Vee Pak LLC

Engineering Intern

May - August 2018 • Countryside, IL

What I liked

Freedom of choice, in the second half of the internship, to decide what project(s) I can start on and to experience the role of project management when tackling capital engineering projects. Since the facility is small, there were many opportunities in getting to know the engineers, HR staff, and analytical chemists and to learn about their functions that make Vee Pak possible.

What I wish was different

From the start, there was no set direction on the tasks that the engineering interns worked on each week. Vee Pak should have prepared a list of tasks that keep the interns busy and still be able to show how a contract manufacturing company like Vee Pak runs in the Cosmetic Industry. With a lack of direction, there was also the problem of Vee Pak not being able to provide mentors throughout the internship period. This isn't a huge deal as it puts the interns into a position of high responsibility and motivation at all times, just like a full-time Engineer would have to behave and think on their own.

Advice

Get to know your co-workers and the function(s) they serve within the company. You will know better on who to ask to get the right answers for your industry project(s) as well as having them suggest third-party contacts (such as vendors they have great connections with).

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Factory Worker

June - August 2018 • Countryside, IL

What I liked

There are a wide range of people that I was able to connect with both close to my age and much older. The different jobs I performed, while sometimes were boring, gave me perspective on what people of the minorities have to deal with full-time. Also, factory workers are amazing. The tolerance they have for doing things that for me were extremely hard to deal with is.....just wow. The packers had to stand for 10 hours packing. (The shifts were 10 hours each). I was part of them for 1 day and after I had felt as if my arms will rip off. The factory building is huge (coming from a person that has never visited a factory until their first day on the job). There are many different sounds one hears: the sound of the forklift driving/reversing, the machinery, mumbled voices of people talking. It was great to hear all of them. Factories contain assembly lines. Some are hard to manage, others easy. I got to experience both. Let me tell you, the easy ones were the boring ones. But, in the 6 days throughout 4 weeks I worked there, a really different and unique experience that I hope I won't have to experience again. (I mean, I want to achieve my dream job. Hopefully, I will. If not, I know what is waiting for me)

What I wish was different

I wish they let us SIT DOWN!!!! The different jobs required either maximum concentration or none at all. Either way, the managers of the factory did not let anyone sit down. Coming from a person that already had back problems, I was struggling staying awake and enduring leg/back pain. I mean, I learned the hard way and fixed it. (I wore support shoes) The next thing: NO HEADPHONES/MUSIC. You weren't allowed to listen to music while doing whatever job you were doing. I mean, I have worked in almost all the assembly lines they had (or at least, glanced at them) and I can tell you none required you to concentrate so much that you can't listen to music. I don't understand how ear plugs can be worn, but not earphones with soft music playing can't be worn! I don't know what is going through the managers; mind, but they were overthinking in terms of "making sure the worker works." At this point, no places to sit will lead to person to collapse from standing up too long. It'll make it worse for the worker. But, the people that have worked there for a long time have found a way to solidify their legs. Teach me your ways, guys!

Advice

Take bathroom breaks!!! When you are in a line that doesn't have hourly rotations, take 15 minute breaks! You will need to refuel the tank every once in a while. It is so relaxing to sit in the lunchroom after standing for so long. You, kind of, get your sanity/brain back. Then, you return to work with your bladder empty, maybe your stomach a little full, and your mood up! There are many other pieces of advice I can give, but that is the main one I have been told to spread.

Be the first to mark this as helpful