For many, internships give them a chance to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. But at JEO, internships often launch  long-term careers. With 22% of our full-time employees having started as interns, we’re passionate about guiding the next generation of engineers, architects, planners, and professionals from their first project to a thriving career.

Each summer, JEO welcomes a new class of interns who are eager to contribute and grow. And for many, that journey doesn’t end when summer does. In 2024 alone, In 2024, 60% of our May 2024 graduate interns chose to continue their careers with JEO. Today, 84 former interns are still working with us, shaping the communities we serve.

Let’s hear from some of our most recent interns

What makes our company different? It’s the real-world experience, the mentorship, and the opportunity to work on impactful projects from day one.

Just ask Trevor Vanicek, traffic engineer, who started as an intern in August 2022 before going full-time in January 2024. Like all our interns, he participated in a summer intern team project, which is a unique opportunity for interns to collaborate on a real project for one of JEO’s clients. Reflecting on the experience, he shared:

“Being part of the summer intern project influenced my decision to stay with JEO. Applying the concepts I had learned to real projects felt incredibly rewarding. And the opportunity to meet with clients and help present our work at city council meetings was not something I expected from a summer internship.”

For some interns, they like the hands-on learning the best. For others, it’s the supportive team and culture. Josie Blake, Training and Development coordinator, who transitioned from an intern to full-time in March 2024, credited her experience to the resources her team provided:

“During my internship, my team openly provided any software products I needed, allowing me to grow my technical skillset quickly. With my role being more niche, I also strengthened my ability to learn independently. This preparation has helped me now to adapt and tailor trainings to the unique needs of each department.”

For Maddie Brennfoerder, Transportation engineer, interning at JEO meant working on projects that hit close to home. She started as an intern in Spring 2022 and became full-time in June 2024. One project in particular solidified her decision to stay:

“As an intern, I got the opportunity to help work on a roadway project in Arlington, Nebraska where I grew up. The project included the roads around my high school and my grandma’s house. This experience made me realize I wanted to continue working on projects that impact the towns and cities close to home, and I knew I could do that with JEO.”

Reflections eight years later

Isaac Kreikemeier, an engineer on our Integrated Design Services team, started as an intern in May 2017. Even before transitioning to full-time in May 2019, he knew he wanted to stay. He shared:

“After two years as an intern and building so many relationships that I still value today, I knew it would be impossible for me to leave JEO.”

Isaac’s advice to current and future interns?

“Challenge yourself to become comfortable with as many design programs or software as possible. Focus on growing your skillset to make yourself more valuable beyond your days as an intern. Most importantly, ask questions. There is no such thing as a dumb question.”