Caleb Dellasega didn’t have quite as much to worry about his senior year of college at the University of Kansas as his classmates: He already had a job lined up after graduation, thanks to a stint in Watco’s internship program the summer before his senior year started.
And that internship allowed him to hit the ground running when he became a full time Team member, which benefitted Watco, as well.
“The internships at Watco are different than elsewhere,” Dellasega said. “I was able to have a real impact and help the Team, rather than perform busy work – to really put my fingerprint on my work, not just be an afterthought.”
Dellasega, an accounting major, performed tasks for the accounting team that enabled him to apply what he learned in the classroom to the real world. Watco offered him a job by the end of that summer.
“My whole senior year, I didn’t have to worry about looking for a job, and all the stress that comes with that,” he said. “Likewise, Watco knew they could count on a new Team member who already knew the ropes, knew the culture of the company.”
“By being put in the role where I was doing meaningful work, it propelled me forward to be at a starting point that was further than my peers,” he said. “That allowed me to grow more in my first couple years out of college than the standard graduate.”
His first week on the job fulltime was “close week,” the busiest time of the month for the accounting department, and he was able to pick up right where he left off as an intern.
“My on-the-job training was minimal, which means the company immediately got full value out of my time,” he said. “I hit the ground running.”
Now, two years later, Dellasega takes the lead on railroad operations accounting and working very closely with general managers to help them understand the numbers, and providing summaries to senior leadership. Dellasega recently was promoted to Senior Accountant.
And last summer, he paid his internship experience forward: Dellasega oversaw an intern from KU.
“It was a great way for him to get his feet wet, and a great way for me to get management experience at such a young age,” Dellasega said. “Having been an intern, I knew what I liked and didn’t, and could tailor it to him.”
His goal: Give the intern ownership, not micromanage him, and treat him like a fulltime Team member. It’s possible that in a year or so, he might be.
“We’re picky in who we take, because we want someone who will step up,” Dellasega said. “We’re making an investment in them, so both parties are benefiting. Over a three-month period, it’s like an extended interview, and we get to ask: ‘Is this person a good fit?’.”
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April is National Internship Awareness Month. We’ll highlight other Watco interns on our social media. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to learn more.