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.
Jackson Smith his Ruppert career with an internship in the summer of 2023 and is now an Assistant Project Manager in our Georgia landscape installation 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 the Ruppert internship through a former intern. What motivated me to apply for the internship and accept it was my passion for creating and building things.
Can you share your experience during the internship? What were some highlights or memorable moments?
Some highlights of my internship were overseeing a renovation project at the branch office, visiting the corporate office, and working in the field to see how the job process happens.
How did the internship contribute to your personal and professional growth? What skills or knowledge did you gain during your internship that have been valuable in your current role?
My internship helped a lot—personally, in understanding concepts in class the following year, and professionally, on how to handle budgeting for jobs and help manage a jobsite. Ordering materials, negotiating deals on materials and networking with clients and customer are some of the key things that I found very helpful in my current role as an assistant project manager.
When/how were you offered a full-time position at Ruppert, and at what point did you realize that Ruppert was a company where you wanted to establish a platform for your career?
I was offered a position at the Georgia office the week after my internship ended. I knew I wanted to take the offer immediately because of how well they treat and take care of their employees and because of the quality work they produce.
How It’s Going:
Can you share some differences between your role as an intern and your role now as a full-time employee?
One key difference I noticed was there is a lot more work done by a project/assistant project manager than I realized. Another key difference I noticed was the process for building a job is a lot more complex than I originally realized, and if you miss one step that can extend the job even longer.
How has your perception of the company or industry changed since becoming a full-time employee?
My perception of the industry hasn’t really changed a whole lot between being an intern and being a full-time employee. However, my perception of the company has changed in a good way because the company really does everything they can to help their employees and treat them more like family than an employee.
What advice would you give to current or future interns who aspire to become full-time employees in the same company or industry?
My advice to interns wanting to be a full-time employee in the industry is never be afraid to ask questions because there’s no such thing as a stupid question.
How do you see your career trajectory evolving within the company or industry in the future?
I could see my career trajectory within the company progressing to either a senior project manager or operations manager. I enjoy the challenges that different jobs provide and enjoy the process of solving them.
Is there a Ruppert manager or coworker that you would consider as a mentor, and if so, why?
There are actually a few coworkers that I would say are mentors to me. Tony Youngblood, David Esquivel, and Sousan Hakimi all have lots of knowledge to share, whether it’s how to properly build a job in sequence, thinking outside the box and adapting when a problem arises, or managing the finances of a job.