how to apply for a internship or to work for free? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Mezei · 09-04-2009, 10:32 PM

hello,

i posted up here about a year and half ago about excavating. i was soon given great guidence that i should get a degree first. i thought civil enginering but im affraid my math isnt quite good enough. so i decided on going to school for construction management. im currently going to the local cc and taking classes two days a week and have a part time job on the weekend. witch means i have alot of free time that i should be putting to good use. with the economy how it is finding a job isnt very easy as im sure you all know already.
tonight it just hit me. i should work for free somewhere for free. it seems like a great idea in my head. build some experiance and be able to apply some of what ive learned into to the work place before going away for college. my question is this though. how should i go about this to be sucsesfull? i dont want to just fill a application out and say i want to work for free. i want to make a impression!

thanks in advance for the help. i know it will be good.
Paul

72chevy4x4 · 09-05-2009, 09:44 AM

just a couple of thoughts off the top of my head: don't take out loans, don't spend your money wastefully and live frugaly....or have someone that will support you during this time. You see, if you start out as an intern and begin to NEED money you may find yourself having to work the job to get by instead of investing in your degree and skills.

HSConstruction · 09-05-2009, 11:11 AM

What about habitat for humanity the usually run on Sat and at least 1 day during the week. Check your local chapter and find out what the schedule is. I am sure you will see how they manage multiple people of questionable skills to complete a project.

WantToBuild · 09-05-2009, 07:46 PM

I'm new here. I am actually on the same boat. I attend New England institute of technology and I'm going for an associates in building construction. I went to a technical high school and graduated in construction technology. I took out loans but I had to, my dads laid off and can't help me. I go to school full time and work 24 hours a week. I live in Massachusetts, I don't have any extra time except Sundays and I have home work to do never mind helping my dad. I'm not the average student in my shop because I know all the tools already so I was a step ahead. I need an internship in about 6 months but I have no idea where to start to look for one. But my biggest thing is what to even say to a potential company. Any ideas?

**framerman** · 09-05-2009, 07:51 PM

I'd say for both of you, look for someone who is a small GC. They can give you more guidance than a larger company where you may get lost in the amount of people. Smaller rural builders like hearing "I will work for free" especially if you're a go getter.

No need for an application either. A handshake and a "Thank You sir" goes a long way.

WantToBuild · 09-05-2009, 07:56 PM

ya but how far does "I'll work for free" go? Like, when we graduate and stuff. If we have loans to pay off.

**framerman** · 09-05-2009, 07:58 PM

Do you need someone to tell you when to no longer work for free?

WantToBuild · 09-05-2009, 08:03 PM

lol no, But asking for money is hard.

Warren · 09-05-2009, 08:06 PM

How about just asking to work for minimum wage for a set amount of time? Say maybe 3 days per week for 6 months.

WantToBuild · 09-05-2009, 08:08 PM

I like both the ideas. Theres a guy down my street. I looked him up and it said privately owned, I don't understand what it means but its him and 1 more guy. I think they wouldn't mind having an extra set of free hands. Plus I would be learning a lot.

Warren · 09-05-2009, 08:13 PM

I'm not sure a contractor would be allowed to have someone work for free. What would happen if an injury occurred? Or if you caused damge to a property. I think the minimum wage idea would work. I would be open to someone doing that for me.