Did you know 88 percent of Mosaic co-ops go on to accept full-time roles with the company? In honor of National Intern Day on July 25, we want to introduce you to some of our current co-ops from Mosaic Student Programs, including two former co-ops who went on to become full-time employees!
As part of our noble mission to help the world grow the food it needs, our co-ops learn about our safety culture beginning on day one. We educate them on our safety protocols, equip them with Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and provide hands-on training. From engineering to accounting, we’re proud to offer opportunities to the next generation of leaders who will continue our mission to help the world grow the food it needs. Learn more about them below:
Amulya Kompella
Finance Co-Op, Fish Hawk
Amulya Kompella
Amulya is a finance co-op currently completing her second co-op term at Mosaic. She is a senior at the University of South Florida and will graduate in August 2024 with a degree in finance. After graduation, Amulya hopes to pursue her master’s degree.
What are your responsibilities as a Mosaic co-op?
One of the tasks I’ve had is doing The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) reporting at the end of the month, which is where we track and submit the activity of feed products. I have also been creating reconciliation reports for closing periods to help with month end procedures. These reports compare SAP and Operations Information System (OIS) reports to find discrepancies between the systems and see where reporting could have gone wrong. I’m also working on automating this process.
What has been your favorite part of your experience?
I’ve been able to learn what it’s like to work in a real professional setting. I’ve also met amazing people on my team, and I’ve gotten to interact with different people in the field that I want to go into. I also really like that I was able to learn so many new skills at this job and understand a lot of popular software used by the company.
What is your advice to anyone considering a co-op with Mosaic?
I would definitely say to do it. It’s such a good experience to understand more about the workforce, the company and to learn several new skills you didn’t have before. I would say to keep an open mind. Everything you learn comes in handy and will apply later. It’s also important to be open with your communication. If you’re feeling uncomfortable, or you feel like you have too much work, or you’re stressed out, talk to your people leaders. It’s a rewarding experience.
What’s been your biggest takeaway?
I think my biggest takeaway from this internship is that everything you learn in the beginning has an impact on how you perform your job and the skills you might need to use one day. In the beginning of my term, I learned a lot of new information that I thought I wouldn’t need. But as you go on, you learn that it all fits into the bigger picture. It’s important to understand and learn as much as you can because you never know when it’s going to come in handy. Stay patient, but it’s worth it.
Melanie Henderson
Process Engineer – Dry Products, New Wales
Melanie Henderson
Melanie has been in her current role for nearly two months. Previously, she served as a production engineering co-op at Riverview during the summer of 2023. Melanie has a bachelor’s degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
What were your responsibilities during your co-op term?
As a production engineering co-op, my responsibilities included troubleshooting day-to-day problems, designing and recommending new equipment that worked to increase production and decrease downtime at the site, and developing new training documents regarding equipment and product specifications.
What made you want to pursue a career with Mosaic?
I was drawn to pursue a career with Mosaic because of their impactful and challenging work, along with their culture and emphasis on career development. I enjoy the work I get to do because it helps the world produce the food it needs, and I’m able to challenge myself and accomplish goals I never knew I was capable of. The culture at Mosaic makes me excited to come to work each day. I feel that my coworkers are my friends and that they want to see me succeed. I also look forward to developing my career within Mosaic through taking advantage of training programs, mentorship opportunities and advancements as they come.
What was the process like to transition from a co-op to an employee?
The process to transition from a co-op to an employee was smooth: Mosaic makes it easy by designating employees like me as returning co-ops. This means I got to keep my same email and work phone number from my time as a co-op. Because my current department (dry products) is the same as when I was a co-op, I also already knew many of the people I would be working with and understood what my responsibilities would be.
How did your co-op term with Mosaic help you when preparing to enter the workforce full-time?
My co-op term with Mosaic was invaluable for preparing me to enter the workforce full-time. I learned how to navigate professional environments, collaborate with large teams, and how to manage my own projects – all while getting hands-on experience in my field. I developed better problem-solving skills and learned how to communicate more effectively with the people I work with. It equipped me with the confidence and skills I needed to transition smoothly into a full-time employee.
What is your advice to anyone considering a co-op?
Go for it! A co-op is an excellent way to develop experience, especially if it is your first time working in an engineering job. Always be willing to learn – there is a lot to learn at Mosaic and taking it all in will make you a very valuable employee!
Sebastian Sevilla
Process Engineer Co-Op – Phosphoric Acid, Riverview
Sebastian is a process engineer co-op in the phosphoric acid department at our Riverview facility. This is Sebastian’s second co-op, having previously worked as a process engineer at the Four Corners mine and beneficiation plant last spring. Sebastian is a chemical engineering major at the University of Florida and is excited to have the opportunity to work on both sides of our Phosphates operation.
What has been your favorite part of your experience?
Taking on projects that utilize industrial-sized equipment with a team of driven engineers has been an amazing experience.
What do you hope to do next?
Ideally, I hope to have a full-time position with Mosaic. During my time here, I have been able to immerse myself into the inclusive culture and contribute to projects that align with Mosaic’s mission.
What is your advice to anyone considering a co-op?
I highly recommend it. The co-op program at Mosaic is exceptional because I get to work on real-world engineering projects along with experts and apply classroom knowledge to everyday tasks. Getting the support and guidance of experienced engineers really enriches the learning experience and I am extremely grateful for this program’s skill development.
What’s been your biggest takeaway?
My biggest takeaway are the connections I have made with Mosaic employees. Whether it be from everyday operators to fellow engineers and even company leaders, I have been able to make meaningful conversations and learn something about the process, the phosphate industry, or even Mosaic as a business. Communication is key and learning how to communicate professionally across all levels in the company has been paramount for my career development.
