Intern Q&A

If you are interested in an internship with us, please visit our Early Careers page to apply and discover what’s in store for you when joining our team.

Q&A

Intern insights

Kat Kleiser – ECC and sustainability

Why did you choose to intern with us?

I chose to intern at Salas O’Brien because I saw it as a great new opportunity. I’m currently majoring in environmental science with a double minor in economics and entrepreneurship. Salas O’Brien brought me on as their ECC and sustainability intern in the Federal Government sector, which has already given me so much exposure to what ESG looks like within the federal space.

What’s your favorite part about being an intern?

One of my favorite parts of the Salas O’Brien team is the people. When I first started at the Baltimore office, everyone gave me a really warm welcome and was very inclusive immediately. People will not hesitate to include me on projects or calls and will happily explain an aspect I might not understand at first. Everyone has been super helpful and inclusive and there is always a positive vibe. Listen to the audiogram.

Lucas Torikian – Building science

What’s your favorite part about being an intern?

My favorite part of working at Salas O’Brien has to be the diversity of my work setting. By that, I mean one day I’ll be in the office, and the next day I can be a couple towns over performing a field review or investigation of a construction project. Being able to leave the office and explore the surrounding towns has been really fun, and having the security of an office where I can come and go from makes it feel like a base of operations.

What’s one word to describe your internship?

One word to describe my internship is busy, but in a good way. There’s always something going on, and there’s always something to work on. Whether it be a proposal for a brand new project, a final field review for a completed one, or something in the middle of that process, there’s never a dull moment. Listen to audiogram. Listen to the audiogram.

Naomie Cecyl Seh Abomo – Structural

What’s one word to describe your internship?

If I had to describe my internship in one word, it would be affirming. My team constantly affirmed my abilities, and by the end of my internship, I really felt like I had independence and authority over the work that I was doing. The experience gave me a lot of confidence and reassured me that I had a space in this industry and in the workplace.

What projects have you been working on?

As an intern at Salas O’Brien, I was mostly designing concrete slabs. And I had a really awesome opportunity to go on-site and see a building under construction, which helped me relate the work that we’re doing in the office to how it comes out in the real world. Listen to the audiogram.

Nadine Masayda – Mechanical

What projects have you been working on?

At Salas O’Brien, I have been working closely with a team of MEP engineers to continue existing projects. I have learned more skills than I thought I would, from software to technical knowledge to professional communication.

What’s your favorite part about being an intern?

My favorite experience has been visiting a renovation site and having an opportunity to see the inner workings of mechanical spaces. The most motivating part was seeing how each engineering trade comes together with specialized knowledge to develop a sequence of steps that will effectively execute the system and how high levels of creativity and nuance inspire productive discourse. This is the kind of conversation that I would love to one day lead as a professional engineer.

Sean Stein – Finance

Why did you choose to intern with us?

I chose to work at Salas O’Brien not only because it was a great opportunity for me to learn more about mergers and acquisitions, but because of the people and work environment that set Salas O’Brien apart. Everyone who I’ve worked with is extremely eager to help and is always willing to take time out of their day to meet with me. This has made my internship experience extremely valuable for my future in the industry.

Noel Yi – Structural

Why did you choose to intern with us?

A friend of mine interned at the company before me and recommended that I check them out at the career fair at my university. There I spoke with one of the engineers on the team. They told me that I could work on a variety of exciting projects through their excellent mentorship program. I got three different offers, and by far, Salas O’Brien seemed the most exciting in both projects and work culture. So far, everything has been true, and I’ve learned a lot by stepping out of my comfort zone and getting more experience by working on projects.