Internship resources now available to IFAI members

Investing in the industry is something the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and members prioritize. These investments help ensure the growth of the many companies within the association. With this mission in mind, it is vital to continue the tradition of hiring ambitious individuals to join the industry and drive it into the future. Finding these new individuals for the workforce is not always easy, and IFAI provides resources for companies to develop internship programs and to find high-quality interns.

IFAI has partnered with Keyston Bros. to establish an internship initiative to engage students to join the industry. Member companies can then, in turn, engage students and motivate them to achieve within the field.

Here are a few things IFAI has been working on so far:

• IFAI’s Small Business Center
  • Find tips and tricks on how to successfully structure an internship so both the intern and employer have an enriching experience.
  • Review examples of successful supply-chain internship descriptions.
  • Read success stories.
• Expo 2017 in New Orleans
  • Engage in a panel discussion at Expo 2017 moderated by Makers Division Supervisor Magda Ronningen. Panelists will include an HR specialist, intern to hires, and employers.
• Internship Job Board
  • Post and find internships on IFAI’s Job Board.
• Auburn University Connections
  • Auburn has worked with Keyston to provide the company with successful interns, who have frequently become full-time hires.
  • More information on their internship requirements and contact information can be found here.
• Stay tuned for the upcoming webinar: “What Makes a Successful Internship”

“The Keyston Bros internship program helped me gain experience in a distribution network as well as the upholstery industry. After my internship, I was able to focus on college courses that would help me succeed in this business. The internship allowed me to have a good base of knowledge for how Keyston Bros worked, which made the transition to full time employee a lot smoother. I learned the daily operations of what occurs at the branch level as well as the corporate level.” — Zach Lawhon, Supply Chain Intern to New Hire

For more resources on how you can take full advantage of an internship program, please contact Janelle Wells.