Will Barton Finds His Way As An Intern

Written By: Rachel Dempsey

​There are so many job opportunities when it comes to working in construction.  First, you have to decide whether or not you want to work in an office or out in the field and, from there, your options seem almost endless.  This may make it difficult to choose which job fits you best.  Will Barton, one of MCL Construction’s summer interns, faces these decisions, but instead of seeing it as a choice, Will sees it as a chance to grow his knowledge and to discover how all parts of construction works.

“I am trying all I can because sometimes I’ll run out of things to do in the field so I want to have the opportunity to bounce around between the field and the office and be able to work wherever work needs to be done.”

Will has always been interested in construction.  He grew up playing with Legos as a child and with them, he learned at a young age how structures can be formed just by placing pieces together.  Will was also influenced by his family, which is what brought him to MCL Construction to begin with. 

He originally started working with MCL as a laborer last summer and afterward decided to apply for an internship.  After reaching out to Tyler Dunklau, MCL’s Director of Project Management, Will was offered and accepted an opportunity to learn how to be a field and project engineer. 

“I was nervous at first, but you can’t really learn anything unless you start doing stuff,” said Will. 

With his internship, Will is able to dive into the profession and discover what will suit him as a career for the future.  Currently, Will is being mentored by MCL Superintendent Mark Kidder working at Methodist Hospital.  As much as Will enjoys working higher up in the field, his main struggle is getting people to value what he has to offer.

​“One of the main challenges I face is the lack of respect I receive being a younger kid.  But, to me, it doesn’t really matter what age you are or what profession you are in.  I am here to get my job done and others are here to get theirs done too.” revealed Will. 

Will understands that you must earn your stripes and respect is earned with performance.  He appreciates all the responsibilities and accountability he’s been given in a short amount of time which demonstrates a level of trust.

“If you do your job the first time, think it through, and get it done, then you won't have to come back and redo it later down the line,” explained Will.

Having an internship so early in Will’s career has taught him so much that college hasn’t been able to teach him.  Being able to work on projects and learn from experience is an important part of any job.  With that being said, Will knows you can’t learn anything if you are not listening, so to always be alert is crucial to him.  

“Keep your eyes and ears open all the time, people will try and teach you stuff, and you’ll miss it if you are not paying attention,” advised Will. 

Will is going to be a junior this coming fall at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and is majoring in Construction Management.  Right now, Will is focused on learning all he can about construction, so when the time comes, he’ll be able to take the next step in choosing which path is right for him. 

“Wherever I go I’ll know what I am doing and hopefully I’ll enjoy it because it is the career I want to use for the rest of my life,” added Will.