I found this internship by talking to a recruiter at the national NSBE conference.
Name: Bafoday Dainkeh
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Employer: General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works
Location: Bath, ME
How did you find the internship/co-op? What was the interview process like? I found this internship by talking to a recruiter at the national NSBE conference. The interview was with some of the managers working at the company. They questioned me about certain positions on my resume and then about what I was looking for in terms of work.
What have been the most interesting aspects of your internship? The most interesting aspect was being able to go on the ships that were being constructed and actually realize how gigantic and complex the objects we were helping with are.
What campus activities or courses do you think helped you, or would have helped you, with this internship? I would say conducting research under Dr. Cadou helped a lot. It gave me the experience of having to find answers by myself and being confident that my work was reasonable.
How would you describe the company culture? What was the most helpful thing your supervisor did to make you feel comfortable at the organization? The company culture was busy, but it tried to make sure people were bonding together. From all of the out-of-work events like hiking or frisbee basketball, the cookout that we had for the 4th of July, to everyone going out and taking a walk together during the lunch break. The most helpful thing my supervisor did was to personally take me out for lunch and just have a normal conversation with me.
Was there a formal program for all interns at the company? Was peer support available throughout the internship? There was a formal week of training that all interns go through together. And we specifically had an internship manager who constantly checked in on how the internship was going for us and if there was anything we wanted to try and get more fulfillment for our time there.
How have your career or academic goals changed as a result of this internship experience? It made me realize that having a 9-5 job isn't as bad as I imagined. I still think I prefer research and academia more, but now I am definitely more accepting of the lifestyle of a standard job.
What advice would you give other UMD engineering students seeking an internship or co-op position? Make sure to try to build a relationship with a recruiter. Just that constant interaction and seeing each other's faces goes a long way in making them want to help you get a position.
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