How ARCO/Murray Transformed My Internship Experience

INTERN BLOG BY CONNOR RUHNOW – My name is Connor Ruhnow, and I grew up in Fishers, IN, just outside Indianapolis. During my sophomore year at Purdue University, where I’m studying Industrial Engineering, I was on the grind for the best internship I could find. I explored many options at the career fair, focusing on consulting, engineering, management, and finance roles. None of these were related to construction, and I didn’t initially consider it as a field.

That changed when I heard about ARCO/Murray from my friend Kyle, who had a fantastic experience there the previous summer. Kyle talked about the amazing perks at ARCO/Murray, like a basketball court, a weight room, and a golf simulator. He described the company culture as lively and energetic. Skeptical at first and not particularly interested in construction, I decided to check it out.

After meeting the recruiters and doing some research, I found out ARCO/Murray was more than just a construction company. It focuses on developing top-notch technical and life skills and offers great benefits and a vibrant work environment.

My summer internship in Chicago confirmed everything Kyle and the reviews had said. Living in company-provided housing and working with a talented team was a fantastic experience. ARCO/Murray definitely exceeded my expectations and proved to be a unique and rewarding place to work.

Growth – My Time at ARCO

Starting as a Project Manager Intern with Tenant Solutions this summer, I came in with no prior experience in construction. However, the level of responsibility and impact I experienced made the internship truly rewarding. I had the chance to work on a diverse range of projects in every aspect of their lifetime, from retrofitting a massive century-old building housing cutting edge technology to creating small office spaces.

At first, I wasn’t even familiar with the different trades involved, but by the end of the internship, I was confidently running estimates and proposals involving millions of dollars that ended up in customers’ hands. I built valuable relationships with clients through site visits, lunches, and weekly meetings, which helped me enhance my interpersonal skills. My technical and problem-solving abilities also grew significantly as we developed tailored solutions for each client using top-notch software.

This summer, my growth extended beyond construction, engineering, finance, and management; it prepared me to excel in any area of life. None of this would have been possible without the hands-on mentorship from everyone at ARCO, which kept me engaged and constantly learning.

Interested in learning more about internship and co-op opportunities offered at ARCO/Murray? Check out our programs page by clicking here.