Samuel Barresi ‘24, a Mechanical Engineering Major and Computer Science Minor, has been hired as a Facilities Intern at Collins Aerospace! You can find Samuel working in Merrimack’s IT department, as an Honors Ambassador, and on Club Rugby!
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?
For a sophomore, being an engineer is getting experience where you can. I had connections at Collins Aerospace to help me get my foot in the door at the company.
This is a great company for the experience and the possibility of so many doors opening since it’s a subsidiary of Raytheon. This internship will give me experience that will help bolster my resume.
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 applied to several different internships at Collins and many more elsewhere. I’ll be doing a wide variety of things, from working with HVAC, plumbing, and solar initiatives improving automation such as self-sufficiency measures. My advice would be to start applying early and keep with it. I started the process in September and got this internship three weeks ago. Pursue multiple things at once and something will work out.
Can you talk us through the process of finding and applying for your internship?
I went onto the website, found the internship posting and hit “apply”. I would advise students to apply to as many internships as possible, and to where you have connections. The more people you talk to, the better off you’ll be. Don’t be afraid to ask for some help, and maintain any connections for as long as you can.
How did you prepare for the interview? What was it like, and do you have any tips on interview techniques or questions?
I had a computer screening/interview, like Quinncia, and a quick interview with a supervisor who gave me the job during that time.
How did the O’Brien Center help with getting prepared to apply, with the interview or with the job search?
I had a meeting with Laura Thibodeau before the interview, who gave me a space to conduct the interview in.
In general, how did Merrimack contribute to your career development? What resources did you use?
One resource I used was the MatLab in CAD 2050 with Ricky Caldwell Jr. There, I designed a robot, a video game, and got to student-lead and get design experience. I was a lead designer in a reusable mask project and head engineer in the robotics club in high school. During the early stages of quarantine, I worked with the Western Mass 3D Printing Collective, creating PPE for first responders, and designing a mask that could be easily washed in the dishwasher. I work in IT where I can learn to communicate better with people.
What do you wish you had known prior to applying there?
Applying is way harder than you think it would be, it is tedious and there’s little reward for your sacrifice. You are constantly emailing, getting denied, and reaching out with no response, which can be really frustrating for people. I knew it wasn’t gonna be easy but applying was a hard process.
Any campus shout-outs to folks who have helped you along the way in getting you to this point?
Ricky Caldwell Jr. helped recommend me for different internships by sending me links!
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?
College was a different experience with COVID. I now have the opportunity to be a Resident Advisor. This is my third time being offered a position in residence life, and now I can finally take it. Working in IT helps me talk to people. I also learned self-sufficiency and found my own paths to success in my field.
