Finding a career after college can sometimes be challenging. For many students, summer internships provide valuable experience, help build resumes and make it easier to land a job in their chosen field after graduation.
Summer internships serve as a key component of career development. Internships allow students to gain practical, hands-on experience, which they can apply in the classroom and in the real world. Gen Z interns also have new ideas and knowledge to share, which adds value to their summer work.
Domtar offers a wide range of internship opportunities in the forest products industry, from co-ops in our operations to internships in our corporate center departments.
“Many Domtar leaders, including myself, began our careers as interns and are glad to take the opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ with the next generation,” says Lauren Hultz, director of digital communications and brand management for Domtar. “Summer internships allow students to apply their knowledge and develop their skills in a safe space, and they also help us stay up to date on changes and trends in our fields of expertise.”
For National Intern Day, we asked a few of our summer interns about their experiences working with Domtar.
What surprised you the most about your summer internship?
Sully Boni, Pulp & Utilities, Marlboro Mill
“I was most surprised by the efficiency of the mill and its processes. Everything from the liquor to the lime gets recycled and reused in order to minimize waste. It has been remarkable to see the many ways the mill saves resources.”
Simone Brittz, Engineering, Kingsport Mill
“I’ve been blown away by the support I’ve received this summer, which has encouraged both professional and personal growth. I’ve gained lessons and memories that will carry over into every part of my life beyond this experience.
I was also surprised by the scope of the projects I was given. These projects pushed me into rapid learning — not only of mill processes but also of managerial skills like drafting documents, leading teams and presenting formal proposals.”
What did you discover about the company or yourself?
Taylor Oglow, Public Affairs, Richmond, BC corporate office
“Domtar is a company that cares about its people. You’ll notice that when you work at Domtar, our roughly 14,000 employees worldwide include a disproportionate number of ‘lifers’ — employees who joined early in their careers and never left.
I have also experienced firsthand the commitment to professional development at Domtar. With the help of my manager and colleagues, my internship on the Canadian Public Affairs team at Domtar has given me the skills to stand on my own in rooms with company executives, members of parliament and local business leaders.”
Elizabeth Killion, Manufacturing Services Department, Marlboro Mill
“I discovered how important teamwork and collaboration are to the success of the company and the mill. Everyone has a role to play, and those roles always overlap and intersect with each other. Communication is critical, with everyone at the mill working together to achieve the high standards that Domtar values.”
What skills or lessons will you take away from your time here?
Annagrace Presley, Manufacturing Services Department, Marlboro Mill
“I have learned many different skills and lessons, but a key skill I will take away is how to manage and develop mechanical engineering projects on my own.
I have also learned effective communication and correspondence with project contributors in and outside the mill: how to ask the right questions and adapt quickly when plans change. These are lessons I know will be valuable to me in my future career and everyday life.”
Kelby Froelich, Manufacturing Services Department, Marlboro Mill
“When it comes to skills that I will take away from my time here, I would say the biggest ones were time management, improving my note-taking skills and tailoring my communication based on my audience. For example, the terminology and technical detail may differ between an electrical and mechanical engineer working on the same project.”
What’s the most valuable thing you learned during your internship?
Simone Brittz, Engineering, Kingsport Mill
“The most valuable thing I’ve learned is the importance of a good team. I’ve been fortunate to work with a wide variety of personalities, temperaments and leadership styles, which has helped me make thoughtful observations about workplace dynamics. These insights have deepened my passion for team building and improving professional culture in every aspect of member interaction.
I’ve also been given safe spaces to practice applying these lessons, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the support I’ve received in that growth.”
Charlie Ford, Engineering, Kingsport Mill
“The most valuable lesson I learned was the importance of having the confidence to ask questions. Coming into this internship with one already under my belt, and having taken several paper science classes, I felt a little more independent and ready to take on whatever came my way. But that confidence was tested immediately when I was given a project I wasn’t very familiar with. I quickly learned that asking questions, even ones I worried might seem ‘dumb,’ was key to my success.”
What moment or project made you feel proud or like you made a real impact?
William LaForest, Manufacturing Services Department, Marlboro Mill
“I have been enjoying working on assessing our NFPA 70B compliance and developing an Electrical Maintenance Plan for our mill. This project involves people from all aspects of the mill and has the potential to make a big difference for our electrical maintenance practices. I have gained a lot of knowledge about ideal maintenance practices and the evolution of standards throughout the information gathering process.”
Chris Wittman, Final Products Manufacturing Department, Marlboro Mill
“In a current project I’m working on to set control limits for defects in the sheet, I was able to pull the data for all defects for all grades and use that data to add the control limits into our quality assurance software This made me feel like I had made a real impact on the process as now there is something to alert the operators if the reel has more defects than usual. We can troubleshoot issues sooner if we catch the uptick in defects earlier than we would have.”
Left to Right: Charlie Ford, Elizabeth Killion, Simone Britzz, William LaForest, Chris Wittman, Annagrace Presley, And Taylor Oglow
Are you interested in interning with Domtar?
We offer a variety of summer internships and co-ops every year. If you are interested in working with us or want to learn more, visit Domtar.com/careers to find your opportunity.
Jada Howze, an integrated marketing communications student at Winthrop University, is currently completing a summer internship with Domtar’s Communications team.
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