Pros
Pre-Internship Communication: Excellent communication from HR leading up to the start date. Clear instructions and timely follow-up emails. Mandatory drug testing handled professionally, providing clarity on requirements. Training in Pennsylvania: Comprehensive safety and role training for Field Service Engineers. All expenses covered (hotel, car rental, work boots, FR-rated clothing, meals). Overtime pay for travel delays from the moment you leave for training. Snacks, coffee/espresso machines, and soda available at the training center. Hands-on safety equipment provided (e.g., gloves, hard hats, low-voltage gloves). Assignment Location: Opportunity to work at the City of Industry location, in proximity to California’s benefits. Friendly and helpful coworkers willing to teach and answer questions. Exposure to a large organization with diverse divisions and career growth opportunities. Job Tasks: Clear, well-documented processes for breaker testing (e.g., NETA standards). Opportunity to choose and present a personal project during the internship. Hands-on experience in breaker testing and exposure to trip curve calculations. The company encourages internal mobility, allowing for career advancement across divisions. Company Culture: Large, established company with opportunities to network and grow. Encouragement to learn and seek new skills independently.
Cons
Training in Pennsylvania: Long training sessions (8-hour days) that can be mentally and physically fatiguing. Repetitive classroom-based sessions, although mitigated by refreshments. Assignment Location: Limited hands-on tasks due to California's strict safety regulations. Interns restricted from working on live electrical systems, reducing exposure to some practical experiences. Job Tasks: Tasks can become repetitive, especially breaker testing. Limited exposure to electrical engineering calculations and design work during the internship. Learning opportunities largely depend on individual initiative rather than structured mentorship. Overall: Internship experience may not fully align with electrical engineering academic expectations. Variability in the quality of experiences depending on the assigned location.
