Transition from Intern to Permanent Employee at International Motors Corporation
The SA WORX summer internship program at the International Motors San Antonio Manufacturing Plant is a paid initiative designed specifically for high school students, primarily from local schools such as Southside High School in San Antonio. This program offers hands-on, direct work experience in the manufacturing industry, focusing on building vehicles including diesel and electric heavy-duty trucks.
Key features and opportunities of the program include:
- Paid internships: Removing financial barriers so students do not need to balance other jobs while gaining work experience.
- Large scale involvement: International Motors hosts about 200 to 300 high school interns each summer, recruiting around 30 high school seniors from Southside High School in 2024 alone.
- Workforce development: The program aims to develop a local talent pipeline that benefits both the employers and the youth by creating real career pathways in manufacturing and related fields.
- Focus on economically disadvantaged students: Many participating students come from backgrounds where economic challenges exist (e.g., 84% of Southside High School students are economically disadvantaged).
- Collaborative ecosystem: SA WORX partners with multiple manufacturers and community organizations to provide a broad network of opportunities for youth in the San Antonio region.
One of the success stories of this program is Anthony Degollado, who toured the International Motors plant in San Antonio, Texas, during a forensic-science class field trip. With no post-graduation plans, Anthony seized the opportunity and applied for and was accepted into International Motors' paid, three-week summer internship program.
During the program, Anthony and other interns used hand and torque tools on a production assembly line to build Class 6, 7, and 8 commercial trucks. After the three-week program ended, Anthony and another intern, Cantu, received full-time job opportunities at the company.
Anthony now works on the receiving dock as a forklift operator, while Cantu supports material flow in truck production. In fact, seven of the original 30 International interns now have full-time roles at the company.
This internship not only provides valuable job experience but also serves as a stepping stone toward potential future employment at International Motors or similar companies, fostering local workforce growth and career development for young people. The program is a testament to the goal of greater:SATX's workforce development initiatives and the collaborative efforts of SA WORX, International Motors, and other manufacturing employer partners, including Avanzar Interior Technologies, Toyotetsu Texas, and Southwest Research Institute.
[1] Source: San Antonio Express-News
[2] Source: MySA
- The SA WORX summer internship program, in collaboration with companies like International Motors, Avanzar Interior Technologies, Toyotetsu Texas, and Southwest Research Institute, is providing education-and-self-development opportunities for economically disadvantaged high school students by offering paid internships in the manufacturing industry, focusing on energy-efficient, commercial vehicle production.
- The business partnership between these manufacturing employers and SA WORX is focused on workforce development, aiming to create real career pathways, thereby benefiting not only the companies but also the youth by providing them with the skills and experience needed for the finance, energy, and business sectors.
- The internship program serves as a stepping stone toward potential careers in various fields, including manufacturing, finance, energy, and business, as evidenced by success stories like Anthony Degollado, who started as an intern at International Motors and now works full-time as a forklift operator in the company.
