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GE Aerospace

Engineering Engines Co-op

September - December 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

Similar to UD a major highlight of GE Aerospace is its culture. Everyone I encountered had a positive attitude that was inspiring and helpful. GE Aerospace is very excited to invent the future of flight and that attitude is infectious. It is a joy to work with people that enjoy what they do.

What I wish was different

Sometimes as a Co-op at GE Aerospace, there is a lack of work given to you. This, however, does not mean there is a lack of work to do. As a Co-op, you have to seek out projects to work on. For a first rotation, this can be daunting. However, if you go into the experience expecting this it can be a great exercise of assertiveness.

Advice

The best thing you can do going into a GE Aerospace Co-op is come with a hunger for learning. The first week especially you will be bombarded with new information. If you are not proactive in putting effort toward learning it can be easy to fall behind. However, if you come each day trying to learn something new you will leave the experience stronger than you entered.
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Supply Chain Intern

January - July 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

I was given ample opportunity to work on projects that truly impacted the factory. I was treated with respect and welcomed onto my team and the factory as a whole.

What I wish was different

Many of the products I made became obsolete due to employees changing roles so frequently. I wish more of my projects had a longer lifespan post internship.

Advice

You will not necessarily be given busy work. In order to enjoy your job you have to go out and find projects that you want to work on to continuously improve the company.
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Supply Chain/Manufacturing Intern

June - September 2023 • Norwich, NY

What I liked

The people I worked with were very personable and helped me learn a lot about manufacture engineering.

What I wish was different

The area of Norwich wasn't exactly a lively one but I was still able to make the most of it!

Advice

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Engines Engineer

May - August 2023 • Lynn, MA

What I liked

I liked the community that the GE employees have, it was a very supportive and collaborative environment to work in. The projects you get put on as an intern do make a difference to the company and help push the needle in the right direction.

What I wish was different

I wish there were more opportunities to see some of the other manufacturing sites while at my internship.

Advice

I would say to always ask questions, be curious, never be afraid to ask questions, and set up get to knows with your team and your upper management! They have a lot of advice when it comes to career paths and it definitely makes the work place more friendly if you get to know them more on a personal level.
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Digital Technology Intern

May - August 2022 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

I really enjoyed working at GE Aviation this summer! My role consisted of working on the Digital Supply Chain RFID team, which enabled me to get hands-on in both logistic sites and product management. The team I was a part of gave lots of insightful advice as well as techniques to make my internship worthwhile. Michael Biggs, Reggie White, and other intern program leaders made me feel welcomed and included in the GE family as soon as I started. I loved connecting and working with other DT Interns throughout the summer while also making friends in the process. Overall, my time at GE has been a great experience!

What I wish was different

One thing I wished went a bit smoother was orientation day. I felt lost at times and being separate from the larger group put us at a disadvantage. Another thing I wish was a bit different was directions after the first day. As a DT Intern, we had a 4-day onboarding process which gave great insight into the business and its needs. During that orientation, I found that my assignment leader works remotely in Michigan. I talked to her, but not as much as I would have in the office. I feel like having an assignment leader that you can be face to face with can help ease the hardships of learning a new job.

Advice

One piece of advice I would give is to try something new. Meet up with other interns after work for an hour of top golf or go see a baseball game. They are in the same boat as you, and it's nice to meet new people. Also, reach out to as many people as you can. Figure out what you like, dislike, and want to be a part of. You may not like the role you were given, but you can find out what you want to do. A 15-minute one-on-one with someone within a different org can take you to so many different places.
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Supply Chain and manufacturing Intern

January - August 2023 • Springdale, OH

What I liked

I loved how collaborative the work environment was. If I ever had any questions everyone was extremely helpful and went out of there way to make my experience better. I would highly recommend doing an internship at GE even if it is in a role you don't necessarily see yourself doing. Also be social and make connections, people want to get to know you see get out there and make awesome connections at a great company.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have had more time. At GE they give you real projects to work on so finishing them in 8 months for some is even a stretch. While I did finish my projects there is so much more I feel like I could go back to do to keep improving the process if I had more time. I also wish that I had joined more of the GE clubs that they had available.

Advice

Try something new. I am a mechanical engineering major and the manufacturing and supply chain role did scare me at first. But, after working with them for 8 months in the role I am so happy that I made that decision. It got me out of my comfort zone and showed me something that I could see myself doing as a career in the future.
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Engineering Coop

January - July 2023 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

While with test engineering, I loved the culture and the people I worked with at GE. I've noticed it's a culture of striving for success while valuing their workers. For example, one of the projects I've worked on is closing out a series of test reports on previously run tests, which means I often need to consult other engineers to understand what I am working on. No matter who I ask, they always are very willing to drop whatever they're doing and help me in my work. Many of the engineers prioritize my learning over me actually getting work done. The culture of people I work with is so supportive and values learning and improvement. In June I shifted to production and spent two months essentially working on the floor packing industrial engine starters at TDI in Dayton. My primary goal was to gain experience working on a shop floor and learn about the relationship between engineering and the shop floor. I really liked how accommodating GE and TDI were to this. The experience I was pursuing was not a standard one offered by GE's co-op office, but TDI and the co-op office worked together to make this opportunity possible, an opportunity I think I learned just as much, if not more in, than I would have had I stuck with design. Both teams were genuinely interested in my learning and growth as an engineer to the point that a company as large as GE was willing to make micro-exceptions for my experience.

What I wish was different

The intern community at GE is also very strong and a large group, most of which are located at larger sites. Unfortunately, this makes it harder for interns at smaller sites to engage with other interns since they are often isolated, and so the experience becomes more about the small location and less about the overall company. GE still does a great job of getting your out of your site to see the company as a whole, but I wish they had more interns at smaller sites. Additionally, at smaller sites, opportunities for projects seem less available, so I wish there had been more opportunity for me to identify problems and try to solve them. As for my role in production at TDI, I wish there had been more opportunity to explore positions around the floor. I wish there could have been more opportunities to explore different areas of production (I was focused in paint and pack) and so while I still learned a lot about the relationship between production and engineering, my experience was primarily limited to paint and pack. This is why I wish the rotation had me moving around the shop floor, whether delving into assembly or machining. Otherwise, I wish I had gotten to know some of the people I did far earlier. Some of the team members I didn't meet until near the end of my rotation, and I found some of these people had incredible stories and life lessons that I wish I could get to know, but unfortunately didn't get the time.

Advice

From my experience with test Engineering, I'd say get to know everyone. If you're looking for an answer, somebody on site will have it, you just need to know who. Even if you don't work with them, get to know them, as they can teach you new lessons or just enhance your intern experience in ways you didn't realize. Most importantly, get to know the people in the shop. Get to know the machinists and spend time working with them, especially if your projects are changing how they work. And most importantly, smile and say hi to them, it gets relationships started that are life changing. From my experience working with production, if you take an opportunity like this to work on a shop floor, get to know engineering as well. Since I worked with engineering prior to moving to production, I was able to talk to both production and the engineering folks on both sides of any issue. Being able to see both sides and understand both sides is primarily where I gained the most experience this rotation. I saw how a lack of effective communication easily leads to frustration. This especially fits with my previous comments from my last rotation - get to know people, as many as you can. Take the time to have conversations with them since they'll teach you more than just job skills, but also life skills.
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power electronic fellow internship

May - August 2023 • Niskayuna, NY

What I liked

I like the diversity culture of the company and everyone in the company is very friendly. They are very willing to help each other on all aspects. The leaders also very care about the employees on the normal lives and work. The HR organizes many activities for us to know more about GE culture.

What I wish was different

I wish I could spend more time on the activitives with other interns. I also wish I could spend more time on the tecnology reseach during my intern.

Advice

Extend your social range. You can learn a lot more by social activities.
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Lean Intern

May - August 2022 • West Milwaukee, WI

What I liked

Flexible, multiple projects and things to do, culture and environment, very casual clothing

What I wish was different

A more specific project to work on

Advice

Definitely go out and network! Meet as many people as you can! Connect on LinkedIn!
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Test Facilities Mechanical Engineer

January - May 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

This was my first co-op that I have done and I absolutely loved it. The group that I worked for was the best group I could ask for, they were so nice and helpful. The work that I was doing was very meaningful and interesting. I was actually doing engineering work not just intern busy work. I liked that I was able to be hands on while also being in the office. I worked on many projects like, fire suppression systems, sound proofing control rooms, data sorting, cranes, and building test cells.

What I wish was different

The onboarding process was a little slow. It took me a really long time to be comfortable doing some of the work because there was zero help getting started. I wish there was more help to understanding the GE way. GE has a very special way to go about things and I was not familiar with there style which caused the projects to be slowed down. I should have gotten closer with some of the people so I had more connections to help move projects along.

Advice

Do not be afraid to ask for more work or if you need help on something. Get to know as many people as you can. Its ok if you do not know how to do something. Find someone that you can shadow
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Supply Chain Co-op

January - May 2023 • Springdale, OH

What I liked

I liked working on a wide variety of hands-on projects. I was able to work with the operators to design and make carts to fit their needs. I also worked on the development of a new repair and through that I was able to learn new 3D modeling software and how to 3D print. I liked having hands on projects and being able to follow the engineering process to create new things. I also liked forming relationships with the operators and learning from them how to machine and weld.

What I wish was different

I wish things within the IT department moved quicker. I had to request access for different programs to do some of my projects and it took 3 weeks for me to get all the access I needed. I also wish that I had a longer rotation so that I could have gotten involved in more depth with some projects. One of my bigger projects that I was working on, the new repair, had to be sent out to a different company for an operation. It didn't come back to ACSC for a couple weeks and by that time I was done with my rotation so I couldn't continue.

Advice

A piece of advice that I would share is to be honest when you don't know something. I was overwhelmed on my first couple shifts because I felt that I didn't know anything about a shop. Instead of faking my way through it I started asking the hourly workers how things worked and what they were doing. I soon learned a lot and I now feel much more confident in machining and navigating a shop floor.
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Aerospace Engineer Intern

January 2023 • Springdale, OH

What I liked

For this job I really enjoyed the freedom and responsibilities that they put on me. This was the first job I ever had where I felt like my role was not only important but would make a lasting change on the company. For example, My first big project was a parts washer to wash multiple combustor parts with one assembly and layout with a bunch of very accurate measurement requirements, and through this process I learned many valuable tools for my future success, both physical and mentally. I learned how to use every single tool in our shop and I learned proper planning and thinking techniques for completing projects, as well as improved on considering what could go wrong.

What I wish was different

One thing I wished would have been different was a little of the communication and organization. I learned everything in due time, but when I first started I was unclear exactly what my role was going to be. This was learned mainly through experiences and gauging where I stood among my fellow employees. Also, my projects were not organized or listed out, so at the beginning I felt like I was unsure of what I was suppose to be doing, but after I learned how to properly communicate with my supervisor this was no longer an issue.

Advice

Be confident and humble in the right areas of work. Don't be afraid to ask about anything, especially what you want. It is good to be upfront and assertive most of the time, but there is a line where you should be humble about what you don't know. Ask for people's opinions and advice especially if they know more than you, and seek to learn as much as you can.
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Engines Engineering Co-op

January - May 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

There were a few things that I did that stood out the most to me. First, I joined the Professional Development Committee (PDC) as the Evendale Social Chair. I did this on a whim and am so happy I did because I was able to meet so many people and host so many fun events in Cincinnati. It was a great opportunity to learn time management skills with project work and committee work, setting up meetings with leadership, and collaborating with others. Second, I set up many get-to-knows to meet and connect with different people throughout the company. I found that this gave me the best opportunity to network with others within the company and also learn about all the different positions that GE Aerospace has to offer. As someone who did not have any idea what they wanted to do after college, this was a great way to hear about what different departments do and find what interests you. Finally, ask questions! It does not matter if it is the silliest question or the most niche, intricate question that stumps the person you are asking, but each question shows your interest and willingness to learn and grow. I never had an encounter where I asked a question and was completely blown off. Often times, the question would lead to a much longer discussion, and by the end of it, I had learned not only the answer to my question but also the answers to other questions I did not even know I had.

What I wish was different

I do not wish anything had been different with the company. My experience with my department, work, and other opportunities was all fantastic.

Advice

Do as much as you can. This applies to all things, including project work, site tours, after-work opportunities with the PDC or your department, making connections, etc. Do not let yourself settle into a routine of missing out. You really only get one chance to make a good first impression (this also includes the company making an impression on you), and if you do not take the time to experience all it has to offer then you will be missing out.
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Supply Chain Co-op

January - May 2023 • Beavercreek, OH

What I liked

One of the things I liked most about this experience was the community within GE. At GE Aerospace, they make it a mission to make sure everyone feels welcome and a part of the team. Throughout my experience, I met a lot of new people and was able to network with other co-ops both during and outside of work which helped make the transition into a new company a lot easier. In addition, I enjoyed working on projects during my rotation which gave me a lot of responsibility and real world supply chain and manufacturing experience.

What I wish was different

One thing I wish was different about this co-op was the working hours. A typical day for me started at 7:00am at the office and ended around 3:30pm. While it was nice to get out of work mid-day, this schedule will definitely take a toll on you if you don't make it a point to get to bed early. These hours are a bit flexible and could change depending on your manager and your location so don't let this deter you from the company.

Advice

One piece of advice I would give to future co-ops is to not be afraid to ask for help or for another project. At a company like GE Aerospace, there is always something to work on and people who are willing to lend a helping hand. Also, make sure to schedule "Get to Knows" within the company. These are meetings where you can learn more about different parts of the company and what other people are working on. If you utilize these, they are great for networking and could help lead to a position pending completion of the co-op and graduation.
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Aerospace Engineering Intern

September - December 2022 • West Chester, OH

What I liked

I was on the professional development committee, and organized tours of 14 facilities throughout all of Ohio for all of the GE Aerospace Interns. This experience improved professional emailing skills and gave me the opportunity to work on the Professional Development Committee with 6 other dedicated interns working in Evendale, Ohio, Lynn, MA, and Indiana, as well as the intern experience coordinator, Reggie White. I also loved the Direct Metal Laser Melting Heat Transfer Team that I worked with, where I learned that GE saves a lot of money on manufacturing costs while simultaneously avoiding the supply chain backups plaguing their competitors by 3-D printing parts made out of metal. This practice is extremely profitable because it allows them to reduce jet engine assembly sizes from 25,000 parts to a couple thousand parts.

What I wish was different

I ended up discovering that I am more suited for a role in finance, so I wish that I had applied to the FMP internship instead, even though my experience with HR, my team, the PDC, and my boss could not have been any better. Personally, I am just more interested in finance than coding in Cygwin Bash Shell, 3-D modeling in NX, or performing Finite Element Analysis in Ansys Workbench. Outside of the actual day-to-day work I was doing, I have no regrets about the experience, but that is just because I am planning to transition from engineering to finance. If you enjoy FEA, coding in MATLAB, and 3-D modeling, this role is for you. Try to work at the Additive Technology Center!

Advice

If you work at GE, go to the PDC events, and even apply for a PDC position before the rotation starts. All that you need to do to apply is make a single PowerPoint slide stating why you believe that you would be a good candidate for a position. Also, go to the volunteering events and happy hour events organized by your sub-section manager or plant manager. Networking within GE is something I highly recommend as well. After speaking with 18 people that were graduates of the FMP, MEDP, OMLP, and EEDP programs, you will know what career path at GE is most applicable to your career goals and interests.
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Supply Chain Engineering Intern

September - December 2022 • West Chester, OH

What I liked

I enjoyed how helpful everyone was, all my coworkers were willing to help and answer any question I had. My supervisor was great at getting me integrated into my team and making sure I felt at home. I had the opportunity to see different sites through the coop program, and work with people across the world on issues being faced. I was able and encouraged to network with as many employees as possible, to make connections and understand what different opportunities there were in GE. Finally, I had teh opportunity to work in a niche part of the company, which was a blast.

What I wish was different

I wish we had gotten our full 16 weeks, instead of the 13 that it ended up being. GE decided to shorten it 2 months before we were supposed to start which was rather inconvenient. My job also mainly consisted of computer work, and it wasn't until the very end that I got to go to a shop and see the engines and work being done up close. But all in all I do not have many complaints for this work term.

Advice

I recommend meeting as many people as you can, and getting to know them well, so that after you are done they will remember who you are. This is important because having these connections when you are looking for a job is a great help. Secondly, use this to get as much experience as you can. Go on all the excursions you can, talk with as many employees as you can, so that you can better understand what you may want to work with. Finally, give it your all. If you are given a task, finish it to the best of your abilities, and even go beyond exactly what you were asked for so that you show that little bit extra for your supervisor.
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Test Engineering Co-op

September - December 2022 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

I liked how I made an immediate impact on the team I was working with. GE gave me work that was challenging but helped push me in my professional career. I was tasked with resolving an issue with the temperature readings from thermocouples. I was also responsible for creating drawings for the test cell I worked in. Every employee I interacted with was willing to help me and cared about my experience. GE pairs you with a "buddy" who is willing to answer any questions you have. GE offers the opportunity to tour various work sites. This allowed me to see what the different sites do on a daily basis. The tours also helped me decide where I plan to continue my career at GE.

What I wish was different

While I enjoyed the work I did, I was in the same test cell throughout my rotation. I would have found it beneficial to be able to spend time in some of the other test cells. The onboarding process was confusing at times. The preemployment program did not offer much assistance. Much of the first week was spent clarifying issues that could have been explained before arrival. GE is aware of this issue and are working to solve it.

Advice

Get to know as many employees as you can. Every individual at GE is willing to spend time with you and explain their career and experience. Schedule "get to knows" with members of your team. I was able to gather a wealth of knowledge by talking to other employees.
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Engines Engineer

May - August 2022 • Cincinnati, OH

What I liked

I liked being in an actual office environment as it's much different than being in a classroom. I liked learning new skills and networking with the other interns and full time employees.

What I wish was different

The communication was a little lacking. I didn't know what my assignment would be until the day I started. Whenever I needed help with something it would take a few days for people to respond to me, if they even responded at all.

Advice

Make sure to network and meet as many people as you can; both people who are in the same field as you as well as people outside of your field. Also, make sure to go to the social events outside of work.
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Systems Engineering Intern

September - December 2022 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

I really enjoyed GE Aviation's atmosphere, as I could tell they very much value diversity and inclusion. This was shown through numerous holiday celebrations for different cultures, including Diwali, Christmas, Hannukah, etc. as well as Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that actively held events for the women's group, pride alliance, etc. I could tell that GE cares a lot about their interns, as there is a whole council of interns who plan social and professional networking events in addition to very informative tours across many GE locations. As for my internship specifically, the people I worked around the most were always willing to answer my questions and encouraged a culture of learning and growth. They willingly taught me what I needed to know and let me have ownership over the projects I was on, while still lending helping hands.

What I wish was different

I wish I would've known a bit more about the specific departmental position in which I'd be placed. I learned a lot from being in Quality, but I do not have interest in being a quality engineer and did not get the hands-on experience I was looking for. I would have like to gain more of a technical background to keep the skills I've been learning in school sharp. Despite this, I was still able to reach out to the people in the lab who were able to give me some more of a hands-on experience than I would've gotten just in Quality.

Advice

If I could talk to future GE Av Systems interns, I'd emphasize to go on all of the tours that are made available and take every opportunity that GE offers. I learned a lot from these opportunities about so many different departments and types of engineering, as well as about technical skills such as welding, machining, testing, and 3D printing. These are also great chances to meet professionals in different areas and network with them and with other interns. I would also recommend always asking questions if you don't understand something-- no questions are off limits and it will only make you look better by showing that you care. And, as always, if you run out of work to do, just ask anyone what you can help them with.
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Product services intern

May - August 2022 • Atlanta, GA

What I liked

What I wish was different

More involved projects

Advice

Network as much as possible within company
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