Jasmine Meade ‘22, rose from a recent internship to a full time position as a Mechanical Engineer at BLW! Jasmine is a Mechanical Engineer major with a minor in Mathematics. On campus, Jasmine can be found in the Honors Program, as the first female president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, in the Omicron Delta Kappa Honors Society and the Merrimack Engineering Honors Society!
Congratulations on your new position. Thank you for meeting with me. Can you tell us a little bit about why you chose to work there? What makes this company a great place to work?
What makes it such a great place to work is the environment I experienced while I was there. One of the last days I was there was on the final review day, which can be a really nerve wracking event. Something that helped a lot was that everyone went out to lunch and maintained a positive attitude. The higher ups are also so kind towards the employees, and they tend to hire exclusively Merrimack!
How did you find this position, and can you tell us a little bit about what you do there? And is there any advice you’d give to other students looking to break into this company?
I found the position on Handshake, applied, and had an interview. It was less of a regular interview, but more of an overview of what they would want me to do. During my internship. I managed projects involving innovative solutions to complex building challenges, using both Autodesk AutoCAD and Autodesk Revit to draw in existing ductwork conditions of HVAC systems. Additionally, I performed ventilation calculations in Excel and CHVAC/RHVAC on both residential and commercial units, and sized ductwork and chose equipment based on calculations. I also had the opportunity in my time to perform site visits to assess existing HVAC conditions and determine where additional rooftop units could be placed.
It’s one of the most social jobs you can have as an engineer, I can do site visits and look at ductwork and go on the roofs. I love the social aspect of site visits. Laura Thibodeau helped with my resume and with negotiating my salary. I also found that Handshake was so helpful.
My best advice would be to take advantage of campus assets like headshots by Kevin Saleme, and other resources on campus. The best way you can set yourself up for success is by using the tools around you.
Can you talk us through the process of finding and applying for your internship?
I found the listing for the internship on handshake and applied. They reached out to me, and we set up a zoom call, and I was soon accepted! Towards the end, I loosely mentioned working there post grad. I went back for winter break for two weeks, during which they had a closeout meeting with me, and an offer letter for full time was ready for me a few weeks later.
How did you prepare for the interview? What was it like, and do you have any tips on interview techniques or questions?
I used Quincia all the time to prepare for the interview. I tend to get really nervous before interviews, so I wanted to prepare for every single question. It was really helpful to listen to what I said and prepare my responses.
How did the O’Brien Center help with getting prepared to apply, with the interview or with the job search?
I got help preparing my resume! Laura Thibodeau walked me through every step of the process, from helping me negotiate my salary, to reading over my emails and responses to make sure it sounded good!
In general, how did Merrimack contribute to your career development? What resources did you use?
I used the O’Brien Center, and found professional development opportunities through ASME & the Society of Women Engineers. And I went to the Professional Development Retreat last fall!
What surprised you about your internship experience? Were there any situations that came up that you were unprepared for?
It Surprised me that they were so willing to teach me what I don’t know, and that’s what stood out to me about this company. Everyone wants you to have experience, but nobody wants to give you it, but they were willing to teach me. You learn more on the job than you expect, you don’t need to know everything beforehand.
What skills have you developed working for this company and what do you wish you had known prior to starting the internship there?
I definitely improved on my technical skills! I’m now a pro at AutoCad and Auto desk Revit. I wish I had known that you can be professional and outgoing at the same time. I was shy due to my fear of standing out, but everyone is so nice! I learned that I can have my personality and be an engineer.
Any campus shout-outs to folks who have helped you along the way in getting you to this point?
Laura Thibodeau and the Chair of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Capaldi, who have helped me navigate the journey! I also want to thank Sam Geary, my mentor and Merrimack Alum!
Speaking of your time at Merrimack, how did you grow in your time here? Were there any influential clubs, jobs, professors, or moments for you?
As time went by, I got more involved on campus, and I wished I had done that earlier than I had! ASME had a big impact on me. And so did the Department of Engineering. It is such a unique program, and the upperclassmen were so willing to help and advise. I got that same support in ASME, so when I was elected president of the club, I made it my mission to help younger engineering students and pay forward the kindness I was shown. 
