Employer Spotlight: From Internship to Career, Microchip Bridges the Gap
Posted by damarcus.redeau
As students engage in classroom learning from a variety of career paths, there is often a gap between what they have learned and how to apply it to their respective professional careers. But for Career Pathways & STEP students, the networking & hands-on experience through interning with Microchip has helped bridge the gap. Ultimately, leading to full-time employment.
Founded in 1989, Microchip Technology Inc. is a broadline semiconductor company built on expertise in embedded control solutions. Their products and system-level solutions sit at the heart of real-world applications, from everyday consumer electronics to mission-critical systems. In 2002, Microchip arrived in Gresham, Oregon with a focus on manufacturing. The Gresham facility started with 60 employees but now has 700 employees plus an additional 300 contract Engineers, Technicians, IT Professionals, and others providing specialized services and support. Microchip’s presence in Oregon has created a strong and lasting relationship with PCC Career Pathways & STEP.
“Microchip has been very involved and a responsive partner with PCC,” said Michelle Parr, the Business & Industry Liaison for Career Pathways & STEP. “They have provided classroom presentations, company tours, paid internships, direct hires from PCC graduates, as well as participated in our Manufacturing Day Events and Trades Career Fairs.”
This decade-long partnership has produced a unique opportunity for students. As many internships are unpaid experiences, Microchip developed a paid internship program that has made a lasting impact for students. “About 10 years ago, we started working with Microchip when I was looking for an internship for one of our Facilities students,” Michelle explained. “I met with Chuck Halva (now retired) and he worked with HR to develop a paid internship. Our student completed his internship and was hired on and is still with them as a Senior Facilities Technician.”
Interns that are selected work at least 20 hours per week with Senior Technicians, and Microchip directly pays for their tuition and books for the remainder of their respective programs at PCC. The ultimate goal is that interns who successfully complete the program will be hired directly into a Technician II position. The initial program focus was the Equipment Maintenance group and PCC’s Electronic Engineering Technology (EET) program, but it evolved and expanded to include the Facilities Maintenance group and other PCC programs including HVAC & Facilities.
“Microchip has a long and productive relationship with Portland Community College going back more than a decade,” said Chris Ohman, Master Human Resources Partner at Microchip. “Even before the formal tech intern program was developed, many of the technicians who are now some of our most valuable Senior Equipment Technicians came from PCC’s EET program. Microchip now hires Intern Technicians, and many continue to be drawn from PCC’s EET, but we have learned that the Microelectronics, Mechatronics, and even Biomedical Engineering Technology programs can be a good fit for us.”
Over the past 10 years, Microchip has been a reliable bridge for connecting Career Pathways & STEP students to opening the door to their respective careers. As this relationship continues, PCC will continue to be a great resource for Microchip.
“PCC OMIC has also become an important resource for Microchip,” Chris explained. “The 2 most recent HVAC Intern Technicians started in the OMIC certificate program (Pre-Trades for Advanced Manufacturing, Career Pathway certificate), then moved on to the 2-year Facilities Maintenance Technology program at Swan Island.”