Podcast: Manufacturing Careers Straight out of High School: 1950s Throwback or Modern Possibilities?

Podcast: Manufacturing careers straight out of high school: 1950s throwback or modern possibilities?

Aug. 2, 2025
This episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast highlights how Texas' International Motors partners with greater:SATX to attract high school students into manufacturing careers, creating new pathways into advanced industry jobs.

Key takeaways

  • Internships at International Motors begin immediately after high school graduation, giving students hands-on experience in supply chain and general assembly operations.

  • The three-week internship program, though short-term by design, has led to full-time employment for several participants based on performance and alignment with company values.

  • Early exposure to manufacturing careers help interns enter the industry with confidence.


In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, we explore how one Texas truck plant is helping to solve a nationwide workforce disconnect. While manufacturers urgently need to replace retiring Baby Boomers, many Millennial and Gen Z workers remain unaware of the strong career opportunities available in today’s advanced factories. International Motors is partnering with greater:SATX to encourage high school students to intern at a new manufacturing facility in San Antonio, bridging the workforce gap and leading to full-time careers. Hear directly from recent graduates-turned-employees, along with plant leadership and mentors, as they share how this workforce pipeline is reshaping the narrative around manufacturing jobs for the next generation.

This episode was inspired by Industry Week’s recent article, “From Intern to Employee at International Motors.” Below is an excerpt from the original piece, which we explore further in this episode through anecdotes from students. 

Cantu's Path from Intern to Employee: 

"Ariella Cantu heard about the internship from a friend during her senior year. She was looking for work experience and funds to pursue college, so she took the initiative to go through the application process.

Cantu was apprehensive at first about working in manufacturing, 'but further along as I started to work here, I got more comfortable. I made some friends. I got used to my work. I was really good at my work … I didn’t really want to start into a job, but working here made me want to start the job.'

About the Author

Anna Smith

Anna Smith joined IndustryWeek in 2021. She handles IW’s daily newsletters and breaking news of interest to the manufacturing industry. Anna was previously an editorial assistant at New Equipment DigestMaterial Handling & Logistics and other publications.

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