Internship Insider: An In-Depth Look at McMaster-Carr's Summer Program

Searching for internships and picking the one that’s best for you can be daunting. Looking for a program with a clear objective and a company that provides training and resources to meet them? Interns at McMaster-Carr find both of those elements.

McMaster-Carr, an innovative industrial supplier using technology to enhance customers’ buying experiences, offers a summer internship program for rising juniors and seniors with experiences that range from operations to product development. In the program, interns build knowledge about the business, cultivate relationships with McMaster-Carr employees and fellow interns, develop professionally, and make a meaningful impact. To learn more about how McMaster-Carr ensures interns meet these objectives over the nine-week program, we spoke to former intern, Kamla Arshad, who is now a full-time project supervisor in McMaster-Carr’s Finance Department. 

Building knowledge about the business

Throughout the program, McMaster-Carr interns participate in structured programming providing an in-depth look at the principles that shape the company, as well as the hallmarks of industry-leading operations.

Additionally, interns learn about strategies propelling McMaster-Carr into the future — and apply them in real time by working on high-impact projects while growing management and leadership skills. 

Interns dive into workshops where they learn the skills necessary to succeed in a management role, and over the course of the summer, work directly on a project in a specific department of the company. Kamla spent her summer working with the Export Marketing Department exploring the robotics industry in Mexico to determine whether it was an industry McMaster-Carr should pursue.

Cultivating relationships with employees

Throughout workshops and summer projects, interns interact closely with McMaster-Carr employees, which Kamla said was one of the best parts of her experience.

“My favorite part of the internship, and my job today, is the people. I work with incredibly talented people from all walks of life. I feel like I am always growing because I learn something new every day,” she said.

Aside from helping interns build hard and soft skills, managers mentor interns as they face challenges on the job, and as they think about their careers after the conclusion of the program.  

“I got daily one-on-one time with my manager to talk about the project and my general development, [and] my internship manager is still one of my mentors to this day,” Kamla said.

Over the summer, interns are also paired with Program Leads who offer broader company perspectives, and Peer Mentors to answer day-to-day questions and offer department knowledge. 

“I met people across the company during the summer, and I reach out to them frequently [today] to ask questions,” Kamla said.

Developing professionally

Throughout the course of the program, managers at McMaster-Carr are dedicated to supporting interns’ professional development by helping them grow a versatile skillset that will make them competitive in an ever-changing labor market.

“I had used basic Excel before the internship, but the internship helped me learn advanced functions that I use in my job today,” Kamla said. “I also learned how to deliver feedback and practiced receiving feedback from peers.”

As a result of the program’s design and size, managers are attuned to the individual needs of each intern. Kamla shared an example of how she struggled with public presentations because English is not her first language. Her internship manager worked with her closely over the course of the summer, helping her prepare to give the final presentation of her research findings. Kamla continues to benefit from the coaching and development she received as an intern, as she said those skills help her speak to company stakeholders in her current role.

Making an impact

At McMaster-Carr, interns can make a real impact on the company and its future — which can be rare for early career candidates! Kamla’s previous research internships “rarely applied in the real world,” but at McMaster-Carr, Kamla saw her findings inform the direction of the company as she presented her work to an engaged audience of company stakeholders at the conclusion of the summer. 

“The research experience exceeded my expectations in every way,” Kamla said. “I learned so much.”

McMaster-Carr wants you to get to know them and their team — that’s why they open their doors to students each summer who are looking to explore their career options and get some hands-on experience working at an innovative company. Think this opportunity might be right for you? You can learn more about how you can connect with McMaster-Carr here.