In Competitive Job Market, IT Interns Choose Johnson Controls

Demand for tech talent and other critical information technology (IT) skills always has been high, especially as Johnson Controls advances as a strategic driver of both process and technology modernization.

That’s why building the talent pipeline is more important than ever – and this past summer’s Future Leaders internship program is helping address the issue. Working with the Johnson Controls human resources department, IT is developing a training program to help managers recruit and engage early career and intern talent.

“Interns are an essential element of the talent pipeline and important assets to the IT organization. They’re involved in projects that will have an impact not just on our company, but on the world as we integrate sustainability in everything we do,” said Diane Schwarz, Johnson Controls vice president and chief information officer (pictured top right).

Converting Interns to Employees is the Mission
Two college interns recently accepted permanent roles within the company. Kathleen Rodrigues is an intern with the Johnson Controls IT Data and Analytics Center of Enablement and soon will be working full time within the same team as an IT delivery lead. Another intern, Cassie Pressnall, closely collaborated with the sales operations team and was hired as a sales operations data analyst.

“I really loved the connections I made and the feeling that I made an impact. My co-workers pushed me to be the best I can be and made me feel extremely welcome from the start. They are always there for any questions, regardless of how dumb, and always cheer me on. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had and am really excited to see where I will go at Johnson Controls,” Pressnall said.

“I love having interns in my team, as they are fearless! They come with open mind and no agenda. They reenergize our team and push us to be better mentors. The skills I look for include positive attitude, curiosity, effective communication and passion to learn,” said Arun Sundaresh, who once interned with the India Space Research Organization and now is the director of the Johnson Controls IT Data and Analytics Center of Enablement.

Engaging Future Employees
Looking ahead, HR leaders anticipate the focus on hiring to be sustained through the remainder of the year and into 2022, so tapping into university talent is crucial. Johnson Controls has targeted three U.S. universities – University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Michigan and University of Illinois – and is actively participating in job fairs focused on IT this fall.

“We are assigning IT managers, especially those who can easily connect to college students, and training them to seek interns through virtual job fairs,” Schwarz said. “It’s vital to keep building out bench strength for years to come.”

“Our internship program gives college students a chance for hands-on work within our IT teams. They gain real world experience and add value every day. Watching top-performing interns convert to full-time employees means we have a hand in helping them realize their goals of securing a meaningful career in IT,” said Carrie Losch, director, talent acquisition.

For more information about college internships, see http://k.rfer.us/JOHNSONCTRLsqSphE