From Mentorship to Full-Time
At Enerquip, we offer students opportunities to explore career paths through mentorships and apprenticeships, giving them practical experience and professional development.
Emily’s story is an example of how an apprenticeship can open the door to a long-term career.
As an Enerquip apprentice while attending UW–Stout for Engineering Technology, Emily gained real-world industry experience that helped shape her future and eventually led to a full-time role with the company.
Discovering a Passion for Engineering
Emily attended Medford Area Senior High, then UW–Stout for Engineering Technology. Her love of problem-solving and analytical thinking inspired her to pursue engineering. She enjoys tackling challenges, paying attention to details, and finding solutions, which guided her career choice.
Fueled by a genuine curiosity and a drive to make a difference beyond academia, she felt compelled to pursue firsthand industry experience, hoping it would deepen her understanding and broaden her horizons.
Taking the Next Step Through Mentorship
Emily wanted more than textbooks, she sought real-world experience and insight into careers in manufacturing and engineering.
Enerquip’s programs let her work alongside professionals and build practical skills that supported her education and career goals.
“The program offered hands-on learning, guidance from experienced employees, and the opportunity to develop skills that would benefit me long-term,” Emily explains.
Manufacturing work gave Emily a clearer sense of workplace expectations, teamwork, and professional duties.
Building Skills Beyond the Classroom
Throughout her experience at Enerquip, Emily developed valuable professional skills while gaining exposure to day-to-day operations within the industry. The experience helped her build accountability, confidence, and communication skills, preparing her for future career opportunities.
She saw how mentorship creates a comfortable environment by encouraging questions and exploration.
“Students build relationships that make it easier to ask questions they may not feel comfortable asking otherwise,” Emily says.
Emily better understood the technical and professional aspects of the industry and identified her main interests.
Turning Opportunity into a Career
Emily’s mentorship experience eventually led to a long-term role with Enerquip. She continued working for the company during college breaks and, after graduating from UW–Stout, accepted a full-time position.
The experience gave her an advantage early in her career by providing industry knowledge and professional experience before graduating. It also helped her build valuable relationships and references that supported her transition into the workforce.
“Without this opportunity, my career path may have looked completely different,” Emily explains.
Preparing for the Future
Emily credits mentorship with showing her daily responsibilities before she entered the workforce.
In addition to gaining experience, she appreciated the supportive culture at Enerquip and the employees’ willingness to help students learn and grow professionally.
“Enerquip is a great place to learn because people genuinely want to help you grow,” Emily says.
The experience laid the foundation for her career and reinforced the value of hands-on industry learning.
Why Mentorships & Apprenticeships Matter
Emily encourages students to explore mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities to gain experience, build confidence, and learn more about potential career paths before making long-term decisions.
She believes manufacturing and engineering offer more variety than many realize, and such programs tie classroom learning to real-world work.
Even if students choose another path, the experience still builds knowledge, skills, and workplace familiarity.
If you’re interested in engineering, fabrication, machining, welding, or manufacturing in general, Enerquip’s student programs help you gain experience and prepare for a lasting career. Click here to learn more.