June 26, 2020
Internship program continues with emphasis on safety and development
The need for breakfast doesn’t stop during a pandemic, and neither does our commitment to our annual summer intern program. This year’s program, which started at the beginning of June, is made up of sixteen interns who work with our corporate headquarters in Lakeville, Minn., Campbell Mill in Northfield, Minn., and sales office in Bentonville, Ark.
As the company implemented safety measures in response to COVID-19, our talent acquisition team developed an innovative approach to allow for the continuation of this year’s internship program.
Prioritizing Safety for Summer Interns
Safety is our No. 1 priority at Post Consumer Brands. To ensure the safety of our summer interns, the team developed a virtual format for those set to work at our corporate headquarters and sales office. By leveraging collaboration tools and planning community development activities, the team is creating an enriching experience – even from a distance.
Interns working in our manufacturing plants, who are unable to work remotely, are staying safe with existing measures including temperature checks, face masks and social distancing.
“We want to provide a memorable and educational experience for summer interns, while also focusing on safety,” said Michelle Newman, senior director – human resources, “We’re able to do this thanks to the work and dedication of our talent acquisition team.”
Transforming the Internship Program
Innovation is key in making the virtual and socially distanced internship program valuable for both the interns and the company. The goal for the internship program is to eventually hire interns as full time employees, so it is essential that our interns have the opportunity to experience our culture of winning together.
The talent acquisition team is planning several activities beyond work projects to introduce interns to leadership and to allow them to see how we live our values every day. Through virtual networking events and an executive lunch series, interns will have the opportunity to meet and interact with key leaders at the company.
Learning and professional development are also essential components of the program. Especially amid a pandemic, interns will have the chance to learn how to adapt to changing conditions and leave the summer program more confident in their abilities.
To help our intern managers succeed, the HR team launched a peer-to-peer intern manager connect group to provide support to intern managers throughout the summer. Intern managers attend monthly development check-ins with key teams to discuss topics related to the internship program, best practices for leading people in a virtual setting, summer activities and future plans. This program helps develop leaders within the organization.
Additionally, an Intern Fun Committee at Post Consumer Brands, has been working to plan engaging activities to build connections among the group. At the end of the summer, the cohort will even develop a video highlighting key experiences from the program.
If you haven’t already, click here to meet our 2020 summer interns. If you’re interested in working at Post Consumer Brands, check out opportunities here.
