There are several Advantages of Being a Samtec Co-Op, but at the heart of the Samtec Co-Op program, the main goal is to foster, nurture, and provide engaging, hands on experiences to potential future talent. The co-op program at Samtec is designed to be immersive and impactful, providing participants with exposure to real-world projects, mentorship from seasoned professionals, and a supportive environment conducive to learning and innovation.
To help shed more light on Samtec’s co-op program and initiatives, I sat down with Camryn Sidebottom and Camron Armstrong, two impressive business co-ops from Samtec headquarters, New Albany.
A Business Co-Op Perspective
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us why you choose Samtec?
Camryn Sidebottom – My name is Camryn Sidebottom and I am majoring in Organizational Communication at Indian University Southeast, IN. I have been a business co-op at Samtec for over a year and I chose Samtec due to its renowned reputation in the Southern Indiana area. If you mention Samtec in a conversation locally, it is usually followed by immediate praise! The associates here at Samtec uphold standards of excellence, and clearly take pride in their work and Samtec’s people-centric culture. Samtec also did fit my needs for personal professional development and having core workplace values I agree with. I wanted a company I would be proud to be employed by, and I found that with Samtec.
Camron Armstrong – My name is Camron Armstrong and I have been a business co-op at Samtec for just over two years. I am a student at Indiana University Southeast pursuing a Business Administration major with two minors in Entrepreneurship and Spanish. Choosing Samtec was an easy decision. A professor encouraged me to apply in the fall of 2021. His first remarks about the company were about the culture and experience. This spoke highly of Samtec, as most people focus on pay when considering jobs. The culture is a relaxed family focus with a drive to accomplish goals, and I could not agree more. For this reason, I have decided to make my career here at Samtec after graduation.
What does a typical day look like as a Business Co-Op at Samtec?
Camryn Sidebottom – Business co-ops engage in a various rotations, each designed for the co-op to completely integrate themselves within that department’s team and their daily workload. Professional development occurs naturally day by day, as co-ops must be adaptable to the unique and exciting challenges every new day brings. I rotated through Samtec’s customer support, pricing, and product marketing departments. Within customer support, I entered purchase orders and answered both internal and customer inquiries via live chat, phone call, and email. In pricing, I generated quotes promptly upon customer request, having to be both efficient and strategic in order to secure the business. In marketing, I completed our API Project, where I reviewed a plethora of our part numbers that sell frequently on our distributing partner’s webpages to ensure that the information depicted online is correct and up to date.
Camron Armstrong – Business co-ops go through several rotations during their time at Samtec. Rotations tend to be six-month intervals changing with semesters. Co-op rotations are designed to have a mix of task and projects. Tasks range from working in queues to returning customers emails. Projects are intended to broaden perspectives of both inside and outside of Samtec. I have worked on market research projects to investigate developing markets, such as quantum computing, to building tradeshow demos for Electronica. Every rotation requires working with different departments to gain different insights and perspectives. I have worked with field sales engineers from Silicon Valley to Boston, called R&D engineers in Wilsonville, OR, and presented to upper-level management. The beauty in the co-op program is that if co-ops were not here, then someone would be doing the same job. Co-oping at Samtec is anything but being a copy jockey. Business co-ops can expect the unexpected from day one at Samtec. Amazing opportunities will come when you least expect, so be ready to jump in!
What do you feel you are learning at Samtec?
Camryn Sidebottom – In complete transparency, I learn something new every day. In terms of interpersonal and communicative skills, I am learning how to properly navigate working with a team, how to manage my time properly, how to express myself in a professional manner, how to be an effective leader, and how to be confident in myself and my abilities within the workplace. In terms of more technological skills, I am constantly learning how to better navigate Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and internal Samtec applications that monitor multiple factors of the business.
Camron Armstrong – I often compare my co-oping experience at Samtec to lecture and lab. There have been several instances where school curriculum and projects at Samtec have overlapped. Schooling is great to get conceptual knowledge and education. Then, you can immediately apply what you learned while on the job. Despite the responsibility of working a minimum of 20 hours a week, my GPA has increased. I can confidently attribute this to the applicational experience from being a business co-op.
What advice would you give incoming co-op’s to Samtec?
Camryn Sidebottom – Be adaptable, and “be a sponge”. Soak in all of the information you can, as it is imperative to developing professionally and experiencing Samtec in its entirety. Ask any and all questions. Attend monthly co-op events and company outings whenever possible, as they are fantastic ways to engage with your fellow associates and make vital connections! Introduce yourself to as many associates as you can, no matter their position in the company. Finally, I would advise to really take pride in your work, and ensure your final product matches your vision and what you want people to interpret.
Camron Armstrong – The number one piece of advice I can give future co-ops is to communicate. Samtec is flexible with co-ops as school is the number one priority. There are many instances where flexibility is needed, and communication is key. A close second is to not be afraid to ask questions. It is impossible to ask a dumb question at Samtec. Learn as much as you can because it goes by quickly.
A Look Into the Future
The mission of Samtec’s co-op program is part of its commitment to education and investment in young talent. Samtec’s recruiting team is already gearing up for Fall 2024 career fairs. Learn more here about Samtec co-op career opportunities and watch for the next blog featuring Samtec’s mechanical engineering co-op team.
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