Internship Profile: Alina Velasquez’s internship at Chrysler provided a strong technical foundation for her job at Caterpillar


Ever since she was a little girl growing up in Lima, Peru, Alina Velasquez has enjoyed fixing things. Any small device with electronics inside fascinated her.

So when it came time to choose a major, Velasquez chose electrical engineering. A Bachelor of Science degree in hand, she stayed at FIU to get her Master’s in Engineering Management.

But her education wouldn’t be complete without an internship, which Velasquez completed this past summer at Chrysler in Auburn Hills, Mich., where she worked as a powertrain integration intern. She worked on all issues in the powertrain – including the engine, transmission and drive shafts – of the new 2013 Dodge RAM 1500.

“The internship gave me confidence and taught me the strengths I have as a professional,” she said.

Velasquez used that experience, coupled with the education she received at FIU, to land a job at Caterpillar as an electric power service marketing representative for Latin America. After extensive training and classes, she’ll start rotational assignments in the U.S. for two to three years. In the future, she expects to be assigned to represent Caterpillar in Latin America.

“The internship in Chrysler introduced me to engines, and that is a big plus I had during the interview and for the classes here at Caterpillar,” she said.  “Chrysler gave me more confidence and showed me I was a people person. Therefore, I decided to get a job where I can use my technical knowledge but also have interaction with dealers and customers.”

This story is part of an occasional series highlighting the benefits students derive from internships. FIU students are encouraged to seek out internships by working with the FIU Career Services, professors and mentors who can assist in identifying these opportunities. Read more internship profiles

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