We recently caught up with sophomore, College of Engineering student, Dalton Benard about his internship with Graham Engineering. Read more to learn about Dalton’s electrical engineering experience…
What is/was your job function, and what does a typical day entail?
My job at Graham Engineering was to assemble electrical panels which would then be used to control large plastic extruding machines. This job was new, as the panel shop was created about a month or two before I joined. It was very insightful to see how Graham Engineering made processes more efficient and productive. This was one of the major advantages of being at this job when I was, as I got to see a part of the company start up and begin to take shape.
How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?
I found this position from an employee that worked there previously and recommended me for this internship. The interview process involved two people, including the head of the HR department.
How has your internship related to your coursework?
Through this internship, I gained the base layer knowledge of what my intro classes have been teaching me – seeing how assemblers take the designs of engineers and then assemble these electrical panels for later use in machines. This internship allowed me to see how my job as an engineer will impact the manufacturing side of work.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?
The most important thing I learned through this internship was the importance of teamwork. Working with a small group of very knowledgeable people helped me. I also realized that I have some knowledge that some of the employees didn’t have. It was a give and take relationship being able to use all of our skills to build and assemble these panels. Another thing I learned is to ask questions. If you don’t know something, definitely speak up. Ask for someone’s help who knows the answer rather than guessing and making a very expensive mistake.
What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?
Always put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to start at a small company. My long-term goal is to work for a large tech company, but to establish my reputation I must start out by honing my skills through small companies to help myself gain the attention of larger companies. Also, join many clubs and organizations on campus. You will meet new people to help build your connections and possibly learn of new job opportunities that were unforeseen before you connected with that person.
Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?
Join many organizations and attend career fairs to meet new people and to connect with new individuals that can present opportunities for possible jobs and or internships.
Twitter- Dalton_benard Instagram- daltonb3399