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Today Brock Aleshire is a field engineer with the heavy civil engineering contractor Kraemer North America drawing a salary his parents could only imagine.

A year ago, he was a senior at South Dakota State majoring in construction management. 

The step from collegian to contractor is a big one, but not insurmountable, certainly not with the assistance of the SDSU Office of Career Development. Aleshire, now of Casselton, North Dakota, began using the free services of the Office of Career Development in his sophomore year and doesn’t regret the early start.

He had internships in the summers of 2021, 2022 and 2023. By Christmas 2023, he knew what job he would begin after his May graduation.

“I had offers within the first couple months of my senior year, and I had a job locked down by Christmas. I had friends who didn’t have a job until the last few weeks of the (school) year. The Office of Career Development was able to give me a better level of preparation going into that final year of school,” said Aleshire, originally of Mound, Minnesota.

Students don’t need to go through the Office of Career Development to gain an internship, but Aleshire said the pre-internship prep he received from the office was invaluable.

“The office really helped with interview questions and how to prepare for interviews, what things to consider when I got various job offers. I did mock interviews even with internships. Those were incredibly helpful. I can’t emphasis that enough,” said Aleshire, noting he was helped by the office in advance of each internship.

He added the Office of Career Development was good to work with.

“It was always welcoming. When I first started, I was a little nervous. But they have very good resources, and they knew their stuff. I was very appreciative of everything they did for me. Warm, welcoming, very talented in their craft,” he summarized.

Today he is part of a company building 30-mile diversion channel west of Fargo, North Dakota, that will divert river channels and push flows northeast into Minnesota to avert the disastrous flooding that hit Fargo in 1997 and 2006.

His job is to help keep projects on track while helping to create innovative solutions.  

“Each project is different, but I do have some advice for up-and-coming engineering students or anyone entering the construction field,” Aleshire said.

“First, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. The most important part of this line of work is those who perform the work. Spend time learning about the trades, even in school, if you have the chance. 

“Second, don’t be afraid to ask questions. This industry has a great breadth of knowledge, so take advantage of every opportunity you are given. Third, travel and take advantage of new opportunities. There are so many things to learn and experience, and there is no better way than trying a different internship or joining a new club.”