Internships are a mutually beneficial experience for both the student, and the employer. There are many types of internships, and flexibility is required on how they’re used in the organization, depending on the role. For example, an engineering internship is managed differently than an entry level shop floor internship.

Generally, with technical schools and colleges, there are parameters that must be followed for the student to get credit for the internship. These are also known as “for credit” internships. Students will be required to work 40 hours for up to a 10-week session. At the end of the 10 weeks, the school requires a copy of their time records and performance evaluation.

Often technical schools with a proven track record of producing prepared candidates require an internship halfway through the program. Many of the students end up working for the company they completed their internship with. Often, we find that every graduating senior already has a job waiting for them upon graduation. This is one benefit of providing internships through the school. It allows the organization access to a new employee the following year. Let’s be realistic, an internship is all about finding or creating the next great employee.

Another great avenue for attracting and realizing untapped talent is partnering with local 501c3 organizations.

Here at Custom Truck One Source, we are seeing great results with a partnership we have developed with Lyrik’s Institute and their “Internships in the Now” program. Lyrik’s identifies young people that recently graduated from local high schools. All these young people have qualified as low income and are provided benefits with the Full Employment Council.

How it works-

  1. The intern applies for the internship with Lyrik’s Institute.
  2. Intern completes Work-Keys testing and completes application process with Full Employment Council
  3. Intern completes 5-day Lyrik’s training focused on behavior modification. They learn about budgeting, finances, workplace etiquette, professionalism, and many other topics.
  4. Custom Truck One Source managers with job openings notify the Training Department of how many interns they would like for each session. There are 3 sessions per year, Spring, Summer, Fall.
  5. Interns go through an orientation and tour of our campus.
  6. Interns meet their managers and start in their departments. They are allowed to work up to 30 hours per week, for 4 weeks. Their hourly rate is paid by the Full Employment Council.
  7. If an intern is not picking up the job in one area after a week or so, they’re relocated to a different area that may be more appropriate.
  8. By the Monday of the 4th week of the internship, managers decide if they are going to make a job offer so they can be processed and start their permanent position by the following Monday.

This program’s format is working great for our organization.  Not one of these young people said that had any idea they could help build trucks or had ever heard of Custom Truck. They said that they would probably be sitting on the couch at their parent’s house if they had not heard about Internships in the Now.

In turn, we would never have realized the untapped talent that is located right here in our neighborhood, with a thirst to do more with their lives than they were taught they were qualified for. This program raises awareness about Custom Truck One Source while changing the life trajectory for young people that have now become part of the Custom Truck Family.