Advice for Employers and Recruiters
Top schools for hiring interns and recent grads for early career manufacturing jobs
When you’re recruiting students for internships or recent grads for early career manufacturing jobs, which are your favorite schools to recruit from and why? Here is what 10 thought leaders have to say.
- Prefer Caltech and UC Berkeley Graduates
- Target Top Engineering Universities
- Choose Arizona State and UC Berkeley
- Recruit from Bismarck State College
- Collaborate with Industry-Aligned Universities
- Favor FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
- Carnegie Mellon for Skills-Oriented Graduates
- Value Purdue’s Business and Finance Programs
- Trine University’s Hands-On Manufacturing Program
- Georgia Tech for Engineering Excellence
Prefer Caltech and UC Berkeley Graduates
When recruiting students for internships or recent grads for early-career manufacturing jobs, my favorite schools to recruit from are Caltech and UC Berkeley. Caltech is renowned for its rigorous engineering programs and innovative research environment, producing graduates who are exceptionally skilled in both theoretical and practical aspects of engineering. This aligns perfectly with our need for high-performance servo drive and motor controller expertise at Advanced Motion Controls.
UC Berkeley, on the other hand, offers a strong engineering program with a strong emphasis on hands-on experience. Berkeley graduates come equipped with a diverse skill set and a readiness to tackle complex challenges in various industries, from robotics to medical healthcare. Both schools provide a talent pool that is not only technically proficient but also innovative and adaptable, which is essential for our dynamic and fast-paced industry.
Rene Ymzon, Engineer and Marketing Manager, Advanced Motion Controls
Target Top Engineering Universities
In my experience, when seeking interns or recent graduates for early-career manufacturing positions, I personally prefer targeting universities recognized for their strong engineering and technical programs. From my perspective, institutions like MIT, Georgia Tech, and Purdue University consistently produce graduates with the skills and knowledge essential for success in manufacturing roles.
Additionally, based on my expertise and knowledge, these schools often offer robust internship and co-op programs, providing students with hands-on experience that directly meets our industry needs. Drawing from my personal journey, I’ve found that recruiting from these institutions ensures a pool of top-tier candidates who are well-prepared to contribute meaningfully to our manufacturing team from day one.
Leonidas Sfyris, CTO, Need A Fixer
Choose Arizona State and UC Berkeley
Schools like Arizona State University and UC Berkeley are top choices. They offer robust engineering programs and foster a strong work ethic.
Graduates from these institutions come equipped with practical skills and innovative thinking, crucial for our manufacturing processes.
Their hands-on experience and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our company’s goals, ensuring a seamless integration into our workforce and driving our projects forward.
James Charles Paine, Co-Founder, Heroes Boost
Recruit from Bismarck State College
Bismarck State College is one of our favorite places to recruit from for manufacturing graduates. Rated in the top ten of the best public schools in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report, this college is a logical choice for any aspiring engineer in the area.
The school focuses on the latest technological developments, ensuring its programs accommodate any aspiring engineer. I always recommend keeping an eye on their latest course announcements; you’re sure to find something suitable quickly.
The school provides a solid theoretical foundation while also offering just the right amount of practical, hands-on experience. With such a modern approach to education, it can easily be considered one of the best schools in the state. Plan to pursue a degree of your choosing and dive headfirst into your studies!
Rizki Kadir, Automotive Writer and Software Engineer, Our Own Cars
Collaborate with Industry-Aligned Universities
In my capacity as co-owner of Altraco, a company deeply involved in contract manufacturing across various industries, we’ve found that our most successful recruits often come from universities that have strong ties to the industries we serve: home improvement, sporting goods, automotive, and outdoor products. Schools like the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) have stood out due to their excellent engineering programs, which are crucial for the highly technical nature of manufacturing in these sectors.
Georgia Tech, for example, offers robust mechanical engineering and industrial design programs, which produce graduates who are not only well-versed in the latest technologies but also in systemic problem-solving methodologies critical in product development and manufacturing. A recent graduate from their program joined our team and immediately improved our production line efficiency by applying lean manufacturing principles learned during his studies, which resulted in a measurable decrease in our lead times.
Cal Poly is known for its “learn by doing” philosophy, which ensures students gain practical experience alongside their academic studies. This approach is highly beneficial for our industry because it produces graduates who can adapt quickly to real-world manufacturing environments. We’ve had several interns from Cal Poly who have executed design and manufacturing projects with minimal supervision, directly contributing to innovations in product design that have been crucial for staying ahead in competitive markets.
Our collaboration with these institutions isn’t just about recruitment; it also involves participating in advisory boards that help shape the curriculum. This ensures that the education provided aligns closely with evolving industry needs, improving the readiness of graduates to contribute effectively from the moment they join our company. Such strategic educational partnerships are vital, facilitating a steady influx of talent that is well-matched to the demands of the advanced manufacturing sectors we cater to.
Albert Brenner, Co-Owner, Altraco
Favor FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
I often turn to the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering when recruiting recent graduates for early-career manufacturing jobs. This school ranks among the best engineering schools and offers a strong Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering program. The tuition is reasonable, especially for in-state students, which attracts a diverse pool of talented individuals. Their curriculum is aligned with industry standards, ensuring that graduates have the practical skills needed for our projects at Polar Engraving.
From my experience, graduates from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering come well-prepared. We have hired a few alumni over the years, and they have consistently demonstrated solid technical expertise. Their hands-on experience with modern manufacturing techniques has significantly impacted our efficiency.
Patrick Calman, CEO, Polar Engraving
Carnegie Mellon for Skills-Oriented Graduates
Carnegie Mellon University is my favorite school from which to recruit recent graduates and students for manufacturing internships. As the president of the awnings and décor business, I always find the graduates of Carnegie to be skills-oriented, making them a perfect fit for our company.
As a company in the décor and awnings industry, our work involves designs and the use of modern technology to bring new styles to our clients. For years now, we have recruited many students from Carnegie, and they always bring fresh ideas to our design unit.
Our recruitment at the school started when I was invited to give a speech to a third-year interior design class. During the forum, I was fascinated by the drive and eagerness of the students to learn about the critical skills to bring into the corporate world. Since then, I have given most of our summer internship slots to Carnegie, and the students never fail to deliver.
Mike Falahee, President, Marygrove Awnings
Value Purdue’s Business and Finance Programs
I particularly value our recruitment drives at Purdue University for internships and entry-level positions. Purdue stands out due to its robust business and finance programs, which align well with the intricate needs of our alternative investment focus.
Reflecting on a personal instance, I recall meeting a standout student during a campus job fair last fall. Their insightful questions and keen interest in market dynamics were impressive, paving the way for a successful internship that contributed fresh perspectives to our strategies.
Kris Mullins, CMO, Capital Max
Trine University’s Hands-On Manufacturing Program
Trine University in Angola, IN has one of the best programs in manufacturing technology, making its graduates excellent candidates for the industry. The Manufacturing Technology program offers students three concentration options: management, information systems, or manufacturing specialist.
Students can even transfer 12 industry-related credits into the manufacturing specialty concentration. This gives graduates hands-on learning experiences in an online environment. For instance, in one course, students receive a kit of measurement instruments and lab instructions to develop their metrology skills.
What’s great about this school and its graduates is that they are well-equipped to provide support and technical assistance throughout the manufacturing and design process. They apply the leadership and management skills gained from their major to assume leadership roles, helping to move the manufacturing team forward. Additionally, the degree from Trine University prepares early-career professionals for more advanced educational opportunities, such as the Master of Science in Engineering Management.
Sam Hickson, CEO, TG Wireless
Georgia Tech for Engineering Excellence
One school I particularly favor for recruiting interns or recent grads in manufacturing is Georgia Tech. Their strong emphasis on engineering and technology, coupled with specialized programs in manufacturing and industrial engineering, produces graduates who are well-equipped with the skills needed in the manufacturing industry.
Georgia Tech stands out due to its reputation for innovation and research excellence in engineering fields. The school’s close partnerships with industry leaders provide students with invaluable opportunities for hands-on learning and real-world experience.
Their cooperative education program integrates classroom learning with paid, full-time work experience, ensuring that graduates are not only academically proficient but also have practical skills and industry insights.
