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Internships are a rite of passage for many college students as they prepare to begin their careers. Domtar offers paid internships in engineering, operations, maintenance, quality assurance, product development, wastewater treatment, environmental and safety operations that provide hands-on learning experiences and real opportunities to students eager to use their skills and talents.

“Internships at our mills help college students look into possible careers and gain real work experience in a manufacturing environment,” says Trevelyan Hodge, senior HR advisor at the Ashdown Mill. “They also create a pathway for hiring engineers and other employees who already have a general understanding of mill processes and relationships, which adds great value in any department they may join.”

National Intern Day is the last Thursday in July. To mark the occasion, we spoke to some of the college students completing Domtar internships at our Ashdown and Plymouth Mills. Continue reading to learn how Joseph, Nicole and Kate describe their experiences, and what advice they offer to students considering an internship at Domtar.

What’s a typical day like?

As part of the IT team, I provide hardware and software support to people throughout the mill. There’s a lot going on and every day is different; I never know exactly what I’m going to do when I come in. I help solve problems in collaboration with others, and I have to prioritize what’s business critical. My supervisors have been fantastic; they have so much experience and they help me figure things out.

How does this internship fit with your career goals?

Ultimately, I’d like to be a software engineer and write programming code. This internship gives me real-world business experience inside a multi-million-dollar organization. By understanding how things work, I will be better at developing effective solutions.

What do you like most about your internship?

It’s very hands on and there are new challenges every day. I get to help solve short- and long-term issues by working with people across the mill. The engineers, mechanics, operators and electricians all look at a specific problem from different angles and then narrow down possible solutions together.

This is your second internship with Domtar. Why did you return?

There’s just so much to learn and to take in – it’s a lot different to see everything in person compared to reading about it in a textbook! The people here are amazing. They are really helpful and always willing to answer my questions.

What surprised you the most when you started at Domtar?

I thought it would be very intimidating. But everyone introduced themselves to all the interns and offered their help. The engineers are so willing to teach us; they take time out of their busy schedules to make sure we’re learning.

Where do you picture yourself after you graduate?

I’m still trying to figure that out, but I’d like to work in operations. I like the fast pace of manufacturing and production. I get to work with process engineering and it’s rewarding to see a product through from start to finish. It’s highly complex.

What’s your advice for future interns?

Keep asking questions. There’s a lot of information to absorb, so take notes and review them regularly.

Internships at Domtar can last for three to 12 months, depending on the facility, and on average, we have about 100 internship openings per year across the company. Visit the Student Focus page on Domtar.com/careers for details about our internships and where to find us at upcoming campus events.

We offer paid internships in a variety of areas and locations, and we are hiring for full-time positions around the U.S. and Canada as well. Use the links below to learn more about student opportunities or all job opportunities at Domtar.