In this employee spotlight series, we hear from former interns who have completed their 12-week summer internship program and have since accepted a full-time position at Ruppert Landscape.
Shoa Durant started his Ruppert career as a summer intern in 2021 and is now a Field Manager in our Richmond East (VA) landscape management branch.
How It Started:
How did you first hear about the internship opportunity? What motivated you to apply for/accept the internship?
I first heard about Ruppert from my Virginia Tech professor Tom Martin, and a friend also told me he had a good experience interning at the Richmond East branch.
Can you share your experience during the internship? What were some highlights or memorable moments?
Mostly the people are what made this company stand out from the rest of the landscape companies and the willingness to teach you new equipment.
What skills or knowledge did you gain during your internship that have been valuable in your current role? When/how were you offered a full-time position at Ruppert?
I gained more experience, leadership skills, problem-solving, and communication skills. I got offered a job at Ruppert soon after completing my internship.
How It’s Going:
Can you share some differences between your role as an intern and your role now as a full-time employee?
Now I’m running a crew and teaching more than learning.
How has your perception of the company or industry changed since becoming a full-time employee?
I now understand that you can have a comfortable lifestyle working in this industry and there are a lot of opportunities to grow.
What advice would you give to current or future interns who aspire to become full-time employees in the same company or industry?
Having character is better than having skills because you can teach skills but you can’t teach character.
How do you see your career trajectory evolving within the company or industry in the future?
I’d like to one day become a landscape designer or area manager.