My name is Lauren M. and, in between my sophomore and junior year of high school, I was lucky enough to be able to take up a summer internship at MJS Designs. My position at MJS was my first ever job. Naturally, I was nervous on my first day, but everyone was so kind and welcoming. Over the course of four weeks, I spent time in a variety of departments across the company, learning everything I could about how businesses operate and circuit board assembly.
As a teenager, my time in a friendly corporate environment will be invaluable experience when I enter the workforce. I observed the documentation and purchasing processes, handled incoming and outgoing parts in the MJS stockroom, attended meetings, and watched sales presentations. Every Friday morning, I participated in weekly sales training. I processed outgoing products in the Accounts Receivable department and spent time every day in the Accounts Payable office experiencing the behind-the-scenes of running a business.
I also learned all about circuit boards! As a minor, I wasn’t able to operate any machinery, but the technicians still taught me all about them. I enjoyed observing the solder technicians, though I couldn’t use the solder wands either. While shadowing the quality team, I learned all about board defects and how to detect them at every step of the process. However, not everything was just watching! I got plenty of hands-on experience, too. I tested cables and assembled thru-hole components.
In the Design department, I learned how to use advanced design software to create schematics. Additionally, with the help of the engineers, I was able to code and design a functional printed circuit board.
I started my internship with very little experience, and I feel like I left it with a lot. Nothing I did ever felt daunting, and everyone I worked with was dedicated to helping me learn. My summer at MJS Designs was an amazing experience for me, and I’m so grateful for the chance to have worked there.
“Our team always looks forward to an opportunity to work with interns to demonstrate the many career paths that are possible just in our niche of the electronics industry. And we enjoyed the chance to work with Lauren this past summer. The first week Lauren joined us, she suggested an idea to improve a manual process in Accounts Payable which we implemented right away. It was evident with our time with Lauren that she will be successful in whatever career path she chooses,” said Dawn Northrop, president of MJS Designs.
If an experience like this interests you, click here to contact MJS Designs to learn how to apply for an internship.