Our tenth summer of the Doors Internship Program is underway! Through virtual workshops, our interns work on goal-setting, networking, personal branding, and communication within their fields.

We invited our interns to share their experiences this summer.

Meet Dawson Jeffers from Troy, Missouri. Dawson is a Junior at Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T), majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

What does your internship with Leggett entail? 

My internship at Leggett involves a lot of flexibility and problem-solving. I am in the Bedding division at the Idea Center, and I have been fortunate enough to be involved in a wide variety of projects, from product design to industrial engineering. Every day has been different and challenging.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far during your time at Leggett?

The most important thing I’ve learned is to communicate effectively with different people. You must communicate differently between Engineers, Project Managers, and Shop Technicians based on their technical understanding and communication styles. I’ve also gained a clearer understanding of what engineering looks like in the professional world. I’ve been tinkering for my entire life but understanding the documentation and workflow of a company like Leggett has helped me see what it takes for a large group of engineers and other professionals to come together and create a quality product.

What are your goals through your internship?

My primary goal this summer is to soak up as much knowledge as possible, while also developing relationships to open doors in the future. I have so much to learn, and many skilled people are here to help me hone my craft.

What has been your favorite part of your internship at Leggett?

The open-minded attitude. If I have an idea, I will not be met with a “this is just the way we do it” mentality. Everyone is open to change and ready to innovate and progress. And if my idea differs from the right one, my team tells me why and the communication channel is very open.

How will you apply your experience this summer as you return for the Fall semester?

I look forward to hitting it hard with new skills, like Excel calculations and Solidworks added to the toolbox. In terms of my career, there have been a lot of skills that I have learned this summer that would usually be in my first three months of full-time work. Having some of that learning curve out of the way will boost my career and allow me to jump right in.

Please join us in wishing Dawson well!

Our tenth summer of the Doors Internship Program is underway! Through virtual workshops, our interns work on goal-setting, networking, personal branding, and communication within their fields.

We invited our interns to share their experiences this summer.

Meet Nicole Duquet from Yorktown Heights, New York. Nicole is a Senior at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, majoring in Business.

What does your internship with Leggett entail? 

My internship involves conducting comprehensive competitor analysis to identify opportunities and develop data-driven marketing strategies. I am creating a marketing plan to expand the company’s presence through digital marketing initiatives and developing a customer-focused marketing survey.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far during your time at Leggett?

During my internship, I had the opportunity to learn about the manufacturing process of Leggett’s flooring division’s products. Understanding the products was essential in figuring out what direction to take with my assignments.

What are your goals through your internship?

My goal for this internship is to learn more about B2B (business-to-business) marketing and social media marketing. I want to create a marketing plan and develop an effective social media strategy to promote Leggett’s flooring products. 

What has been your favorite part of your internship at Leggett?

My favorite part of my internship so far was meeting the team in person in Ft. Worth, TX. I enjoyed talking to each employee about their role in the company and daily responsibilities. I liked connecting with new people and found the career journeys of the employees at Leggett inspiring. 

How will you apply your experience this summer as you return for the Fall semester?

I look forward to applying the experience I gained during my internship to working in teams in the future. I have improved my communication and listening skills by collaborating with various groups and divisions during my internship. This experience will help me facilitate effective collaboration within team projects. 

Please join us in wishing Nicole well!

Our tenth summer of the Doors Internship Program is underway! Through virtual workshops, our interns work on goal-setting, networking, personal branding, and communication within their fields.

We invited our interns to share their experiences this summer.

Meet Josef Hefele from Munich, Germany. Josef is a Senior at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW), majoring in Accounting.

What does your internship with Leggett entail? 

The internship has exposed me to many different things, from visiting the factories and understanding how hydraulic cylinders are made, which helps to understand the finance part behind it, to interacting with other people within the branch and supporting the finance team with different tasks.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far during your time at Leggett?

Having an open mind and being eager to learn are the most important things I have learned. There are so many opportunities within Leggett, making it very easy to enter a different industry or segment while still working for the same company. Being open to new things and challenges can ignite interests you didn’t even know you liked.

What are your goals through your internship?

My main goal is to get familiar with different accounting software and enhance my Excel skills, as these technical skills often fall too short in the classroom. Additionally, I have set a goal always to be approachable for new tasks, so the team can come to me if they need something done.

What has been your favorite part of your internship at Leggett?

The people I work with have been outstanding and my favorite part of this experience. Before starting my internship, I did not know what to expect in the corporate world. Coming to work at Leggett’s Precision Hydraulic Cylinders (PHC) – Wilmington Branch gives you a feeling of being cared for, despite being part of a large corporation.

How will you apply your experience this summer as you return for the Fall semester?

Getting a taste of what it is like in the working world has helped me see the importance of the foundation taught in the classroom. I am sure many fellow students ask themselves why they learn particular things, but having a solid foundation will help them learn more quickly and better understand processes. I will use this internship experience to build an even stronger foundation for the future. 

Please join us in wishing Josef well!

This summer, 19 interns from college campuses across the United States are participating in Leggett’s Doors Internship Program. The Doors Program is a virtual professional development series that allows students to gain real-life experience in their field of study through immersive leadership workshops.

“The Doors Program offers a comprehensive and well-rounded internship experience that combines professional development, networking, skill enhancement, and a broader understanding of Leggett & Platt,” said Danielle Sattler, Talent Advisor and Ambassador of the Doors Program. “It serves as an excellent opportunity for interns to grow personally and professionally, laying a solid foundation for their future careers.”