Job Exploration Intern

Location: Manchester • FLSA Status: Non-Exempt • Date Reviewed: September 14, 2026

About the role

The Job Exploration Intern is a high school student who works as a valued member of the XL Specialized Trailers team. This internship provides supervised exposure to careers involved in designing, manufacturing, assembling, and supporting heavy-haul trailers. The intern will learn about workplace safety, manufacturing processes, quality, supply chain, engineering, production, and other business functions. Assignments will be educational, age-appropriate, and completed under direct supervision. The intern will not operate powered industrial equipment, perform hazardous work, or complete tasks prohibited by applicable youth-employment laws or company policy.

Responsibilities

• Participate in department tours, job-shadowing activities, demonstrations, and supervised learning assignments throughout the manufacturing operation.
• Learn how departments such as engineering, supply chain, production, quality, maintenance, safety, finance, and administration contribute to the manufacture of heavy-haul trailers.
• Observe manufacturing processes, including material preparation, fabrication, welding, assembly, painting, inspection, and final delivery, from designated safe areas.
• Assist with approved, nonhazardous tasks such as organizing materials, labeling items, entering information, preparing documents, updating charts, and maintaining orderly work areas.
• Collect, enter, organize, and summarize basic production or business information using approved computer systems and spreadsheets.
• Learn to read basic work instructions, production schedules, drawings, bills of material, quality documents, and other manufacturing records with guidance from assigned employees.
• Participate in team meetings, safety discussions, problem-solving activities, and career-development conversations when appropriate.
• Follow all safety rules, work instructions, attendance requirements, confidentiality expectations, and company policies.
• Wear required personal protective equipment and remain within approved work areas while on the manufacturing floor.
• Ask questions, request assistance when needed, and promptly report unsafe conditions, injuries, equipment concerns, or other problems to the assigned supervisor.
• Demonstrate professionalism by arriving on time, communicating respectfully, accepting feedback, and completing assigned tasks carefully.
• Maintain quality service by following XL Specialized Trailers' standards and values.
• Assist with approved continuous-improvement activities, including supervised 5S, lean-manufacturing, and Kaizen projects.
• Participate in career-readiness activities such as goal setting and discussions with employees about manufacturing career paths.
• Perform other age-appropriate, nonhazardous tasks assigned to support the intern's learning objectives and the overall operations of XL Specialized Trailers.

Supervision

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Supervision Received: Works under direct supervision at all times. The intern is responsible for carrying out assignments as instructed and keeping the supervisor informed of progress, questions, concerns, and potential problems. The intern may perform only those duties that have been reviewed and approved by the assigned supervisor.

Responsibility For Public Contact: Limited. Any interaction with customers, vendors, or visitors will occur only when appropriate and under supervision.

Requirements

Education And Experience: Current high school junior or senior in good academic standing. Participation may require approval from the student's school and parent or guardian, as applicable. No previous manufacturing experience is required.

Licensing And Certification: None required. The intern must complete all required company orientation and safety training before entering designated work areas or beginning assigned duties.

Skills

• Interest in exploring manufacturing, skilled trades, engineering, supply chain, or related careers.
• Willingness to learn, ask questions, receive feedback, and follow instructions.
• Ability to arrive on time and maintain dependable attendance.
• Ability to organize assignments and manage multiple priorities with guidance.
• Basic problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work respectfully and cooperatively with employees from different departments.
• Commitment to company values, workplace safety, quality, and confidentiality.
• Basic computer proficiency, including familiarity with email, word-processing applications, and spreadsheets.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and recognize when assistance is needed.

Physical Demands

• Ability to alternate between sitting, standing, and walking during the scheduled work period.
• Ability to move safely through office and designated manufacturing areas.
• Ability to use a computer and perform routine clerical or organizational tasks.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 20 pounds with proper instruction. Heavier items must be handled by authorized employees or with approved assistance.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, which may include safety glasses, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing, and safety footwear.
• Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable qualified individuals to participate in the internship.

Work Environment

Work is performed in office areas and designated areas of a heavy-haul trailer manufacturing facility. The manufacturing environment may include noise, moving equipment, welding activity, dust, fumes, temperature changes, and other industrial conditions. Interns must follow all safety requirements, wear assigned personal protective equipment, remain within authorized areas, and stay with or report to their assigned supervisor. The intern will not operate forklifts, cranes, powered industrial vehicles, power-driven machinery, welding or cutting equipment, or other restricted equipment. The intern will not work at heights, perform hazardous material handling, or undertake any task prohibited for minors by applicable law or company policy.