Joining other high tech names such as Google and Salesforce, Aerospace’s intern program has been selected by college careers site WayUp as one of the Top 100 internships in 2018. WayUp reviewed almost 25,000 nominations from college students and recent grads to discover the companies who offered the best intern experiences. The nominations were then further reviewed by a judging panel made up of human resources and industry experts who reviewed programs based on uniqueness, diversity, and the rate of hiring after completing an internship.
Heather Laychak, Aerospace vice president and chief people officer says, "We are honored to be recognized by WayUp as one of the top 100 internship programs in the country for 2018. We have been very focused the last two years on designing and offering a “best in class” internship program that provides every intern with an experience that allows them to meaningfully contribute to the critical mission we serve and important work we do for national security."
All the companies on the Top 100 list pay their interns and offer opportunities for them to be hired. The rates for converting interns to new hires for companies on the list range from 20 percent to 90 percent. In 2017, Aerospace’s conversion rate of eligible interns becoming full time employees was 58 percent.
On July 26, Aerospace joined WayUp on nationwide National Intern Day to celebrate our 297 interns. Every company on the Top 100 list had a fun fact listed about them. For Aerospace it truly was a fun fact:
“To celebrate their summer interns, they hosted a carnival-themed event with a picnic lunch and games like a life-size Jenga and a dunk tank!”
Liz Wessel, CEO and co-founder of WayUp suggests that when considering internships, students should look for programs that not only interest them, but like Aerospace’s intern program, one that will provide the guidance, training and introductions to help a student begin their career. In a nutshell, the best internships are the ones that offer the best experiences.
This philosophy is exemplified in Aerospace's internship program. Laychak explains, "We have incorporated opportunities for training, networking and mentoring. Many of our interns took advantage of the field trips, community service opportunities and social events that were built into the program."
Ultimately, the internship program works out to be a win-win situation for both Aerospace and the students as Laychak noted, "We had a superior group of interns this summer and our employees truly embrace the energy they bring.”