BILSTEIN takes a lot of pride in their Intern/Co-Op/Apprenticeship Programs, and that’s why today I was asked to take over the blog to share my BILSTEIN story as a summer intern. As the summer winds down and recruitment for the spring semester co-op programs begin, I thought I’d take this opportunity to reflect on my experience as a BILSTEIN intern and encourage other college students to become a Bilsteiner.

Before diving in, my name is Sarah King and I spent the last three and a half months as a co-op in Human Resources. I am a Cincinnati native, going into my senior year at Ole Miss pursuing two bachelor’s degrees; one in Marketing and Corporate Relations and one in Banking and Finance. My BILSTEIN mission for the summer was to create a website for Plant Hamilton and help this location establish a digital footprint on various social media channels to provide insight recruiting efforts.

Between wanting to make a strong first impression and doing my best to remember names, I knew starting this new experience would provide the chance to work, create, execute and grow. It’s never easy being the “newbie” and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a tad bit nervous or intimidated on my first day, but after the first few hours, I felt like a valued member of the BILSTEIN team. My manager has served as a mentor while providing insight, guidance and support throughout the duration of my co-op.

The best part of becoming a Bilstiener was being trusted to tackle large projects and work directly with upper management… rather than filing papers or going on coffee runs. I left the office each day seeing the results of my work, which was such a fulfilling feeling. It’s important to know that everyone’s work matters and that each Bilsteiner is part of a bigger picture. Everyone at BILSTEIN contributes to help the company better itself and further serve its customers.

Interns, co-ops and apprentices are encouraged and empowered to take on heftier projects, create strategies and grow their professional network. Students are able to work with a team on real projects that have a measurable impact on the company while receiving insightful feedback from many different department heads. BILSTEIN provides their co-ops and interns with a hands-on approach with direct guidance from mentors, managers and co-workers.

The lessons learned and skills gained over the last three and a half months are memorable take-a-ways I’ll hold forever as I start my professional career. Thank you, Bilsteiner’s for welcoming me onto the team and supporting me in my efforts. As I head back to Mississippi to finish my senior year, I encourage my fellow Bilsteiner’s to keep up the great work, hold the company values at your core and never forget that BILSTEIN Rocks!

If you’re interested in a full-time position, an internship or even more information on why BILSTEIN Rocks, I encourage you to visit our careers page or contact Michelle Schmidt to see how you can Become a Bilsteiner; you won’t regret it!

Signing off,

Sarah King