With the overall labor market in a continuous competitive state and the added talent demands in the semiconductor industry, many companies are orchestrating different ways to recruit and address talent shortages. At EMD Electronics, we offer a robust internship program to engage with next-generation talent and provide valuable hands-on experience for students interested in a career in the semiconductor industry.
EMD Electronics welcomes dozens of interns into its various business functions nationwide every year. Students from under-graduate and postgraduate programs gain valuable experience in a global science and technology company connecting with colleagues across the world while taking on responsibility from day one. As in most successful internship programs, students receive expert guidance and coaching as they learn about the semiconductor industry’s exciting complexities and gain extensive experience to grow both personally and professionally.
What sets the EMD Electronics internship program apart from others is that, in many cases, students are working directly with senior industry professionals in their fields of study.
“While some interns may be intimidated at first, they quickly learn that our culture is one of curiosity, collaboration, and caring,” said Francesca Domingo, Head of Academic and Community Relations at the company. “When students are empowered to ask questions, dive deep and explore what’s possible, they thrive!”
Domingo started the program from scratch several years ago.
“Students bring great energy to the organization,” Domingo said. “Our interns have an appetite for learning and bringing fresh, new ideas and different perspectives.”
EMD Electronics believes that internships add to the organization’s diversity and are often an overlooked resource in the war for talent. Internship programs are also a cost-effective way to recruit quality candidates for short-term positions and specialized projects.
Pilot plant manager James Henry (L) takes computer science interns on a tour.
Taking Internships to the Next Level with Fellowships
Postgraduate education can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and for many underrepresented students, advanced degrees can be cost-prohibitive to pursue. Fellowships are a win-win for the student and for the sponsoring organization, particularly in science and technology roles, where the necessary skillsets are hyper-focused. For these highly motivated students, securing a fellowship can provide the financial assistance needed to pursue their education while developing the skills required to succeed in their careers.
During her internship, Marisa Gliege, Ph.D., a scientist at EMD Electronics, was awarded a fellowship as part of her research in computational modeling techniques used to develop functional materials.
“The fellowship I received from EMD Electronics allowed me to focus on gaining priceless experience with a reduced financial burden to finish my doctoral work,” she said. “I transitioned to a full-time position with the company after I graduated and now work in research and development improving materials design innovation alongside distinguished industry scientists."
Internships Don’t Only Benefit Students
Internships can make the whole organization stronger. Many interns bring new capabilities that may not be prevalent throughout the organization.
“Our interns brought in the knowledge of programming languages to perform advanced data analytics,” Domingo explained. “The students built databoards for forecasting and decision-making to further digitalize our business.”
Internships are a great way to develop and evaluate the leadership potential of current employees by providing opportunities to supervise and mentor interns.
Starting an Internship Program
Domingo offered recommendations for companies looking to start an internship program.
“Start small and make sure the goals of your program match your strategic objectives,” she said. “Your leadership needs to be aligned to assign the right mentors for the students. Interns could become your full-time employees one day, so their employee experience must be no different from a typical new hire.”
Summer 2021 internship class in Tempe, Arizona
Expand the Reach
EMD Electronics explored other ways to recruit interns outside of the traditional model of attending college career fairs to attract interns. Domingo suggests that semiconductor companies and suppliers connect with student resource groups at universities or industry associations like SEMI to promote their programs.
“Partnering with academic and professional organizations has transformed our program in many ways,” she said. “We established trusted relationships with the American Institute for Chemical Engineers and Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association and connected with diverse groups, such as the Society for Women Engineers and Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers.”
In February, the SEMI Arizona Chapter offered a SEMI Professional Development Seminar in collaboration with Arizona State University. Attendance at the event was record-breaking, with students participating from all over the country. Industry volunteers – including leaders from EMD Electronics, TSMC, Intel, KLA and Amkor – shared what the high-tech industry looks for when recruiting new graduates.
If you’re looking to grow a diverse talent pipeline, don’t overlook the next-generation workforce. Get involved with your community and invest in an internship program.
We encourage students to check out careers at EMD Electronics.
About the Author
Deke Ericson is the Sector HR Business Partner for Semiconductor Materials at EMD Electronics. In this role, he is accountable for providing strategic advice to senior leaders regarding the sector’s people priorities and for supporting the implementation of people initiatives aligned to the Semiconductor Materials business strategy. Ericson earned a Master of Science degree in Human Resources and Employment Relations and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Penn State University.