We had 340 candidates in total, we took in 11 interns, and 4 contracts were extended! How amazing is that?

For Milrem, it already started in February – the internship itself began in May, and some interns are still here – so it was a HUGE project, but we all got something out of it. We are super happy to grow young talents in the robotics, engineering, and defence sectors. We are even happier that so many young people are interested. Our objective for this program was to grow future talents and help them develop their skills, knowledge, and confidence so that they can become strong candidates for future roles in the company. And, as mentioned, 4 contracts have already been extended. We wrapped up the internship program in August and had a virtual coffee morning. We asked the first words that came to their minds when they heard the word Milrem. And what can we say – pretty spot on!

But most important for us was to give our interns not only an amazing summer but also a very practical one. We were privileged and happy to read in the feedback that the internship not only met but exceeded their expectations. From the start, they felt like employees and equals, which really boosted their confidence. They learned a lot, gained new connections, and even made friends. Our interns discovered that they had an amazing opportunity to refine their knowledge in their field and build things from scratch. The thing we are most proud of is that our interns said they felt 100% comfortable asking questions and seeking help when needed. We also emphasize that Milrem truly lives according to its values, and this also came through in the feedback.

Here are some quotes from our amazing interns:

How welcoming everyone were and seeing the whole company as one team.
My team was really fun and good to be around.
A supportive environment, access to a wide range of software tools and motivating lectures on simulations.
I really enjoyed working alongside such smart and talented engineers. I had so much to learn from them, and I’m very grateful that they took the time to teach and support me.

We are happy that we were able to give our interns responsibility, freedom, and the opportunity to work side by side with our engineers. Their actions really had an outcome, and the environment was very safe and positive. In our NPS question, we scored 83 – so our interns will recommend us. And for the question: Would they consider working here in the future? – we got 100% yes!

But a big part of the internship is also our own hardworking teams who were open to taking interns in and giving them this amazing summer. This year we had interns in Production, Project Management, System Integrations, Platforms, IT and Security, Software Engineering, and People and Culture teams. We also asked our mentors how they felt, and we were happy to hear them say that the interns performed well and were helpful for the team. When asked if they’d like to mentor again in the future, here is one quote from the feedback:

Absolutely! This gives a good insight into the personality traits of people entering the job market, and if you see that an intern is competent and eager to learn, it’s a good opportunity to hire them, if possible.

They also pointed out that it is important to connect with your intern, create a safe environment for them, and tailor tasks based on the intern’s previous experience. We are more than happy that our mentors felt supported throughout the whole program.

So, what are the key aspects of having an amazing internship program? For us, it is clear communication, engagement, making interns feel safe and welcomed, and giving them enough freedom and responsibility. Even for us, there are some learning points for upcoming internship programs, but we are more than happy to make the necessary changes to provide an even better experience for our young talents in the future.

Thank you to all the candidates, our 11 amazing interns, and our own team!

See you next year!