What It’s Like to Go from Intern to FT Employee

Last summer, I walked into The Wendy’s Company corporate headquarters for my first day as a Communications Intern. I had just finished my Junior year at The Ohio State University. With three years of business school under my belt, I also had a variety of work experience on my resume. What I considered experimental jobs in finance and fashion, Wendy’s saw as well-rounded experience. But I had never worked in a corporate setting, so I didn’t know what to expect when I walked through Wendy’s grand lobby in Dublin, Ohio. During my internship, I played a role in planning Wendy’s 50th anniversary celebration, served on The Square Deal editorial team, and helped manage the brand’s annual Frosty 5K fundraiser to support the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. One year later, I made the easiest decision of my life – I accepted a full-time offer as a Coordinator on Wendy’s Communications team.

After just a few days of my internship, I realized that Wendy’s team members prioritized their career development. In fact, I had the opportunity to write a blog post about Wendy’s internship program and the amazing people I met through my intern class, which was a highlight of my intern experience. Now that I’ve been a member of the Wendy’s family for more than a year, I’ve seen first-hand how Wendy’s helps their employees grow and develop.

Eager to learn more about what career development is like at Wendy’s, I reached out to other employees who also started their Wendy’s careers as interns.  To no surprise to me, everyone had great examples as to why they decided to join the Wendy’s family full-time.

Read on to learn more about what it’s like to turn a Wendy’s internship into a full-time career!

Why did you choose to accept a full-time employment offer at Wendy’s after your internship?

Kacie Bartimus, Manager, Human Resources

School: Miami University (Undergrad) and The Ohio State University (Grad)

Years with Wendy’s: Five

I was an intern in Talent Acquisition and was thrilled to have the opportunity to join Wendy’s HR department full-time. Wendy’s was my first experience in a large corporate environment, and I was blown away by Wendy’s culture. Wendy’s values really resonated with me, and I loved that I was able to work on key projects and engage with leaders throughout the organization during my internships.

Trevor Morse, Manager, Treasury

School: The Ohio State University (Grad)

Years with Wendy’s: Three

A combination of Wendy’s core values, a strong and accessible Senior Leadership Team and the company size. Wendy’s is a large company with opportunities to work on different projects, but also small enough that you can make an impact on the brand, even when you are just starting.

What has been your favorite part about working at Wendy’s?

Samantha Johnston, Manager, Corporate Learning & Development

School: The Ohio State University (Undergrad and Grad)

Years with Wendy’s: Six

For me, it all comes back to the people and the food! I had high expectations when I started my internship. But everything I hoped for in terms of opportunities for growth and, subsequently, the support I need to be successful, have proven accessible. At Wendy’s, there are always challenges to tackle and plenty of people around me who get excited about having an impact and collaborating to maximize that impact. I also feel really proud of the food we serve in our restaurants. Food is a huge passion of mine and it is incredibly important to have products and a brand I can stand behind.

Travis Martin, Associate Brand Manager, Marketing

School: Michigan State University Broad School of Business (Grad)

Years with Wendy’s: Two

I love that I get to work on projects that turn into menu items or products that put a smile on someone’s face. We all have little moments of joy (and for me, those include meals and snacks!) that just make you happy and brighten your day. I like to think that every day, somewhere in the world, a Wendy’s product that I helped bring to life was that little pick me up for somebody.

How has Wendy’s set you up for developmental growth?

Megan McNamara, Associate Manager, Consumer Insights

School: Calvin College (Undergrad) Michigan State University (Grad)

Years with Wendy’s: One

Personally, I have had the chance to work on several new projects within digital, such as delivery, which is a newer part of the Wendy’s business. As an organization, Wendy’s provides development workshops to learn about your strengths and workstyles, as well as Employee Resource Groups to meet other employees in different parts of the business. In my experience, Wendy’s leaders are willing to provide opportunities for their employees to grow and take on different projects and stretch assignments. You just have to ask.

Travis Martin: My manager consistently put me in situations early on, in both my internship and full-time position, to get exposure to smart, experienced cross-functional leaders. I was able to learn by watching and quickly collaborating with them on projects, which allowed me to grow in my role immediately.

What advice would you give to college students who are looking for internships or full-time employment?

Samantha Johnston: Be bold. Go for what you want and what you believe in. My passion has been a great compass for me when I’ve been faced with really tough choices. I love food. I am a highly collaborative person. Part of my personal philosophy is to relentlessly challenge myself; new ideas get me energized. So, when I find that intersection of these things, I know I’m going in the right direction.

Walt Gouldin, Franchise Market Consultant

School: United States Military Academy at West Point (Undergrad) and The Ohio State University (Grad)

Years with Wendy’s: Two

One of the most important aspects of any internship is the relationships that you build. Take the time to seek out mentors during the internship process and do your best to schedule coffee chats where you can seek opportunities to learn and grow from those who have been with the organization for a while.

What advice would you give to interns who have received an employment offer from Wendy’s?

Blake Collins, Associate Analyst, HRIS

School: Ohio University

Years with Wendy’s: Two

I would advise new hires to not be afraid to ask questions – speak up in meetings! Consider joining Employee Resource Groups, get involved in Company events, and always be ready to volunteer your help on a task or project. Showing that you’re eager to learn and make an impact will help set you apart from your peers. 

Walt Gouldin: Receiving a full time offer from an internship is a great opportunity. As an intern, you have the opportunity to experience the culture and workplace environment first-hand. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest advantages of the internship process. Similarly, while you may be starting in a new role when you return full-time, it is reassuring to know that you can rely on the mentoring relationships that you developed during your internship.

And finally, what’s your favorite Wendy’s menu item?

Samantha Johnston: The 4 for $4! I take credit for the concept, even though I quite literally had nothing to do with it. As an intern, I was caught on many occasions with a small fry, 4-piece chicken nuggets, and Double Stack at my desk. It’s the perfect meal and a super reasonable price!

Kacie Bartimus: That’s such a loaded question! I can never decide. Right now, it’s a chocolate Frosty-ccino and a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit.

Travis Martin: Definitely the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit. As a member of Wendy’s breakfast team, I have to give our breakfast menu some love!

Whether you’re looking for a full-time position with benefits and career development opportunities, or you’re a college student looking for an internship, check out our career site for information about opening positions at Wendy’s.