Original Q&A by CALS Career Services
Name: Spencer Brosseau
Major: Industrial Technology, Manufacturing Option; General Business Minor
Year: Senior
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA
Company/Organization: Cargill Kitchen Solutions
Location: Mason City, IA
Describe your internship responsibilities:
I had a very wide range of internship responsibilities and it always made my job exciting. After completing a short training period to become acquainted with the facility and its stakeholders, I was given a list of projects to accomplish over the remainder of my internship. These projects ranged from change management to a cost justification on a capital investment, to helping out with a 5S event. I was put in a position where I had an expectation set, the resources I needed, and the empowerment to make it happen; and that’s a very exciting and rewarding position to be in as an intern. I was also responsible for presenting my findings and contributions to a few Cargill leadership teams, where I was provided great feedback as to how I could improve in the future.
What did you enjoy most about this internship?
The atmosphere at Cargill was second to none. Even as an intern I felt immersed in the family culture immediately and it really made my experience enjoyable. Being able to learn from the leadership team and frontline stakeholders was also invaluable. Aside from the great people, the responsibility I was given really helped me grow as a professional, it was the opportunity of a lifetime.
How has this experience impacted your future career plans?
This was the first time I really got to work in a manufacturing environment and I had a blast, it really solidified that this is something I’d like to do with my career. I’ve learned about manufacturing all through college but being able to put these classroom experiences into action, the daily problems that need innovative solutions and the strategy needed to make the operation happen is just fascinating.
What resources did you utilize to obtain this internship?
I credit getting the internship to ISU CALS Career Services, Mr. Gaul helped me refine and improve my resume so I was able to get an interview at the career fair and after that things fell into place.
What advice would you offer to other students seeking similar internships?
I applied to a lot of internships and got rejected quite a few times so I think tenacity is the most important part. Another thing that helped me was to define exactly what I was looking for and then target companies that really matched that definition.