MRC Internship - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MRC?
What is an MRC “member” company?
Where can I find a list of MRC member companies?
What are the benefits of having an MRC summer internship?
What are the requirements for obtaining an MRC summer intern-ship?
When can I apply for an MRC internship?
Where can I apply for an MRC summer internship?
After my interview, then what?
If I am chosen for an MRC summer internship, what do I need to do to prepare for the summer?
In preparing for and starting my MRC internship, what pitfalls might I encounter?
Once my work assignment is complete, is my internship complete?
If I want to, may I return to the same work assignment for another summer?
If I do not want to return to the same company in the following summer, can I still get another MRC internship?
What is the MRC? top
The Maintenance and Reliability Center (MRC), an organization within the College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee, is a consortium of companies who recognize the critical need for engineers with knowledge in the area of Reliability and Maintainability Engineering (RME).
What is an MRC “member” company? top
An MRC member company is a corporate entity that pays annual dues to belong to the MRC.
Where can I find a list of MRC member companies? top
The list of MRC member companies is posted on the MRC web site, which is
http://www.engr.utk.edu/mrc/
What are the benefits of having an MRC summer internship? top
An MRC summer internship provides an opportunity to gain practical work experience in an exciting, high tech, emerging field; to earn an extremely competitive summer salary; and to form a relationship with an MRC member company.
What are the requirements for obtaining an MRC summer intern-ship? top
Complete an interview with the MRC Academic Coordinator.
Complete an intensive one-week RME summer training course (“boot camp”) on the UT campus.
Complete a 12-week summer work assignment at an MRC member company site.
Complete a post internship report.
When can I apply for an MRC internship? top
Applications are accepted from September to February, or until the last available position for the coming summer is filled.
Where can I apply for an MRC summer internship? top
To apply, you must register with the Office of Professional Practice in the College of Engineering. Once you have com-pleted the registration process, you may schedule an interview with the MRC Academic Coordinator.
After my interview, then what? top
Wait. In the process of matching applicants to available positions, the MRC Academic Coordinator acts a broker. He works with the MRC host company for each available position to determine which applicant is best suited to the position. This process involves telephone conversations, email exchanges and reviewing of résumés until the company is ready to offer the position to an applicant. (If you are being considered for a position, you will be involved in these communications.) Each match between position and applicant must be approved by the MRC Academic Coordinator. If you are offered a position, you may tell the company whether or not you’re interested in it. But if you’re interested, the match is not complete until you obtain the Academic Coordinator’s approval.
If I am chosen for an MRC summer internship, what do I need to do to prepare for the summer? top
Where will you stay during boot camp (the week after final exams)? (The dorms will be closed.)
Ask your company contact about the following things. (Take ownership of this process. Do not let things go until it’s too late!)
What paperwork (physical exam, drug test, etc.) is required by your host company?
Where will you live for the summer? What can your company do to help you find suitable housing?
How will you get to your summer residence and to the work site?
What will be your pay rate, what date will you be on the payroll, when will you receive your first paycheck and what period will the first paycheck cover? (This is very important information. See “Cash flow problem” under the next question.)
In preparing for and starting my MRC internship, what pitfalls might I encounter? top
Your company contact may be a technical person who knows little about the HR aspects of your assignment. Or, your company contact may be an HR person who knows little about the technical aspects of your assignment. If your company contact cannot answer all your questions, he or she should be able to get the answers from someone else or to connect you with someone who has the answers. Cash flow problem. How much money will you need to get by until your summer paycheck is enough to support you? Will you have to make deposits for utilities and/or rent before you move to your summer residence? How much for rent, groceries, etc?
Once my work assignment is complete, is my internship complete? top
Not until you have submitted a post internship report to the MRC.
If I want to, may I return to the same work assignment for another summer? top
If your host company applies for an MRC intern for the following summer, and if they request you, and if you want to return, then you may return.
If I do not want to return to the same company in the following summer, can I still get another MRC internship? top
Yes. You may request to change companies.
Contact Information
Maintenance and Reliability Center
506 East Stadium
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-9625
Fax: (865) 974-4995