting a grade, earning a credit or making money. They're about gaining experience in a prospective career path, networking with professionals in your field, and giving yourself an edge in the job market. Here's what a few of our fellow interns had to say about their summer internship experience with Clark Patterson Lee:

Adam Bentham, Architectural Intern (Jamestown office)
"I've learned that Clark Patterson Lee is a company that has many resources and puts them to good use. I think it's cool to be able to call another office and comfortably talk to a co-worker as if you've met them before and successfully work on the same project together. In seven words, the lesson learned from my internship is "The small details are what really matters." I say this with respect to being an architecture intern because when a drawing for construction or a marketing rendering is being sent out, the building could be really funky, but the scale and color or paper size that it's printed on are a few things that end up mattering the most."

Describe My Internship in 7 Words: "The small details are what really matters"

Haley Keene, HR & Marketing Intern (Rochester office)
"From the beginning, everyone I met at Clark Patterson Lee made me feel at home. My co-workers made my adjustment to the working world a smooth one. I came to CPL not quite certain of what to expect, however, I was surprised nonetheless. I was surprised by how warm and cheerful the CPL environment is. I was amazed by how much I was learning every day. I learned so much about life inside and outside of the workplace as my co-workers showed me how to be a well-rounded employee as well as a well-rounded individual.

The most important thing that I've learned from Clark Patterson Lee is that it is possible to create work that exceeds expectations and to enjoy oneself while doing so. That is what they do here every single day. Needless to say, I loved everything about this summer! I am so incredibly thankful to have had this opportunity with such an outstanding company."

Describe My Internship in 7 Words: "Don't judge a proposal by its cover"

Dan Young, Architectural Intern (Buffalo office)
"Regarding my overall experience at CPL, I would have to say it has been very eye opening in regards to the time and effort that goes into each and every project. While the work hours are considered to be the standard 9-5, it is not uncommon to see everyone working all hours of the day to bring a project to the next level. That type of drive is quite an impressive trait to have in one person, let alone a cast of as many who are seen here at CPL."

Describe My Internship in 7 Words: "They don't teach project juggling in college"

Ronnie Kurtz, Code Team (Dunwoody Municipal office)
"Approaching college graduation, I felt as though I was at an impasse, as I wanted to get experience in both government and in the business world. Luckily for me, Clark Patterson Lee operates at the intersection of these two sectors. Over the past six months, I have been amazed by the depth, breadth, and variety of services that CPL provides municipalities around the state of Georgia and the United States, from building commissions to holistic service provision. As I move forward to my full-time position as a Planner with the City of Dunwoody, I anticipate gleaning an even more nuanced understanding of the integral role private entities like CPL play in shaping and executing the vision of local governments."

Describe My Internship in 7 Words: "Public-Private Partnerships Make the World Go 'Round"

Adrienne Drumm, Architectural Intern (Olean office)
"Projects involve A LOT of coordination and revision from start to finish. Architects must constantly be communicating with the other disciplines to ensure that all drawings are linked properly and are displaying the necessary information. We are constantly making PDFs of our work to send back and forth to employees who are located in other offices. Working in the Olean office has taught me to be very aware of how someone will read and understand a drawing or document, without having me close by to explain my intentions. I believe this has made me more attentive to detail and clarity."

Describe My Internship in 7 Words: "Print a PDF of that for me"

Wade Franklin, Architectural Intern (Olean office)
"Overall I had a great time interning with CPL. My co-workers were friendly, hardworking people that are enthusiastic about what they do! The most difficult part of working was learning the 'CPL way to do things' rather than the actual work put forth. Once that became second nature, work went smoothly. I discovered that I definitely want to do more field work in the future. I would intern again in a heartbeat!"

Describe My Internship in 7 Words: "Can you send me that file path?"