Employee-Owners Offer Advice for Interns on National Intern Day

Welcome to Owner Impacts, a series dedicated to showcasing innovations, solutions, and leadership driven by our employee-owners—and powered by our people-first culture.

In celebration of National Intern Day, we asked some of our current employee-owners, who started their Shawmut journey as interns, to provide advice for current interns. From how to make the most out of their internship to the skills needed for long-term success, here’s what they said.

Shawmut Intern Experience:

• 2015-2017: Estimating Intern, New York

What advice would you give interns to help them stand out and learn as much as possible?

“Take the task at hand and run with it! No matter how small the responsibility may seem in the grand scheme of the project, taking ownership will create trust with your project team.”

Shawmut Intern Experience:

• 2015: Estimating Intern, Boston

What advice would you give interns to help them stand out and learn as much as possible?

“Take on as much work as you can, ask for more to do, and sit in on meetings. This will help you learn throughout your internships. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you are unsure on specific work tasks—there are no dumb questions.”

Shawmut Intern Experience:

• 2019: Project Management Intern, Chicago

What attributes, traits, or skills do you attribute to long-term success at Shawmut?  

“Communication skills are key. Overcommunicate with your client and team. Listen to folks around you—learn how to communicate effectively and handle uncomfortable situations.”

Shawmut Intern Experience:

• 2022: Safety Intern, Boston

What advice do you have for current interns to make the most out of their internship at Shawmut?

“Utilize your time to absorb as much as you can from those around you. Learn from your team and others about what they do to better increase your knowledge of the different roles and trades.”

Shawmut Intern Experience:

• 2018: IT Intern, Los Angeles

What advice would you give interns to help them stand out and learn as much as possible?

“Be curious and ask a lot of questions. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone—you will make mistakes, but you will learn a lot from them, too.”

Shawmut Intern Experience:

• 2014: Project Management and Estimating Intern, Boston

What attributes, traits, or skills do you attribute to long-term success at Shawmut?

“Being dependable will earn trust with your internal and external teams. Do this by meeting deadlines, following through on your own statements, and taking on tasks that may be outside of your norm with a positive attitude even if you are nervous—you will be okay.”