Photolithography. Metrology. Wafer fab. Admittedly, these are words that I never thought I’d hear from my daughter over casual dinner conversation. 😉👩🏻💻 It’s hard to express the pride I feel, not only as her mom, but also as someone who is passionate about #STEM. 👩🏻🔬 Like many burgeoning young adults, she is interning this summer - as a process engineer in the semiconductor industry. 👩🏻🏭 Camryn Moore University of Michigan College of Engineering〽️
Serendipitously, one of my first internship experiences was with semiconductors as well (gallium arsenide wafers to be specific🤓) – and as I reflect on my career, my professional foundation was established through these early experiences across multiple companies and groups. 💡 From the establishment of discipline (aka adulting😀), practical application of skills and education, and the opportunity to foster meaningful, diverse relationships, internships (as well as other experiential learning opportunities such as co-ops, externships, and micro-internships) provide an invaluable investment in our next generation of leaders. 📚📖
Did you know that completing an internship makes you 85% more likely to obtain employment after graduation? (Prosperity for America org & Standout-CV) 👨🎓🧑🏽🎓👩🏻🎓 Or that 85% of employers offer full-time jobs to successful interns? (NACE Web) 💼 And that there are about 4.1M internships in the US this year, with roughly 500,000 Americans interning for free? (What to Become)
As leaders, one of our most critical roles is to discover and develop talent. Across every business, sector, and organization, talent is needed to execute today, chart the path for tomorrow, and lead us towards a brighter future. 📈 The time to invest in our younger generations is now. 💯 Experiential learning is a vital part of growth – and the earlier we invest, the better off we’ll be as a society. If you don’t have a systemic strategy and operational plan that focuses on your next gen talent coupled with engagement in the communities in which you live-work-and-play, you’re placing your relevance, contribution, and growth at risk. Intergenerational workforces are more innovative, engaging, and dynamic. Key elements of successful programs include:
✅ Meaningful Work
✅ Active Manager/Leadership Involvement & Executive Sponsorship
✅ Cohorts of Peers & Social Opportunities
✅ Active Communication, Feedback & Regular Touchpoints
✅ Training & Development
✅ Structured Relationship & Connection Building
✅ Compensation & Recognition
If you have any insights you’d like to share about your internship experiences and/or programs, please do! 🤝 Here’s to #NationalInternDay and all interns around the world. 👏🙌👏 Thank you for your energy, engagement, and contributions. 🙏We’re proud of you and excited for what the future holds. Your future is yours to create, and we’re here to support you.
#InclusiveLeadership #NextGen #BetheChange🌎 #PayitForward➡️
Analytics and Integrations Leader
1wCongratulations! Thank you for your help this summer!