Tom Bruton: Cáceres

When I was at the career fair this fall talking with a representative from a large and well-known civil engineering design firm, my international experience began to show some dividends. I had given the rep my résumé and we were having the standard starter conversation that I had already had with 10 other people that day. When he read that I had worked as intern with a firm in Spain, he began to seem genuinely interested in me. I explained to him that the internship did not have much to do with civil engineering, and he said something like: “Well, it’s still impressive that you actually worked in another country and in another language. That would be a lot different than just trying to buy a loaf of bread on the street.” I think he appreciated the fact that I was willing to take a chance, put myself in an uncomfortable situation, and turn it into a good experience. Needless to say, it was encouraging.