Working as a summer intern at EDiS Company was an exciting opportunity for me because it gave me a better look at life in a corporate setting. While I thought I’d be buried under projects and paperwork, it turns out that my internship presented new and interesting challenges every day. The most outstanding aspect of my internship was how many small projects I was given to complete. When I wasn’t learning everything I could from the estimating department, I had the opportunity of assisting EDiS in setting up the company’s newly implemented bike share program. Running errands and completing small assignments helped give me a rounded view of a career in construction management because it made me realize that every position here is multi-faceted.
Through my experiences at EDiS Company, I learned that construction estimators are an essential part of the planning process and work with other industry professionals to ensure that projects are completed on time and on budget. As the job title implies, a cost estimator is responsible for determining to the best of his or her ability how much a construction project money will cost, from breaking ground to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Construction projects usually begin with a site and a blueprint. A construction estimator first must survey the available site and determine if the land will fit the project in both size and cost. Estimators need to also consider the soil stability and drainage capabilities of the land. I learned that a successful estimator must have a working knowledge of construction technology, building design, architecture, and surveying to accomplish these goals. Taking these lessons I’ve learned back to the University of Delaware for my sophomore year, I am now one step closer to my career and one step closer to identifying how I will make a difference as an estimator.
