ECS would like to introduce you to our 2022 Summer Interns! Up first we have Michael Carty who is interning this summer with our Dallas office. We got a chance to ask Michael a few questions for everyone to get to know him a little better.
Where do you go to school and what degree are you pursuing?
I attend the University of Texas at Arlington and I am pursuing a bachelor of science in Civil Engineering.
Where are you from?
I was born in New York. I moved to Dallas at a young age and have been here ever since.
How did you learn about the opportunity to intern at ECS?
I learned about the opportunity through the University of Texas at Dallas Geology Club and as well as a few job websites such as Indeed.
What made you interested in civil engineering?
Originally, I wanted to pursue a degree in geology and acquire a license in geotechnical engineering, but after more research and work experience, I decided that civil engineering would best suit my professional goals.
What interested you in ECS and why did you choose ECS?
ECS interested me the most because of the breadth of work that the company does and this kind of exposure is something I know is extremely important early in my career.
What is the coolest thing you have done so far?
Living in Dallas for most of my life, I never thought that I would be working on sites that were focal points of my community. It really adds weight to the work that I am doing because I understand just how important these structures are to the people who will use them.
What do you hope to do in the future and how is ECS helping to make that happen?
Currently, my goals are still within the broad scope of civil engineering and the experience I am gaining at ECS is showing me all parts of the field and how they intersect. From this knowledge, no matter what path I choose in civil engineering, I will be more conscious of the work I do and more aware of the processes behind each phase of a project.
Has your experience with ECS had an impact on your career goals? If so, how?
Talking with professionals at ECS is what really steered me towards civil engineering. I initially came to that decision on my own but hearing outside advice and experience is what gave me the confidence to go through with such a pivotal move.
What has surprised you about working at ECS?
The amount of trust and responsibility that you are given as an intern allows you to complete very meaningful work. This also means interacting with a wide range of personnel outside of the company when on-site, which helps you develop useful communication skills in case anything arises that you need to report to your supervisors.
If you could go back to the beginning of your internship, what piece of advice would you give yourself.
Don’t let yourself be intimidated. Ask career-based questions to whoever you are working with. You will constantly be around a lot of distinguished professionals whether they are technicians or engineers and they have a wealth of career advice and experience that is useful to anyone. The best part is that they are always willing to give advice as well.