Where are they now? Powell intern to full-time employee.

At Powell Industries, we take great pride in nurturing talent through our internship program and are excited to share the success stories of employees who began their journeys with us as interns. This article showcases the career paths of former interns who transitioned to full-time roles after graduation, highlighting the long-term career opportunities and growth available at Powell.

Powell has a strong track record of hiring interns full-time after they complete their internships. We believe in investing in our interns' development, providing them with real-world experience, mentorship, and opportunities to make meaningful contributions. By sharing these stories, we hope to inspire future interns and demonstrate the potential for a fulfilling and lasting career at Powell Industries!

Hear from Jackie Novelli - A Powell Media Development Specialist:

"Being an intern at Powell was an incredible journey. Before the program started, when I was still in college, I needed an internship credit related to my field of study in order to graduate from Texas A&M University. Unfortunately, the summer I needed the internship happened to be right after the pandemic, making it extremely hard to find a program that would hire interns after a year of work disruption. I ended up applying to well over 500 internship programs, customizing my resume for each opportunity, writing countless cover letters, and receiving many rejection emails.

Eventually, Angie from Talent Acquisition at Powell called me and asked if she could customize a summer internship program to match my skills and the needs of the company. I was ecstatic to combine my media production skills and human resource education to produce some great projects over that summer. I immediately accepted the internship and started planning what I could do for Powell.

From the creative freedom in my projects and supportive team members to one-on-one meetings with the CEO, in-depth division tours, and even volunteering at the Houston Food Bank with other interns, Powell exceeded my expectations over the course of 12 weeks. After my final presentation of my intern project to everyone involved in the program, including the executive team, Angie offered me a co-op position until I graduated, with the intention of a full-time position immediately following.

During the summer program, I connected with real professionals and directly got involved with the business, providing real-world experience to put my education and skills to the test. Today (actually as of a few weeks ago), I have been at Powell for over three years! Every day, I feel like I have a direct impact on the success of the business and have had numerous opportunities to work on different projects, speak with people from all over the world, and even mentor my own intern, giving them an experience similar to mine. For other students looking for a great program, my advice is: don’t be afraid to ask questions and shadow professionals you look up to!"

Hear from Aadam Jones - A Powell Network Engineer:

"During my internship at Powell, I underwent significant personal and professional growth. While I initially focused on advancing my technical skills as an IT professional, I quickly realized the importance of developing myself on a professional level. Transitioning from a tech-centric background to an enterprise IT environment presented me with new challenges and opportunities. This experience allowed me to blend my prior knowledge with newfound insights, ultimately paving the way for my progression to a full-time role within the company and eventually to becoming a Network Engineer.

Throughout my career journey, I've continued to embrace a mindset of continuous learning. One of the most valuable aspects of working at Powell has been the collaborative and supportive environment fostered by my colleagues. Their willingness to share knowledge and offer mentorship has been instrumental in my growth. As I continue to evolve in my role, I remain committed to paying it forward by providing mentorship to others in the IT field.

For students or new people aspiring to enter the IT industry, I urge them to seize every opportunity for growth and learning. Embracing challenges and seeking guidance from experienced professionals are essential steps toward success in this dynamic field. Cultivating strong problem-solving skills and staying abreast of industry trends will also greatly enhance their prospects."

Hear from Reem El Miari - A Powell Co-Op in Quality Assurance:

"Here at Powell, I started my internship in the quality department where I had the opportunity to apply some of my knowledge and gain multiple new skills. This role allowed me to explore various sides of the company, starting in quality and eventually exploring other areas. Taking on projects helped me apply theoretical knowledge from my coursework to real-world scenarios. This experience definitely continued after being offered to stay as a Co-op for the two semesters I had remaining in the university. 

The collaborative environment at Powell was incredibly supportive. Managers, mentors, supervisors, and colleagues were always willing to share their expertise and thoughts, making my time here both enjoyable and professionally rewarding. Having such an environment helped me grow in various aspects, especially regarding my career, as it gave me the knowledge and resources to do so. I was eventually offered a full-time position as a Manufacturing Engineer, which I am thrilled about! The transition to a full-time position after graduation was an exciting and dynamic shift. I definitely got more responsibilities and a faster pace, yet it would always be exciting to see my contributions and ideas make a real impact out here. The experience from my internship made it easier for me to adapt to such a transition and to my new role.

For those moving from part-time to full-time, I encourage you to take full advantage of the learning opportunities during your internship. Stay curious, ask questions, and continuously seek knowledge. This approach will allow you to have a broader understanding regarding the details and dynamics at Powell and it would definitely make your experience more fulfilling as you move to a full-time position. Additionally, don't forget to enjoy your time here whether through the company of great colleagues, in the form of knowledge, or engaging in activities that come along the way. There is also an enjoyment in noticing that what you studied in school behind a desk or a laptop for long hours gets utilized in work and seeing how you can contribute to the real world. The long night studies and hard work definitely pays off in the end. Embrace the transition confidently as it is an important step in your life which will be remembered for a long time. Good luck!!"

Hear from David Fouty - A Powell Engineering Supervisor:

"My internships (was intern for 2 summers) at Powell went by very quickly. From the engineering group, I learned what the day to day would be for a working Mechanical Engineer at Powell and got a crash course in what Powell products are and how we produce them. From the internship program, I was able to connect with the other interns, hear their experiences, and make lasting connections with some of them who continued to work at Powell full time (which really helped out in future).

Moving from School to Full Time: I enjoyed the transition from school to full time work. During my internships, I got a feeling for what full time would be like and was looking forward to it when I graduated. At school, I was stressed with engineering classes and schoolwork and that stress followed me home. Working at Powell, they allowed for a great work/home balance where I’m able to spend my time at home with my family and not stressing about work. My internship was integral to transitioning into full time work since I had no experience in an office or engineering group beforehand. After the internship, it was not difficult to transition to a full-time position since I knew what I was getting into.

I would advise those moving to full time to use the skills they learned in school to excel at a full-time position. You won’t use all the knowledge you gained from school in your day-to-day work, but you can always use your ability to learn quickly, something that you’ve mastered while in school. I would also encourage new graduates working full time to try to be eager and excited (as much as they can be) about new opportunities at work. That could be working on a difficult project, learning a new software, working with people outside your group, etc. Being eager and excited is a great way to make a lasting impression on others (especially management) that you can be depended on."

For more info about Powell Careers, visit www.powellind.com or keep up to date on Powell activities and projects by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram!