International Paper

Manufacturing intern

June 2019 • Spotswood, NJ

What I liked

The best part were the people I worked with. Harding working and knowledgeable. They always took the time to thoroughly answer questions and explain all aspects.

What I wish was different

Communication across management was difficult sometimes.

Advice

Never be afraid to ask for help or questions on something you do not know.

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Human Resources Intern

June - August 2020 • Petersburg, VA

What I liked

Last summer I worked at a pulp mill and this summer I am at one of their box plants. This is completely different to my experience from last summer. I love that they gave me the opportunity to come back and put me somewhere that would give me a completely different experience. This time around there isn't an HR representative at the plant on a daily basis. This gave me the chance to handle the day to day HR tasks that pop up as well as come up with my own projects that I want to do and build those out on my own. This also led me to be able to connect with all employees on a more personal level. I have received so much room to grow and learn on my own while also knowing that if I need help my manager is just a phone call away and other non HR managers are there to help me. IP gives you the opportunity to learn, grow, and create value added work on your own. However, they also give you the resources you need to make sure you feel like you have a team around you even if they are not physically there like at a mill. This has been the best experience I've had with IP. Everyone there wants you to succeed and you feel that.

What I wish was different

Advice

Reach out to your non HR managers and supervisors at your location and ask them what they feel like needs to be fixed. They can really be the source of knowledge to help you create those value added projects. For me it was those managers and supervisors that helped me jump start all my ideas for my projects. Also, ask questions. I know some might seem tedious to keep asking or might feel dumb to ask, but I promise they are not and everyone at IP is always willing to answer any question you have.

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Finance Intern

May 2020 • Memphis, TN

What I liked

It was a very welcoming environment. The people and culture is great. With COVID, they still paid us in full and gave us real work.

What I wish was different

Nothing...honestly.

Advice

The place is a great way to experience what you want to do as a career. It is a jungle-gym; you choose your own path and whatever you enjoy.

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Manufacturing Excellence Intern

June - August 2020 • Selma, AL

What I liked

There are many things I liked about my time as a intern at the International Paper Riverdale (Selma, AL) Mill. Everyone was very welcoming, kind, and helpful. For on boarding, HR did a really great job of further introducing me to IP's core values, mission, vision and goals. Safety was also a huge topic and has been throughout my internship which I appreciate. From there, I worked on meaningful projects that gave me really great experience in subjects/areas that I would not have normally gotten. They don't give "busy work" and instead they explain why each project is necessary and important. IP also focuses on professional and personal development of their employees. We have two weekly "book clubs" at which we discuss safety and leadership topics and I've also had the opportunity to teach Excel classes and other trainings to improve my presentation skills. I believe IP overall is a great company for young engineers to grow, develop and learn.

What I wish was different

Advice

It can be intimidating as a new hire not knowing much compared to others but remember that you are here to learn. You may not feel as valuable starting off but throughout your time you will gain confidence and not worry so much about making mistakes and feeling out of place. Don't be afraid to ask questions and make suggestions! and always put safety first!

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Electrical Engineering Intern

June 2020 • Cedar Rapids, IA

What I liked

Treated as a new hire rather than an intern, and realistic work experiences.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Document Control Coordinator

June 2019 • Campti, LA

What I liked

I liked the work environment and the people I worked with.

What I wish was different

I can’t think of anything I would change.

Advice

One piece of advice I would share is to always work you hardest, it pays off and your employer loves seeing you give your best effort.

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Reliability Engineer

May - December 2019 • Pine Hill, AL

What I liked

Permanent workers treated me like an actual employee rather than an intern. They gave me many responsibilities and led off the internship with trust already instilled in me to get these things done.

What I wish was different

The location was very rural, which is something I am not a huge fan of. Different location is my only wish.

Advice

A determined and coachable individual can easily get a job working with this company! They love their employees and express that many times through the year.

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Paper and Pulp reliability Co-op

May - August 2019 • Port Wentworth, GA

What I liked

I like my coworkers and the freedom to choose my day to day activities. I also enjoy the flexibility of my schedule.

What I wish was different

I wish I had linked my work email to my cell phone.

Advice

I would recommend students do what they want when working a co-op. It is good to have direction, but more important to be independent.

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Process Engineer Intern

January - August 2021 • Selma, AL

What I liked

International Paper has a lot of upward mobility- especially for engineers. They have mills all over the country (and globe), and their headquarters are in Memphis. As an engineering intern, I liked how I was spending equal time in the office, analyzing data, and equal time in the field, supporting operations on the paper machines. I gained a lot of skills that I can apply to any career- communication, initiative, dealing with ambiguity, creative problem solving, planning... Overall, I see IP as a good company to work for full time in terms of opportunity, salary, diversity, and benefits. #IPIntern

What I wish was different

I wish I had gotten more hands on experience. Some of this was due to covid, but I really wish someone had taught me some mechanical & technical knowledge. My supervisors expected me to come in having way more excel knowledge than any college student should- and this is coming from someone who took a basic class on computer applications, and uses excel for chemical engineering classes. In general, there needs to be more formal classes for all interns so they can succeed and learn optimally. I also feel like a lot of my potential was not seen and was therefore wasted. I had a lot of free time in the first few months. Even though I have been here for 7 months and learned a lot, I feel like I would have been more successful with an official mentor, being trusted with projects more but not being expected to go it alone, and being kept in the loop better. I really like IP's corporate culture, but my particular mill has a very unprofessional and laidback culture. It seemed nice at first, but I started to see inappropriate/unsafe actions slide. I think that at least at my mill, safety is preached more than practiced.

Advice

I was not prepared for a manufacturing job in the slightest- waking up at the crack of dawn, long commutes, working lots of overtime, overwhelming sounds and smells, and navigating unsafe conditions. This is something to consider for any manufacturing job before you jump right in. I would tell anyone who is about to work the same internship to be curious, cautious, ask lots of questions, be a good listener, and be a go-getter. Also, place a value on professional/transferable skills, not just all the technical knowledge about the process.

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Mechanical Reliability Engineer Intern

May - August 2021 • Eastover, SC

What I liked

I love the people at the Eastover Mill. Everyone was so welcoming and willing to help, which makes the transition much easier. Additionally, I really appreciated being given meaningful projects that positively impacted the mill.

What I wish was different

Honestly, I would not change much about my experience. I really enjoyed my time at the Eastover Mill. I only wish possible opportunities were not hindered by the pandemic. However, I made the most of it and learned more that I thought possible in a three month span.

Advice

I have a few pieces of advice for anyone looking to work at International Paper. First, never be afraid to ask for help. Chances are if you have a question, someone else has had the same question at one point. Everyone wants to help you learn and succeed. Next, make friends with the other interns, engineers, operators, and technicians. They often have years of experience, and as a result, they often know the answers to questions you have not even thought of yet. Lastly, have fun and be safe! Interning for International Paper is truly an opportunity of lifetime, so enjoy the experience.

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REACH intern

June - August 2021 • Port Wentworth, GA

What I liked

I was given as little or as much responsibility as I wanted. The projects that I worked on were entirely mine, which was important to me because it felt like I was actually making an impact for the company. The people were always approachable and willing to help me with projects when I needed. IP PW is super close to Savannah, GA so I liked being close to a bigger city and everything it has to offer. The other IP interns I got close with and we became great friends while we all worked, lived, and hung out together.

What I wish was different

The on boarding process, especially with my offer letter not stating everything I would be given was frustrating. Especially since I knew that interns at other mills received everything in their offer letter.

Advice

Network with people at the mill. Whether they are management, operators, vendors, or co-workers, network with as many people as possible because they can be super useful for jobs later on down the line.

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Manufacturing Excellence Intern

January - August 2021 • Port Wentworth, GA

What I liked

The environment was extremely welcoming and everyone was willing to teach. There wasn't a day when I didn't learn something new. I also loved the location of the PW mill; located just outside of Savannah, Ga, it was a good mix of city/rural area.

What I wish was different

I wish that I would've been able to visit the other mill here. The company has two mills and it would've been great to see both the container board and fluff mills in action. I think having two mills in one location is something we should take advantage of!

Advice

I would tell anyone pursuing an internship to not be afraid to get out of their comfort zone and get involved in a project not assigned to them. This shows initiative and also gives you the chance to get involved in something you otherwise wouldn't. Who knows, it may end up being the best part of your internship.

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Financial Analyst Intern

May - August 2021 • Memphis, TN

What I liked

I had multiple trainings when working in the credit department that helped me succeed and complete assignments that a typical credit analyst would do which allowed me to gain skills that jobs would love. Also when I had gotten sick or had an emergency doctor schedule they were concerned and allowed me to take the rest of the day off to look after my health. Despite hearing what typical corporate jobs were like when it came to the life of the workers, International Paper seems dedicated to the health and livelihood of both the workers and the interns.

What I wish was different

More projects and assignments coming from the department I was working in instead of majority of the work coming from HR.

Advice

Don't be too shy when talking to your managers, internal peers or fellow interns. The more people you get to know, the better!

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Manufacturing Excellence Front End Intern

May - July 2021 • Cantonment, FL

What I liked

I really liked how welcoming the team was to the interns. The first week was dedicated to training and introductions to engineers we'd spend the internship working with.

What I wish was different

I wish the company offered corporate housing options.

Advice

Take advantage of the first week of training to meet everyone and then spend some time getting to know the other employees you'll be working with. A lot of the work I had depended on communicating with others in the company so getting to know them on a personal and professional level before depending on each other makes it a bit easier.

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Process Engineer Intern

May - August 2022 • Riegelwood, NC

What I liked

I liked being able to work with both the Manufacturing Excellence and operations teams. Both teams at the mill want to support the interns and are willing to help when asked. I was also able to interact with the other interns at and outside of work. Being a fully integrated paper mill, I was able to explore a lot of different processes and visit the other departments.

What I wish was different

It was difficult to find short-term housing in the Wilmington area. One of the engineers sent a list of apartments other interns has previously lived in, but some were no longer offering a 3-month lease. I also wish that my desk location was different. The interns shared offices in one of the buildings far away from the departments. While it was good to be able to interact with other interns, there was a slight disconnect when working with our departments.

Advice

I would advise other interns to ask to shadow the full time engineers. A lot of the intern work is project-based. By shadowing, interns can get a better understanding of what a job after graduation would look like. The initiative also shows the department engineers that they can ask the interns for help.

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Mechanical Engineering Intern

May - August 2021 • Ticonderoga, NY

What I liked

Plenty of learning opportunities through intern assemblies, Meaningful projects and tasks, Friendly Employees

What I wish was different

More available work for interns, more intradepartmental communication.

Advice

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Manufacturing Excellence Engineer Intern

May - August 2022 • Orange, TX

What I liked

The employees at the mill were very helpful/friendly. Projects assigned were real and meaningful. Lots of learning and networking opportunities.

What I wish was different

Geographical location wasn't ideal.

Advice

Put in the effort to build relationships. Become familiar with the intro-level engineering positions to see if it's something you want to do after graduation.

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Process Engineering Intern

May - August 2021 • Eastover, SC

What I liked

I liked the people I worked with. They were always friendly and willing to help.

What I wish was different

I wish there had been more hands-on experience or a chance to work with other departments within the same internship.

Advice

Be prepared to work overtime. They expect you to work over 40 hours a week and won’t like it if you leave early.

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Safeguard

July - August 2023 • Laredo, TX

What I liked

The environment and the responsibility they gave me

What I wish was different

I wished I had been more prepared for the job

Advice

You will have to work with a team and push yourself

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Human Resources Intern

February 2021 • Modesto, CA

What I liked

I really enjoyed the work environment and the people. Everyone is nice and welcoming. International Paper in Modesto cares a lot for there employees and pushes for safety. Currently we have life month going on which is a month long event where employees can win prizes, while learning about the importance of safety in the work place.

What I wish was different

There's nothing that I wish had been different. I have definitely asked a lot of questions and still continue to learn more each day.

Advice

Make strong connections. Assist in other departments as much as you can it will help you gain more experience, and learn more.It also shows employers that your eager and willing to learn. Don't be afraid to ask question.

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