First comes the internship

Students interested in manufacturing careers find there’s no better resume builder than experience

So, you’ve decided to pursue a career in manufacturing. You’ve focused your studies, switched programs, perhaps even schools, and are well on your way to embarking on a career to pay off ten-fold.

Have you considered an internship? Manufacturing students who participate in internships or apprenticeship programs boost their chances of landing a job after graduation, many becoming employed at the very companies where they served as interns.

Here are a few young manufacturers whose internships helped propel them toward success.

At Otis, Ruden joined the coded steel belt group, working on new testing procedures for primary elevator qualification belt screenings. In layman’s terms, she worked to reduce safety risk by ensuring belts won’t break down in the future.

“My main project this summer was to work with my mentor in the Otis test tower,” said Ruden. “I learned how to design an experiment, understand data and statistics, and present my project at the end of the summer. I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to work, individually, at my own pace.”

The most exciting and rewarding part about working for UTC Otis was the support network, Ruden said.
“My mentors were my biggest fans; they let me tag along to meetings and inspired me to be inquisitive. Working here has reminded me why I went into engineering in the first place,” Ruden said.

UTC is looking for fall interns, especially in program management. Plus, they don’t require applicants to have a formal agreement with a college or university. Applicants can explore open internship opportunities and set up notifications alerts by going to UTC’s careers page.

Ruden plans to pursue her masters at WPI once she completes her undergraduate program in May. She hopes to complete a third internship with Otis next year and, if all goes well, one day become a full-time employee.

As luck would have it, a few month’s into Cordero’s studies at CT Aero Tech, a teacher told her and her fellow peers that Bombardier was seeking interns.

“It came down to Bombardier and Pratt & Whitney,” said Cordero. “But because I was fascinated with jets, I chose to intern with Bombardier.”

Bombardier performs aircraft maintenance and inspections, specifically on its own Bombardier fleet of business jets. During Cordero’s internship, she was matched with an A&P technician and learned on-the-job skills including running engine tests and pulling apart bugged systems.

“It was very much learn as you go,” said Cordero. “The longer I was there, the more hands-on I became, and the more responsibility I was given.”

Cordero started her internships in July of 2017 and stayed on through the following school year, putting in 40-hour work weeks during the summer and working second shift while going to school. She said Bombardier was always great about scheduling, giving students time off to study and take exams.

“They even gave me time to study for my airframe and power plant certificate, something that you have to do outside of school,” said Cordero.

Cordero has since transitioned from intern to full-time employee, something she says she is incredibly pleased about.

“I love being part of the Bombardier family. Regardless of what shift you’re on, we work together towards a common goal and when we accomplish something, we accomplish it together,” said Cordero. “In this type of work, we can’t make mistakes, and that makes each accomplishment that much more rewarding.”

The company’s internship program is its way of fostering the talent pipeline. By actively hiring and engaging young talent, it can effectively train and expand its workforce. You can explore Bombardier’s available internship opportunities by going to careers.bombardier.com

This past summer, Coyle put in 40-hour work weeks. This will enable him to finish the two-year program early. Paradigm Precision is a leading manufacturer of complex machined and fabricated components for the aerospace, land-based power generation and marine markets.

“I’m looking to jump right into the workforce when I graduate in June,” said Coyle. “I’m interested in being a CNC operator with Paradigm and will be applying for a full-time position as soon as I’ve graduated.”

Paradigm’s program was created in response to a void in state programming. The company is now working with the state to align its programs, outlining curriculums and partnering with local trainers and high schools.

“I love that I can take pride in what I do,” said Coyle. “Every day I get to work on something that is going to help someone else, and that is a great feeling.” ◾