Things I Know
Ackerman-Estvold is a relatively laid back company. The President and CEO Ryan Ackerman would frequently come back just to chat with the interns. I'm on joking terms with the Vice President Jeff McElwain. Jeff once told me he'd rather hire a 3.2 GPA with a personality over a 4.0 without one. This relatively relaxed atmosphere is why Ackerman-Estvold has won Top Place to Work for Young Professionals multiple times in the last several years. It is a company run by young professionals for young professionals.
Even with the candid feeling in the office, they still expect a fair amount out of their employees. I worked anywhere between fifty and seventy hours a week as an intern, which isn't all that uncommon in a construction field. The interesting thing is that even the engineers would frequently be seen working late at the office.
Things I Learned
I never got to really be a part of the company's community involvement since the interns were always needed out in the field. I understood that the company liked to emphasis community involvement, but I didn't realize how extensive their efforts were until this research. I knew they had helped a lot with clean up during the 2011 flood, but it surprised me how many youth organizations they are involved with.
They hold learning events such as the Boy Scouts Explorer's Post and the Minot State University College for Kids. They also give a lot to the Souris Valley United Way and the Fill the Bus School Supply Drive. A complete list of their community service can me found here.
Applying To My Job Packet
My research and current knowledge has led me to believe that Ackerman-Estvold Engineering is looking to hire a well rounded person over a high GPA. Rather than just putting organizations I've been involved in, I decided to just put ones that could be considered community service. In my cover letter I took the opportunity to list services that didn't seem to fit well with the format of the resume.
Rather than trying to sell myself as more qualified than a fresh college graduate is, I'll present myself as someone who has been involved in Minot's community for many years, In addition, I'll focus on my time with them as an intern. I'm familiar with how they do things, I'm involved in their community, and will hopefully even finish with a decent GPA as a cherry on top.
