03 Sep 2008 | Ref. 234/2008
ARLINGTON, Virginia – BAE Systems and nearly 400 high school and college students enjoyed the mutual benefits of the company’s summer internship program this year. The annual internships are part of BAE Systems’ college recruiting program, which helps the company identify and hire entry-level talent.
Working at 27 company locations across the United States, the interns gained professional experience within many functional areas, including engineering, operations, finance, contracts, and business development.
“This was my first BAE Systems internship, and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything,” said Austin Rios, an engineering intern and student at the University of Arizona. “I was treated with respect, the culture is great, and everyone is friendly and inviting. This is definitely the place to be.”
Several of this year’s interns also participated in other professional development programs, such as Women in Technology and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), where high school students are mentored by BAE Systems employees to learn about careers in science and technology. BAE Systems is a strategic partner and the largest private contributor to FIRST.
“Summer internships allow BAE Systems to build relationships with students studying vital disciplines while enabling students to apply their classroom learning in a practical, real-world setting,” said Joe Furino, university relations manager for BAE Systems. “It’s a great way for us to see students in action and determine how they might fit within the company’s culture.”
BAE Systems has conducted the summer internship program for several years, and each year the number of participants increases, Furino added.
“The technical experience was much greater than I could have hoped for,” said Austin. “The internship allowed me to experience what it will be like after graduation, and narrow down what types of work I’d be interested in.”
Fostering interest in science and math among high school and college students is important to the U.S. aerospace and defense industry as a significant portion of its current workforce nears retirement. According to the Aerospace Industries Association, approximately 25 percent of America’s aerospace workforce is currently eligible for retirement.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defense and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15.7 billion (US $31.4 billion) in 2007.
For further information, please contact:
Shannon Smith, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 703 907 8257 Mobile: +1 703 967 3854
shannon.n.smith@baesystems.com
Greg Caires, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 703 907 8261 Mobile: +1 703 967 8630
greg.caires@baesystems.com
