Intern: Tyler Toepke-Floyd
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Company: John Deere
Location of Internship: Waterloo and Fargo
Internship Title: Product Engineering Intern
- On a Scale from 1-10, how rewarding did you find your internship experience to be? (1 being not rewarding at all, 10 being extremely rewarding)
- 9
- Why did you choose the company that you worked for?
- I chose to work for John Deere because it is a large and reputable company that values every employee, regardless of their position. Also, they work on complex problems, including the development and optimization of highly mechanical systems.
- What were some of your job requirements for your internship?
- In Waterloo, I worked in Test Lab Operations. I worked on test stands to simulate crankcase diesel engine emissions for testing filter designs in cold climates. In Fargo, I worked on developing housing for electronic controllers and pneumatic test fixtures for component validation.
- What was your favorite part about your internship experience?
- My favorite part about my internship experience, was developing professional relationships with my coworkers. It did not matter if they were my fellow interns, engineers, or lab technicians, I enjoyed getting to know them on a personal level, and collaborating with them on various projects. I believe in any job it is the people who make the difference.
- What was the most challenging part of your internship? How did you overcome these obstacles?
- With such a large company, many jobs are highly specialized and require specific technical knowledge. One big challenge I faced was learning this highly technical knowledge of diesel engines and electric circuits. However, John Deere provided many learning opportunities and hands on training experiences which really helped me bridge the knowledge gap that I had when I first started.
- How did you find your internship?
- Through an NDSU Career Fair.
- Why was it beneficial for you to register for credit(s) through the Internship Program offered through the Career Center?
- It was beneficial because I was able to satisfy a technical elective credit requirement for my major which in the end helped reduce my course load this last semester.
- What advice would you give a student who is in the process of applying to an internship?
- I would advise students to make sure you keep your mind and options open. Do not be afraid to travel or take a co-op if the opportunity is presented to you. Some of the most beneficial learning ends up happening outside the classroom setting.
