General Motors Communications Internship Program
Summer 2009
DEADLINE: Oct. 17, 2008
The following is a list of General Motors communications internships for the summer of 2009. Each internship may have a varying start date requirement but generally will run from approximately May through August for a period of 12 weeks. Applicants should have completed their sophomore year and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Undergraduate and graduate students will be considered. Candidates should still be classified as active students during the internship and should have the right to work in the U.S
. Cover letter and resumes may be sent to Lesley Hettinger at lesley.hettinger@gm.com. Please include GPA and anticipated graduation date. If your background uniquely qualifies you for a specific internship please explain in the cover letter. Deadline for submission is Friday, Oct. 17, 2008. GM will be interviewing on site at the PRSSA conference in Detroit so please indicate if you will be attending. For students not attending, interviews may be arranged by phone or on campus.
Grassroots Communications
Location: Detroit, MI
Key assignments and responsibilities
Help plan senior leader grassroots visits to key markets, and assist with speakers bureau, plant city tours and VIP influencer tours.
Assist with grassroots planning activities, including:
Participate in event planning from concept to execution
Prepare briefing books for senior leaders, including determining the appropriate content, gathering information, and proofreading
Write executive remarks, introductions and other documents as needed for grassroots trips
Organize schedules, calls and timelines
Ensure each event meets measurement criteria
Travel as needed to prepare for grassroots visits:
Site visits and preparation may be needed for event support
Work with regional communications teams
Specific skills preferred
Strong team player
Highly organized and ability to multi-task
Creativity – willingness to bring new ideas to grassroots program
Can adapt to changes quickly and can work well under deadline pressure
Strong writing ability
Benefits to the intern’s development
Working with the grassroots team will give the intern the ability to see the “big picture” at General Motors, learning both our product and business messaging as he/she helps prepare senior leaders to communicate with key constituencies across the country. The intern will be able to think creatively about how to tell GM’s story, and see firsthand how messaging is shaped. He/she will learn how to work cross-functionally, and see how messaging is received differently in various regions of the U.S.
This is an opportunity to understand GM’s overall communications strategy for its senior-most leaders and be part of a dynamic team. He/she will also be able to improve writing skills, time management ability and measurement capability.
What skills do you expect the student to develop?
Strategic Communication Planning
Event Planning
Communication Measurement
Writing skills
Other considerations such as travel for events, etc.
Occasional travel within the U.S. is required.
Manufacturing Communications – Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly & Orion Assembly
Location: Detroit and Orion, MI
Key assignments and responsibilities
Work with the plant communications manager to develop communication campaigns to improve plant performance around key metrics (safety, quality, responsiveness, cost and environmental).
Promote the future production home of GM’s first series electric vehicle, the Chevy Volt, and the home of some of its most popular cars, including the Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G6 in the local community and with local media. Work with manufacturing communications in promoting how both plants fit in to GM’s overall global manufacturing footprint.
Assist with day-to-day communication activities at the plants, including:
Develop a variety of communication tools (face-to-face, newsletter, video) to share information with plant team members on all shifts
Respond to daily changes in quality, safety, and other metrics through targeted messaging
Assist in developing internal and external presentations for plant managers
Support team leaders through targeted communication packets
Work on special projects/challenges facing Detroit-Hamtramck
Develop cutting-edge recommendations for accommodating public interest in Volt production (e.g., virtual tours, etc.)
Specific skills preferred
Solid writing skills
Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with others, including UAW and salaried team members
Willingness to work a variety of shifts in support of communication initiatives
Website development
Benefits to the intern’s development
Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly has been identified as the plant that will build one of the most significant vehicles in the corporation’s history. The transition from products the plant builds now to the Volt will be a significant one and will require detailed communication on changes to the facility. Note: Much of the change will likely not happen until later in the year, but the transition should begin during the summer 2009 time period – and development of a communication plan for the change will be a priority.
Orion Assembly will be nearing its one-year anniversary running as a three-shift operation in the summer of 2009 and will be striving to build on its already strong quality performance.
The student will learn how to stretch the idea of multi-tasking to extremes between both facilities and their very different challenges/environments (i.e., plant in transition versus plant going at full or near full capacity and the challenges that creates in continuous improvement and motivation while avoiding burnout.
In addition, since both plants are located near our corporate headquarters, a portion of the assignment will include shadowing other IC professionals to experience the “corporate” side of internal communications. The assignment will also provide learning opportunities in the area of labor communications.
What skills do you expect the student to develop?
Strategic Communication Planning
Message Development
Writing
Event Planning
Communication Measurement
Labor/Management Relations
Understanding of the Global Manufacturing System
Other considerations such as travel for events, etc.
Travel between plants would be required.
Premium Channel Communications Intern
Location: Detroit, MI
Key Elements
Assist with planning and support execution of divisional communications projects, including summer 2009 media events:
· Support launch planning and activities associated with Saab 9-4X, Saab 9-5, Cadillac SRX and Cadillac CTS Coupe.
· Engage with media outreach to support Cadillac and Saab brand activities.
· Program support for Cadillac’s role in GM Collection events and heritage events like Pebble Beach and Saab’s role in 2009 Owner’s Convention.
· Media relations support for Cadillac CTS-V summer drive.
· Ongoing media support to maintain buzz for launched vehicles including Cadillac CTS-V and Escalade Hybrid.
Assist the divisional communications team with various activities that promote key vehicles and support events. Duties include writing news releases, assisting with the 2010 communications strategy for premium brands focused on building awareness and consideration with key audiences and desire in the youth market (18-25); some media relations reporter-interface opportunities; and actively participating in brainstorming and other meetings.
In short, the communications intern will provide events management, program launch support, media relations, internal communication and media materials management assistance and can gain experience in those same areas, including writing assignments associated with these activities.
Managers who are responsible for the related assignments will mentor the intern. Additionally, the intern will receive ongoing mentoring and guidance from the director and other team members including exposure to PRSA and corporate-wide activities.
Advanced Propulsion and Environmental Communications Intern
Location: Pontiac, MI
Objective
Strengthen GM’s technology leadership perception and reinforce GM’s Advanced Propulsion Technology strategy focused on energy diversity, improving fuel economy and reducing emissions.
Intern’s summer assignment will include communications activities in the following functions: Energy and the Environment Public Policy; conventional powertrains (engines and transmissions); biofuels and electrification of the vehicle (hybrids, Chevy Volt extended range electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cells).
Managers who are responsible for the related assignments will mentor the intern. Additionally, the intern will receive ongoing mentoring and guidance from the director and other team members.
Key Elements
· Assist with the execution of advanced propulsion and environmental communications media briefings and ride and drive events. Duties will include:
o Writing news releases, internet blogs and stories for employee web-sites/publications
o Pitching technology/biofuels news stories to print and social media
o Coordinating special photography and video packages to support press materials for events
o Actively participating in staff meetings and brainstorming sessions.
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