News & Insights

This summer, building science intern and University of Waterloo student Hailey McCallum immersed herself in the Salas O’Brien culture while working out of our Toronto office. With the support of her team, she’s gained hands-on experience, grown her skills, and found meaningful ways to connect both inside and outside of work.

What’s Salas O’Brien’s company culture like?

The company culture at Salas O’Brien is incredibly welcoming and supportive. No matter your role or experience, everyone is super approachable and willing to help one another. It’s a type of workplace where everyone genuinely wants each other to succeed, and even as an intern, I felt fully included and part of the team.

How has Salas O’Brien supported your professional development?

Both the company and people have supported me in so many ways.

From the very start of my internship, I was given the chance to be involved in multiple restoration projects, including parking garages, balconies, and concrete waterproofing systems. This helped me connect the concepts I was learning with how they are applied in the real world. I also had access to Salas O’Brien’s awesome internship program resources which made it much easier to adapt to the workplace.

The team around me has always been open to answering questions, providing constructive feedback, and making sure my experience was the best it could be by guiding me every step of the way.

What advice would you give future Salas O’Brien interns?

Treat every task as a learning opportunity, not just something to check off a list. Be proactive about asking questions, especially early on, because no one expects you to know everything right out of the gate. In my experience, team members are always eager to share their knowledge and help you succeed, so take advantage of your time.

I would also encourage them to take every chance to join site visits. It is much easier to understand technical engineering concepts when you see them in action rather than just reading about them. It’s also a rewarding experience to watch the projects you’re working on take shape.