Student Internship

Get hands-on experience outside of the classroom!

Paid internships for college and university students in the green industry.

Come and learn from the pros!

Plants Creative is proud to offer both spring and fall internship opportunities for college and university students. These paid internships are an amazing way to learn about the industry and network with landscape professionals in Georgia and beyond through our active participation in state and national associations! 

Our internship programs are designed to build on, complement and enhance the strong foundation you’re already receiving at school. We provide a starting pay of $13/hour with additional earning opportunities of up to $15/hour based on the completion of our learning modules.

Requirements

What’s required for an internship?

Plants Creative requires that interns be actively enrolled in a horticulture or landscape-related two- or four-year program, maintain a minimum GPM of 3.0, and have a positive attitude and eagerness to learn. Students should provide their own transportation to and from our operational facilities. Housing opportunities will be discussed on an individual basis. 

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Learning Modules

What’s included in the internship program?

The following learning modules have been designed to provide a dynamic, 10-week hands-on training experience. The goal of our program is for students to walk away inspired by the opportunities that exist within the green industry and better equipped with enhanced skills when they enter the workforce. 

1

Module 1

The Plants Creative Ultimate Experience

Duration: 5 Days | Location: Atlanta branch
Learning Opportunities Include:
  • Intro to The Plants Creative Ultimate Experience
  • An overview of mission, vision, and values
  • Strategic planning and designed action
  • The basics of an effective marketing and branding campaign
  • Customer qualifying 101
  • Intro and set up: 15Five weekly check in’s
  • Attend weekly sales and operations meetings
  • The basics of payroll
  • Insurance package review: key components
  • An overview of accounts payable and receivable
  • Learn key financial performance indicators
2

Module 2

Design Build Division

Duration: 10 Days | Location: Atlanta branch
Learning Opportunities Include:
  • Shadow designers on new appointments
  • Design: create and present a new landscape design
  • Estimating: system overview and building a proposal
  • Procurement of material for upcoming jobs
  • Attend project check in’s and pre con’s with production manager(s)
  • Best planting practices for trees and shrubs
  • Sod types and best installation practices
  • What to look for in healthy trees and shrubs
  • Safe equipment operation and transporting
  • Rotate through a minimum of four (4) production trucks
  • Learn key performance indicators for sales and operations
3

Module 3

Property Care Division

Duration: 10 Days | Location: Atlanta branch
Designed Learning Opportunities Include:
  • Shadow PCM’s on new maintenance appointments
  • Estimating: system overview and building a proposal
  • Maintenance property audits
  • Seasonal color: design options and care overview
  • Lawn care: types, mowing heights, diseases and pests
  • Plant care: types, how and when to prune, diseases and pests
  • Attend on site crew training opportunities with production manager(s)
  • Safe equipment operation and transporting
  • Automowers: mower basics, types, set up and service
  • Battery powered equipment and mobile charging
  • Rotate through a minimum of four (4) production trucks
  • Learn key performance indicators for sales and operations
4

Module 4

Hydrate Irrigation Division

Duration: 5 Days | Location: Atlanta branch
Learning Opportunities Include:
  • Intro to smart controllers, including basic programming functions
  • Intro to smart irrigation components for greater sustainability
  • Irrigation system audits and how to present to customers
  • Intro to PCL Smart and Genius service plans
  • Shadow sales on new appointments
  • Assist production manager with installation of new lighting, audio or irrigation
  • Intro to outdoor audio systems: basic components
  • Intro to outdoor lighting systems: basic components
  • Installation of a lighting, audio and/or irrigation system
  • Learn key performance indicators for sales and operations
5

Module 5

Enhancements Division

Duration: 10 Days | Location: Atlanta branch
Learning Opportunities Include:
  • Maintenance property audits for new sales opportunities
  • Attend scheduled appointments with Senior Property Care Manager
  • Design: create and present new landscape design for an enhancement
  • Estimating: build and present an enhancement proposal to a customer
  • Quality control property visits to confirm completion of subcontractor work
  • How to identify key enhancement opportunities on maintenance properties
  • Rotate through a minimum of two (2) production trucks
6

Module 6

Build Your Own Learning Plan

Duration: 10 Days | Location: Atlanta and Blue Ridge Branches
Designed Learning Opportunities Include:
Learning opportunities within this module will be co-designed with interns prior to the completion of Module 5. This will provide the flexibility for advanced learning of information within previous modules as well as provide the opportunity to spend time at our Blue Ridge location. Blue Ridge was opened in late spring 2021, is located two hours north of Atlanta, and will provide an expanded learning opportunity for the design and care of mountain and lake landscapes.
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The Fine Print

Anything else I need to know?

If you want even more details, find them below!

Learning Details:

Ten (10) dynamic modules of five (5) day durations each will provide an enhanced and robust experience. Learning will be provided by a combination of both office and field time, rotating through various team members who are specialized within the respective modules. In the event of an absence, the module will be extended into the following week for 100% completion. Regularly-scheduled checkin’s will occur every Friday afternoon, with an opportunity to review the week, as well as to discuss the following week’s schedule with an assigned coach.

Compensation Details:

Hourly pay will begin at $13. Upon the successful completion of every two (2) modules, as determined by weekly check-ins, hourly pay will increase by $.50/hour, with the maximum pay rate being $15/hour by the end of Module 8. Interns will be paid on the same schedule as regular full-time employees, which is every two weeks.

Monthly Per Diem:

Plants Creative will provide $500/month to assist with out-of-pocket housing expenses. Internships that fall within the middle of a month will be prorated at the rate of $20/day. In the event that Plants Creative is able to provide interns with free housing, this per diem will be revoked. Interns should provide their own transportation to and from our operational facilities.

Additional Details:

Work hours are 8:00-4:30 Monday through Friday.

Plants Creative will provide uniforms and personal protective gear at no charge, as well as all tools/equipment required to complete the tasks within the learning modules. Interns are responsible for providing rain gear, as needed, as well as comfortable work boots and sunscreen. Interns should also bring lunch on a daily basis, unless previous arrangements are made with a manager.

Students are required to provide proof of US Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, as well as emergency contact information.