Students Gain Experience in Automation Technologies
June 22, 2016—In the last month, Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT) has welcomed a vibrant group of college students for its 2016 Summer Internship Program. The interns are exposed to a variety of opportunities during their 10-12 weeks with the company. They gain valuable, relevant skills in computer programming, software testing, and business operations, while also receiving guidance from an experienced mentor.
College Recruiting
Recruitment for the 2016 Summer Internship Program was highly competitive and included a multi-faceted selection process. The cycle started in the fall, with potential candidates meeting IDT representatives at collegiate job fairs, followed by resume submissions and interviews. Most of the selected interns are studying computer science, engineering or math.
The 2016 intern group comes to IDT from eleven universities across the country, including: University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, UMass, Rowan University, Cal Poly, and University of San Diego. IDT’s interns are placed at one of the company’s four corporate offices in: Arlington, VA; Fall River, MA; Mount Laurel, NJ; and San Diego, CA.
Intern Training
IDT’s Summer Internship Program was established in 2008 and is organized by the Human Resources team. The experience starts with a full day of orientation, during which interns are welcomed into their respective offices and briefed on IDT’s day-to-day operations. Each intern is assigned a manager and a mentor, both of whom provide training and continuous feedback throughout the summer.
According to Katherine Weller, IDT’s Director of Human Resources, “We have been fortunate to find another great group of interns who will work closely with us this summer. I know the experiences they gain at IDT will be valuable in preparing them for their future career paths.”
Beyond the Workplace
In addition to acquiring new skills within the office, interns are offered opportunities to socialize and network. For example, the Arlington group attends a Nationals baseball game in DC every summer and our Fall River team will continue their annual clam bake. Interns at every office are included in corporate events with employees, such as the IDT Monthly Lunches and dinners.