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Should You Move for an Internship? 5 Reasons to Say Yes.

Ross Group
Group photo of construction interns in hard hats and high vis vests with project managers on tour construction job site in Tulsa, OK.

“Cool internship! But…it requires a move. Hmmm...


If you’re feeling hesitant to relocate for an internship, you’re not alone. Many of those seeking internships initially lean towards opportunities closer to the comforts of home.


But what if moving for an internship is the next big step you’ve been looking for? For several Ross Group team members who began their careers as enthusiastically far-flung interns, that’s exactly what it was.


And it can be for you as well.


Let’s explore five reasons why you should consider accepting an internship that requires relocation. For an accurate perspective, we spoke with four Ross Group team members who got their start as Ross Group interns working away from home.


1. Experience New Places Before Putting Down Roots

Smiling construction project manager worker intern in hard hat and hi-vis vest with radio on urban downtown construction site in Oklahoma.
Will Thomas

“Traveling and relocating while you have no responsibilities is one of the most fun things I’ve done.” - Will Thomas, Assistant Project Manager at Ross Group and former intern.


As an internship seeker, you’re likely at a point in your life and career with minimal responsibilities. Maybe you don’t yet have a mortgage, and your family obligations are relatively manageable. While these “trappings” of success could be your ultimate goal, they may also limit your ability to drop everything and explore a completely new area of the country.


Smiling construction project manager in hard hat and hi-vis vest on urban downtown construction site in Oklahoma.
Tyler Buchanan

Right now may be the ideal stage of your life to step out of your comfort zone and explore a different city, meet new people, and experience new cultures–-and not as a tourist, but as a bona fide resident.


Tyler Buchanan, Ross Group’s Corporate Scheduler, shared his sentiments about his time as Ross Group intern over a decade ago.


“I didn’t have a family to worry about back home. I was still a young college kid eager to get out and explore the world. Also, the relocation allowance was a huge motivation. Who doesn’t want more money as a college student?”


selfie of smiling construction project manager worker intern in hard hat and hi-vis vest on construction site
James Hamilton

James Hamilton, a current Project Manager and former relocated intern with Ross Group, expressed how his lack of attachments and desire to grow made accepting his internship an easier decision.


“Being early in my career and adulthood in general, I had less ties to any specific area. Of course, I was leaving family for longer periods of time but I was single at the time. And every belonging I had would fit in my truck, which made relocating simple.”


2. Build Your Independence and Confidence

For many, an internship is simultaneously their first taste of the professional world in their chosen industry as well as their first experience of being on their own—away from home, school, and familiar scenery. Whether your internship is your first foot out of the nest, the dorm, or your hometown, the experience of immersing yourself in your new role can be greatly enhanced by doing so in a new place.


smiling construction project manager worker intern in hard hat and hi-vis vest with concrete in background in Oklahoma
Zane Moneypenny

According to Zane Moneypenny, an Assistant Project Manager at Ross Group and former relocated intern, the decision to take an internship away from home ultimately paid off.


“Though nervous at first, getting away from home helped me grow and gave me confidence to interact with new people as a professional.”


For some, a new locale can invigorate their focus and help them tap into their potential.


“I learned how to do things myself much quicker and became more of a problem solver,” said Will Thomas. “It expanded my confidence.”


3. Supercharge Your Professional Network

It’s one thing to “connect” over LinkedIn with a name and a profile picture in your industry. It’s something wildly different to place hands on a project with that same person, in person.


Internships in new places foster the ability to learn on the job from highly experienced industry professionals. Furthermore, the experience provides the opportunity to leave a lasting impression with those professionals. According to Tyler Buchanan, relocating helped him establish relationships with owners and subcontractors.


"I got more face-to-face experience with owners, owner’s representatives, and subcontractors. While I may have interacted with all of them over the phone from the office, getting to meet them in person and really have a more personal professional relationship helped grow my network substantially."


Will Thomas shared a similar sentiment.


"[Relocating] taught me how important relationships are. Establishing trust with the client and subcontractors is very important if you are not from there. Gaining trust and building relationships means you can get things done that you normally are not able to."


4. A Low-Risk Way to Discover What You Like (and Don’t Like)

When it comes to taking your first steps into a new industry, the temporary nature of an internship in a new place is about as low risk as it gets—not to mention exploring the world in an exciting new way. For an internship that requires relocation, the company often foots your bill to move to and live in a new place. The primary expectation is approaching every new day ready to learn and contribute to a range of project sizes and types. All you may have to lose is time—and even that isn’t quite true, as Zane Moneypenny explained an often-forgotten perk of internships:


“You may discover that you don’t actually like doing something you thought you would. You don’t know what you don’t know.”


Some interns expressed how being away from home helped them immerse themselves in understanding the day-to-day requirements of various roles. This unique perspective helped them determine which path to pursue in their career.


“At the time, I was not certain whether I would want to go on to become a Superintendent or a PM (Project Manager),” explained James Hamilton, “but I wanted to learn as much as I could about different projects and construction types and the best way to do that is to see it done in the field.”


5. New Experiences = New Skills and Abilities

For those in the engineering, industrial, and construction industries, there’s no such thing as a “normal day on the job.” Details of any project or job site can change at the drop of a hard hat. Being able to adapt to unforeseen circumstances is essential. For this reason, working in a new environment while learning new skills can be the one-two punch to help strengthen your ability to think quickly on your feet and solve important problems.


two construction interns learn from construction project manager on job site, inspecting metal framing in Tulsa, OK

For some interns, this means learning how to anticipate logistical issues to avoid project bottlenecks. "Some places are so small they don’t even have a hardware store,” said Tyler Buchanan, recalling his internships in remote locations. “You have to plan ahead to get materials to the site. That learning curve was invaluable."


Other Ross Group interns expressed the benefit they received from working alongside construction professionals with diverse work styles and approaches unique to their location. “A lot of people do construction differently,” said Will Thomas. “Being exposed to a different region and environment presented obstacles I wouldn’t have encountered in Tulsa.”


Some reported taking advantage of their intern status to pick the brains of their company sponsor and affiliates alike, as James Hamilton told us:


“I took the opportunity of being new to the industry back then to ask questions and learn from the subcontractors as well—most of whom were happy to teach.”


Concluding Advice: “Do It”

Still on the fence about whether to accept an internship that may take you away from home? If so, most Ross Group interns shared the same two-word input: do it.


“For internships in particular, I would stress that it is the best opportunity to learn about the construction process in a real-life scenario and with little to no risk.  There is no cost out of pocket for our interns when we send them out to work from a project site location and the worst-case scenario is only for a few months, if they decide it is not what they want full-time.” - James Hamilton


“I would tell those considering such an internship to just do it. It is a great opportunity to learn not only about the industry and develop skills, but about what you want to do going forward.” - Zane Moneypenny


“I fully understand not everyone is as eager to move to a new place as me, but I would encourage young interns to give it a try. You never know—you may enjoy the experience and the lessons you learn from working in new places will be valuable knowledge for future projects.” - Tyler Buchanan


“Do it. The experience is not something you’ll ever get to do again.” - Will Thomas


Ready to Get to Work? Let’s Get Started

Whether you’re looking to explore engaging internship opportunities or find your next professional home, Ross Group can help. Since 1979, Ross Group has helped countless individuals elevate their careers.


Learn more about internship and career opportunities with Ross Group at withrossgroup.com/careers.

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