Lincoln Electric Accepts Student Interns to Support Local and Federal Jobs

Lincoln Electric (Cleveland, IL) has accepted three students for internships through a new partnership agreement with the federal government’s Job Corps program. During a signing ceremony, Christopher L. Mapes, Lincoln Electric’s president and chief executive officer, paved the way for the federally funded internships at the company via this new agreement, and reiterated Lincoln Electric’s commitment to work with Job Corps to provide career training.

On hand for the ceremony were William Houston, center director for Cleveland Job Corps; Michael Taylor, Cleveland Job Corps’ business and community liaison; and Ramon Serrato, president and chief executive officer of Serrato Corp., which operates the Cleveland Job Corps Center. The three interns, Michael Gaylord, Austin Pratt and Robert Chaney also participated in the event.

“Lincoln Electric is focused on preparing the next generation of skilled workers, and this partnership with Job Corps and Cleveland Job Corps Center is an excellent fit with our efforts,” stated Mapes. “The internships will provide valuable skills to young people and help convey that welding is a critical and rewarding career.”

During their internship, the students, selected by Cleveland Job Corps based on completed training and proficiency in entry-level skills, will gain additional competencies required for workplace success. Each intern will be evaluated on punctuality, presence while at work and ability to follow directions and complete tasks, along with other parameters. The students also will have the opportunity, through working side-by-side with Lincoln Electric personnel, to see how the skills they learn can be used in the work place.

“The Department of Labor requires that Job Corps students participate in work-based learning/internship opportunities prior to graduating from the program so that students may experience ‘real-life’ work expectations, policies and on-the-job training,” explains Serrato, “We know that Lincoln Electric will provide our students with a valuable learning experience and give them a great example of what is expected in the workplace.

“We anticipate the advantages of this new partnership to be two-fold,” continues Serrato. “One, so that Lincoln Electric may provide work-based learning opportunities, and two, so that Lincoln Electric may see Cleveland Job Corps as a resource for potential employees.”