5 Tips from Hiring Managers on Pursuing Tech Jobs or Internships in Montana
Montana State University students pictured at the employer panel “How to Get Tech Jobs and Internships in Montana” hosted by the Montana High Tech Business Alliance and the MSU Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering on February 24, 2022. Speakers included Keith Ypma, Process Engineering Manager for Applied Materials in Kalispell, Sam Davis, Vice President of Finance for Bridger Aerospace in Belgrade, Owen Samuels, VP of Engineering for onX in Bozeman and Missoula, and Lindsey Hanna, Senior Software Engineer for Workiva in Bozeman, Missoula, and remote. Photos by Dean Tsandes, 40Watt Photo.
By Melissa Paulsen
June 30, 2022
As the summer season kicks off, Montana college students and graduates across the state are eager to pursue job opportunities and internships in the state’s growing tech industry. On Thursday, February 24th, four hiring managers from Applied Materials, Bridger Aerospace, onX, and Workiva attended an employer panel hosted by the Montana High Tech Business Alliance at the MSU Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering in Bozeman to give the next generation of prospective employees advice on how to apply for tech jobs and internships in Montana. Each employer supplied what they believed made an ideal candidate, their company’s current openings, and tips students should keep in mind when applying. Here are five key takeaways from the conversation.
#1: Put yourself out there
Owen Samuels, vice president of engineering for onX in Missoula and Bozeman, speaks to an MSU student at the networking reception following the February 24 employer panel.
All four hiring managers agreed that one of the best approaches a student can take toward landing that new job or internship is to reach out and introduce themself to the company.
Owen Samuels, vice president of engineering for onX in Missoula and Bozeman, suggested that career fairs are a great source for understanding companies and knowing what they are looking for in an employee. Reaching out demonstrates interest which makes the student more memorable.
“I think it's just a great experience to get the contact, the relationship, and the touch points,” Samuels said.
onX delivers the most accurate GPS mapping tech for outdoor enthusiasts featuring hunting, backcountry, and offroad mobile apps that work offline. The fast-growing outdoor technology company hires positions in software engineering, geospatial, data engineering and data science, product, marketing, reporting analytics, and finance.
Hiring Montanans is a priority for onX. “What we really are trying to look for when we hire is that we want to hire Montana first,” Samuels said. “If we can't find Montana, we go out to what we call our basecamps.” onX’s basecamps are in Austin, Bozeman, Denver, Minneapolis, Missoula, Portland, Salt Lake City, and Seattle.
onX is a remote first company but provides opportunities to come work in the office as well.
#2: Build a foundational skill set
Lindsey Hanna, Senior Software Engineer at Workiva, visits with MSU students during the networking reception hosted at Inspiration Hall in the College of Engineering. Hanna spoke on an employer panel with leaders from Applied Materials, Bridger Aerospace, and onX.
Lindsey Hanna, senior software engineer for Workiva, recommended that students round out their academic and extracurricular activities to demonstrate a strong foundational skill set.
“Focusing on your school and your extracurriculars are some of the most important things because we look very strongly for people to have some of those more foundational [skills] so that we can get them up and running with actual work as soon as possible,” Hanna said.
As a global SaaS company, Workiva simplifies complex work through a cloud-based, connected reporting and compliance platform. Workiva hires roles in software engineering, data science, marketing, business, IT, and finance.
Workiva’s diverse and remote internship program presents a great opportunity to its candidates for rolling into full-time work. “Our internship program has always been really robust, and it has some of our best numbers, especially as far as gender equity goes,” Hanna said.
For students who may not have an internship but are looking to obtain a similar experience, Hanna proposed that students explore the open-source community or volunteer locally. One example Hanna provided was to practice updating websites.
“I think the goal really is to show that you're excited about something,” Hanna said. “And if you're excited about something specific in the field, that's even better.”
#3: Pursue hands-on experience
In addition to focusing on academics and extracurricular activities, each panelist agreed that pursuing work-based learning, or an internship that provides hands-on experience, helps candidates stand out from the crowd.
Applicants who are curious, confident, and possess problem-solving skills are some of the main qualities Keith Ypma, process engineering manager at Applied Materials in Kalispell, looks for during the hiring process. Work experience, including part-time or summer jobs, offers opportunities for candidates to display their non-technical employable skills.
“Some of the experiences that you've had growing up or interacting with other people are more interesting to me [and show] what you can deal with,” Ypma said. “So, don't be afraid to put some of those normal jobs on your resume.”
As the leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world, Applied Materials hires positions in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, software engineering, engineering technicians, and business. Applied Materials seeks to hire another ninety employees in Kalispell for manufacturing positions this year.
Ypma said there are twelve internship opportunities in Kalispell and about one-hundred sixty internships available in the greater Applied Materials: such as in California, Texas, Oregon, Idaho, or Massachusetts.
Applied Materials offers remote opportunities as well as in-person positions depending on the role.
#4: Keep an open mind when applying
Sam Davis, vice president of finance for Bridger Aerospace in Belgrade, earned dual bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance from Boise State University and an MBA from San Jose State University and worked for a variety of companies in the Bay Area. Davis said being open to new opportunities led him to an exciting job in aviation in Bozeman, Montana.
Aside from experience, another key component for students to consider when applying for jobs and internships is to keep an open mind.
“Don't be afraid to apply to literally anything that looks like it might be a fit, because, if nothing else, it's great interview practice,” Hanna said. “At worst, you will be in the same place you left off, but a little bit better at interviewing, and, at best, you will have a brand-new job, which is very exciting.”
The panelists’ own career stories showed that openness to new opportunities could lead to positive outcomes. Sam Davis, vice president of finance for Bridger Aerospace in Belgrade, never planned on working in Aviation. “I went through a lot of different types of companies…exposed to all sorts of different industries, to now aviation, which is completely new for me, but an exciting opportunity, something I didn't think I'd find in Bozeman,” he said. “I didn't really plan on it, but it was a great opportunity.”
By partnering with Gallatin College, Bridger Aerospace allows students to work alongside mechanics and train onsite. This collaboration offers students valuable experience by granting them exposure to something new.
As a global aviation company specializing in aerial firefighting and wildfire management by using next-generation technology, Bridger Aerospace provides jobs in mechanical engineering, software engineering, aviation, mechanics, avionics, business, IT, marketing, and GIS. In addition, Bridger Aerospace often recruits employees with military backgrounds.
Even though most of the work requires employees to be in office, Bridger Aerospace is flexible in its scheduling, allowing its employees to work from home whenever possible. “We have a really exciting dynamic office,” Davis said. “It's never a dull moment. So a lot of people prefer to come in.”
#5: Be eager to learn and ask questions
Jordan Komoto, guest panelist and former vice president of human resources for Zoot Enterprises in Bozeman and Billings, said an attitude of continuous learning is a key trait he looks for in potential hires.
Each hiring manager on the panel agreed that once students obtain the job or internship, they should maintain an eagerness to learn.
Hanna said that new employees should never be afraid to ask questions, especially when they hold a remote position where it is harder for companies to physically check-in on their new hires. She thinks the ability to ask questions when afraid is one of the biggest obstacles new hires must overcome.
Jordan Komoto, a guest panelist, and former vice president of human resources for Zoot Enterprises, said he liked to focus on the applicant’s attitude and aptitude.
“Do you have the ability to learn?” Komoto asked. “Do you want to learn? Do you have the skill set that sets you up for success in just about any environment? We want to talk to you; don't be afraid to talk with us.”
Located in both Billings and Bozeman as part of the software industry, Zoot offers entry level tech positions. Applicants are not required to have a background in computer science or engineering to apply since Zoot provides all the necessary training.
“Don't be afraid to reach out to a tech company,” Komoto said, “even if you never gave thought to working for a tech company, an engineering role, or a manufacturing role before.”
About the Publisher: Launched in 2014, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance is a nonpartisan nonprofit association of highly-engaged high tech and manufacturing companies and affiliates creating high-paying jobs in Montana. For more information, visit MTHighTech.org or subscribe to our biweekly newsletter.
About the Author: Melissa Paulsen is a content creator for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. She graduated from the University of Montana in 2022 with a BFA in creative writing.
