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.
Julius Berti started his Ruppert career with an internship in the summer of 2024 and is now an Estimator in our Charlotte 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 found out about the internship while doing some research into the companies coming to the Job Fair at my alma mater, Appalachian State. I was motivated to accept the internship because I have always been interested in construction and the green industry. The internship was a good opportunity to explore both fields.
Can you share your experience during the internship? What were some highlights or memorable moments?
The internship is full of constant change. The way the internship bounces from position to position allows you to get a pretty solid understanding of how the company operates holistically. My highlight was going to Maryland for Intern Day and getting a chance to chop it up with the other interns. It was nice to discuss how the branches are similar/different.
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?
The internship was formative in my understanding of how to operate in a corporate structure. I was given the opportunity to tackle a bid on my own during the internship. It was far from perfect at the first review, but it gave me a foot up moving into the full-time estimating position because I knew how to use the estimating software.
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 full-time position with a few weeks left in my internship. It was the most secure option to move forward with Ruppert because I was already comfortable with the people in the office.
How It’s Going:
Can you share some differences between your role as an intern and your role now as a full-time employee?
Obviously, a greater burden of responsibility has been placed upon my shoulders. Now I also have more consistency in my days. Otherwise, they are rather similar.
What advice would you give to current or future interns who aspire to become full-time employees in the same company or industry?
Get your foot in the door, don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be afraid to make mistakes!
How do you see your career trajectory evolving within the company or industry in the future?
I see myself becoming a more competent estimator in the future, hopefully working towards a senior role at some point.
Is there a Ruppert manager or coworker that you would consider as a mentor, and if so, why?
Jake Ratteerree has been my mentor over the last year. He is our Senior estimator and has helped me on every project I have worked on up to this point. Jake is a wealth of knowledge and always willing to explain things in a way that is easy to digest. Even through the birth of his first child, he found time to offer assistance when necessary.