Photo caption: First-year students from N.C. State University’s Paper Science program tour our Plymouth Mill.
By 2030, 4 million modern manufacturing jobs will need to be filled in the United States alone. That’s why we’re actively engaged in the Manufacturing Institute’s annual MFG Day activities to show students, parents and the public what modern manufacturing is all about.
Since 2012, MFG Day has helped students discover financially rewarding job opportunities and give them the tools they need to kick-start their careers in modern manufacturing.
Manufacturing jobs at Domtar offer employees both hands-on and high-tech experience. While there are plenty of hands-on jobs in our facilities, we’re also a very high-tech manufacturing organization with lots of opportunity for employees to put their computer and technical skills to good use.
“Each year, we participate in MFG Day to inspire the future workforce to pursue manufacturing careers,” says Cathy Donnelly, talent management director. “We show students and prospective employees what modern manufacturing looks like. We offer a wide range of opportunities that can set entry-level employees up for long-term success.”
Domtar regularly attends college fairs to find talent to fill full-time, intern and co-op positions. Both co-op and intern opportunities can lead to full-time employment upon graduation. We also offer scholarships at certain schools to assist students seeking a dual degree (chemical/pulp paper), and we have partnerships with other institutions’ pulp and paper programs, including North Carolina State University, Miami University (Ohio), Western Michigan University, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Michigan Technological University.
Regionally, our manufacturing facilities also maintain relationships with local high schools and colleges. They visit classrooms and host mill tours to give students an understanding of what it’s like to work in a modern manufacturing environment.
North Carolina State University Paper Science Students Visit Plymouth
Our Plymouth Mill recently hosted North Carolina State University’s class of 41 freshmen paper science engineering students. The day included an explanation of the mill’s history and a tour. Over lunch, the students heard from two summer interns who answered questions and shared their experiences working at the mill.
“It was a very successful visit,” says Plymouth Mill Manager Todd Rogers. “We got to show the students their first look into a pulp facility. Despite only having been in school a short time, they asked at lot of thoughtful questions. We can’t wait to see their contributions to the pulp, paper and packaging industry in the future.”
East Tennessee State University Students Visit Kingsport
Fourteen first-year East Tennessee State University engineering students recently visited the Kingsport Mill. They were hosted by Senior Electrical Engineer Jeff Walker, who spoke to them about the breadth of careers they could have as engineers at the company’s newest containerboard facility. While onsite, the students were given a mill tour, where they were also able to speak with other engineers and maintenance planners.
“Today’s manufacturing jobs are not the dark, dangerous, dirty, low-paying and laborious careers of previous generations,” says Kingsport Mill Manager Troy Wilson. “At Domtar — and numerous other manufacturing facilities throughout our country — employees engage in jobs that are innovative, high-tech, creative, collaborative, sustainable and safe.”
