Hello! My name is Georgia Riffle and I’m the current talent acquisition intern here at McKinstry’s Seattle headquarters. I am a rising senior at The University of Washington, Tacoma studying Business Management and also working towards a Spanish Languages & Culture minor. Recently, I’ve been interested in Human Resource Management, specifically the acquiring of talent and employee development. Because of that, this internship has been a great learning experience that’s positioned me for helpful career exploration.

My passion is people—what motivates them, helping them find their purpose and finding their “why.” So while I’d like to explore a career in business, my true aspiration would be to someday be in a position of influence to drive a more effective, efficient and purposeful business. After all, what is a business without the people behind it?

Although I didn’t specifically plan to work in the construction industry, I’ve quickly learned that McKinstry is much more interesting and complex than just another company in construction. Although I didn’t come in with much industry knowledge, the values and intentions behind McKinstry’s decisions clearly resonated with me.

Specifically, one value that resonates with me is how McKinstry values our people. It comes across in how we’re treated, how we’re valued as innovators and voices and how McKinstry strives to put is people first. Another value that I connect with is community. Before joining the McKinstry team, I was excited to see that McKinstry sees serving the community as a priority and responsibility.

As a talent acquisition intern, I’m not assigned to a specific project. This means I get to learn the day-to-day components of being in this part of our business. One of the main processes I’m learning is the “full recruiting cycle,” which includes things like posting a job, reaching out to candidates, scheduling interviews with hiring managers, making sure the little details go smoothly and ensuring the candidate has a quality experience.

It’s been a great way to build relationships—both internally and externally—and discover different parts of our business. In addition to the recruiting cycle, I’m learning about McKinstry’s onboarding processes, planning events and programs and seeing what it looks like to communicate and collaborate within the business. One of my favorite aspects of this internship is how much I’m encouraged to stay curious and give my input.

I think a common misconception about internships is that they’re seen as minuscule or unimportant roles full of busy work. Thankfully, I’ve found internships at McKinstry to be quite the opposite. Every experience has been quite intentional. My colleagues make me feel empowered and let me run with things while also giving me the constructive criticism I need to improve. As a McKinstry intern, the only coffee runs I’ve made were across the hall to get my own coffee, where I’m usually greeted by a friendly face.

Lastly, I’ve found that talent acquisition is directly related to my passion for helping people find their purpose. I’m discovering how critical the role of a talent acquisition member is not only for the future of McKinstry as a business, but also for the future of its people. We have the powerful opportunity to choose the best talent for our business goals and teams within the organization, influence our company culture and help others to fit into their best possible role. I’m proud to have joined the talent acquisition team this summer, and it’s been a great internship experience.