We recently shared some deeper discussions with alumni here on the blog – Ari Brashear, Josh Maurer, Nikki Dunlap, Monica Arganda + Nicole Mars Rivera! Now we are very excited to share a final conversation with one of our company partners.
over the years, Mike Guerrero Worked on his skills as a developer and manager all the way to his current position as an engineering manager Seatos Media Group. He has a unique perspective on the company’s internship program, having personally experienced the program from both sides. A 2016 graduate of our Bravo cohort, Mike interned at Ceatus and immediately transitioned into a full-time role. He honed his expertise as a developer as well as a manager and maintained his passion for welcoming junior developers to the field.
Through this partnership, Ceatus opened its doors to 20 talented students, providing them with valuable real-world experience and mentorship. These interns worked under the guidance of the engineering team, benefiting from an abundance of knowledge and a passion for nurturing talent. The interns thrived, gaining practical skills, expanding their professional networks and developing a deep understanding of the industry.
What first connected your company to LEARN?
I am a graduate of LEARN, and Ceatus was the company where I initially interned as a junior developer.
What made you return to this partnership for so long?
LEARN has reliably provided interns who are able to learn new skills in a very short period of time. As a former student, I am very familiar with the LEARN teaching process. They do everything they can to prepare their students in both knowledge and attitude to enter a programming career.
One of the reasons I take interns from LEARN is that it is my way of giving back to the group that put me on a very satisfying and successful career path. The second reason is that I will probably have to hire another key one day. I like being able to manage an intern’s experience for six weeks instead of hiring someone who claims to be a mid-level developer on paper, but is actually very inexperienced. We’ve been burned twice by hiring ‘middling’ developers, and the internship program is an effective way for us to get to know people on a deeper level.
How do you measure the success of your internship program?
very successful Most of the successful software engineers who came to Ceatus went through LEARN. I personally hired one engineer directly from the internship who showed great talent and potential for the position.
How long did it take to set up the program?
Setting up the program was a fairly short process. It only required a few emails back and forth between the internship manager and me. The longest part of the internship process now is interviews, which are about a half-day commitment (not including the internship itself, of course). Everything except the interviews is handled by LEARN.
How much time do you think your engineers take away from their daily schedule to mentor or guide the interns?
I spend an average of 10 minutes each morning meeting with the interns to make sure they are on track. Help sessions are held whenever the interns require it. They usually take place 1-2 times a week and last about 40 minutes to an hour on average.
How has the program evolved over time, and what changes have yielded the greatest success?
No specific changes to the program affected my process completion, meaning no increase or decrease in success.
How does the company foster a culture of mentoring and learning through its internship program?
I meet with interns every morning and remind them that I am always available for meetings. However, my work commitments mean that these meetings may be pushed to the next morning’s meeting. So the longest an intern has to wait for answers is until the next daily meeting.
What specific skills or qualities do you hope the interns will bring to the company?
I hope to find interns who are good communicators and willing to dive into a monolithic application and trace the code backwards to find the things they need to change or find examples that are relevant to their current task.
Many thanks to Mike Guerrero for sharing his insights with us today and to Ceatus Media Group for promoting this show!
The impact of this kind of dedication and commitment to nurturing talent is felt throughout the industry. By promoting internship programs, companies can empower students to start their careers, while inviting new perspectives and enthusiasm for the industry.
As the internship program continues to flourish at Ceatus, it is a testament to the power of collaboration between academia and industry. The ongoing partnership between Ceatus and LEARN Academy benefits the participating students and fuels innovation in the company. The interns bring fresh perspectives and ideas, energize the workplace and foster an environment of continuous growth and learning.
Mike Guerrero’s journey from intern to director of engineering at Ceatus Media Group demonstrates the transformative potential of a structured and supportive internship program. Through his passion for mentoring and dedication to the growth of junior developers, Mike has driven Ceatus to become one of the program’s outstanding corporate partners. His commitment to nurturing talent and shaping the future of the industry impacted the interns he mentored and the larger professional community.
