Uppers

Project Breadth, International Focus, Willing to Network, Empowered Employees

Downers

Slow collaboration, risk averse, difficult matrix

Advice to Potential Interns

The work is some strategy and lot of marketing, but marketing managers are often general managers

Advice to Management

Sample Interview Questions

Would You Recommend

Yes

Uppers

Gaining real life engineering experience

Downers

Not being able to apply the chemical portion of my chemical engineering knowledge

Advice to Potential Interns

There is a culture shock when going from a city to a small town.

Advice to Management

Sample Interview Questions

Would You Recommend

Yes

Uppers

Great experience in the industry. Worked with great people and learned a lot from them.

Downers

Was not well set up in the beginning for an engineering intern. Spent 2 weeks to find an Engineering computer and download software for it.

Advice to Potential Interns

The culture of the company would be good to know. The culture of the company is definitely a deciding factor personally for a company. There is a great company culture at 3M, everyone is very open to helping each other out.

Advice to Management

Everything was great.

Sample Interview Questions

Why 3M?
Why would you be a good fit for 3M?

Would You Recommend

Yes

Uppers

The people in my division were fantastic and truly made my learning and growth as an engineer one of their top priorities. Everyone has been so kind and approachable for questions, willing to take the time to help, but trusted me with relatively larger responsibilities. Additionally, I got the opportunity to travel to multiple plants to lead my projects, which I know is not an opportunity many people get

Downers

Having to pay a good chunk of the rent for relocation while still paying rent back at school

Advice to Potential Interns

There is SO much amazing technology that I had no idea 3M was involved in. Whatever your passions are, I can almost guarantee you that there is a division or a position at this company that would suit your interests.

Advice to Management

I think being more transparent to the R&D interns at the beginning of the summer. I know some people were unaware that they would not be getting full-time offer opportunities, as 3M normally hires doctorate students for R&D.

Sample Interview Questions

To be completely honest I do not remember at all, I am sorry

Would You Recommend

Yes

Uppers

The best part of my internship was the vast knowledge that I obtained working in the industry and perfecting my skills in my field of study. Being able to work along side other people who have been in the manufacturing industry for years really helped me to learn a lot.

Downers

I enjoyed all aspects of my internship throughout the course of a year and a half.

Advice to Potential Interns

Ask questions. The team that I currently work with is incredibly knowledgable and willing to share their skills and experiences with anyone so long that the individual is interested in their work.

Advice to Management

I was compensated very well as an intern. My hours were long and there were quite a few times that I worked odd shifts, but that was of my choosing. I spent the majority of the summer working in between school years, so putting in long hard hours was perfectly fine with me. Honestly, I would not change anything about the position.

Sample Interview Questions

What form of previous lab experience have you had?
How would you react in [insert some example of a situation here]?
How would you approach someone [insert situation here]?
A lot of the questions were directed towards how I would work and react to different situations when working with a team of individuals. This was due to the fact that I reported my work and findings back to a team of 6 individuals.

Would You Recommend

Yes

Uppers

The people.

Downers

The down time. It is difficult to have someone completely jump into a project so there were a decent number of days where I did not have enough to do.

Advice to Potential Interns

R&D interns are the only ones who don't seem to get return full-time offers.

Advice to Management

Sample Interview Questions

Would You Recommend

Yes

Uppers

Flexible hours, knowledgeable and helpful co-workers

Downers

Having to leave at the end of the summer

Advice to Potential Interns

Prepare to learn and embrace everything 3M offers.

Advice to Management

Sample Interview Questions

Would You Recommend

Yes

Uppers

I loved the week long formal training at headquarters, where I was gained knowledge to help with my project in addition to networking. I also enjoyed the poster presentation, where I could showcase what I've done over the summer. Unlike other companies, 3M gives their interns great projects and responsibilities that really benefit the intern.

Downers

I wish I would've gotten a preference for plant location or division if possible. I also had to choose to accept or decline my offer by August 10, which was tough.

Advice to Potential Interns

I wish I would've known that the Optimized Operations Program moves you wherever in the country, and you don't have too much of a choice about which plant you end up in. So you must be flexible.

Advice to Management

N/A

Sample Interview Questions

What was your past experience and how would it prepare you for an engineering internship at 3M?

Would You Recommend

Yes

Uppers

Being on your own

Downers

Finding things to do

Advice to Potential Interns

Be a self-starter and enjoying working alone a lot

Advice to Management

Sample Interview Questions

Would You Recommend

Yes

Uppers

Freedom of choice, no micromanagement, and connecting with a network of awesome people.

Downers

Sometimes lack of direction could be hard.

Advice to Potential Interns

This internship gives you the complete freedom to work on your project, just make sure to give your supervisor periodic updates on the direction you're taking it to make sure their vision and your implementation are aligned.

Advice to Management

Give a more transparent view of if you're hiring at the end of the internship for full-time. I know many divisions at 3M did this to other Interns before the end but IATD was not very clear until the last day.

Sample Interview Questions

Honestly can't remember back that far.

Would You Recommend

Yes