Interns Gaining Real-World Experience at Penske
This summer, Penske is helping 34 college students jump-start their careers through Penske’s Summer Internship Program at its corporate headquarters in Green Hills, Pennsylvania.
Penske’s internship program provides college students with a valuable opportunity to gain real-world, hands-on experience in their field of study, as well as exposure to the ins and outs of a leading global transportation services provider.
“Our interns start contributing and providing value to Penske on day one,” said Karyn Troxell, corporate HR manager. “Many of them are working on projects that directly align to their assigned department’s key goals for the year. The interns can clearly see the connection between what they are learning in school and how it applies in a business environment.”
Revamped in 2012, the program also gives these young adults a well-rounded experience through participation in community service projects, networking with professionals and professional development opportunities – features which Troxell says are unique to Penske’s program.
“Networking is an extremely valuable skill that we provide to our interns,” Troxell explained. “Throughout the summer, they have opportunities to build professional relationships with key leaders at Penske, within the community and within their own internship team. Many of them maintain these relationships even after they complete their internships. Some of these professional relationships have led to future job offers.”
Like the students, Penske is benefiting from its popular internship program, which has become a valuable recruiting tool. Penske has filled 17 permanent positions with interns (38 percent of its 68 interns since 2012). Six of these hired interns received promotions within two years.
Other advantages to the company include development opportunities for future supervisors to manage interns, extra department resources and increased brand recognition through partnerships with colleges and universities.
“Departments really benefit from the high caliber of talent that we bring in each summer through our internship program,” Troxell said. “Managers are not only appreciative of the interns’ extra support, but they also gain a glimpse into the mindset of the new generation’s workforce.”
The 2015 interns will work in the following departments at Penske:
- Asset Management
- Billing
- Billing and Freight Payment – Logistics
- Central Reservations
- Contract Administration
- Financial Accounting
- Financial Operations
- Financial Reporting
- HR Analytics
- HR Operations / Staffing /Diversity & Inclusion
- HR Training
- HR Logistics
- Insurance Risk Management
- Information Technology
- ITDS Operations
- Legal
- Maintenance
- Maintenance - Finance/Analytics
- Maintenance Technical Training
- Operational Excellence
- Real Estate
- Rental
- Sales
- Sales & Operations Management
- Sales Training
- Sourcing
- TMSS
- Vehicle Planning
- Vehicle Remarketing
- Vehicle Supply
The interns are currently enrolled in these schools:
Pennsylvania:Alvernia University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Juniata College, Kutztown University, La Salle University, Lehigh University, Pennsylvania State University - Berks, Harrisburg and University Park campuses, Sacred Heart University, Shippensburg University, Temple University, University of Pittsburgh, West Chester University and York College of Pennsylvania
Maryland:Towson University, Mount St. Mary's University
New Jersey:Rowan University
New York:Rochester Institute of Technology
North Carolina:High Point University
Virginia:Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
To qualify for Penske’s internship program, students must meet the following requirements:
- Full-time college student pursuing a bachelor’s degree (some internships require specific areas of study)
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Entering junior or senior year
- Completion of some core curriculum classes is preferred
Interested in an internship in 2016? Visit GoPenske.com/careers to apply for the internship of your choice. Applications will be accepted beginning February 2016.
By Kandace Wertz