NoLimits-Southwest Airlines Internship Experience

Posted by Matthew Bila on

Published by Eric Epplett on Mon, Dec 15, 2014

NoLimits-Southwest Airlines Intership Experience
Michael Gortowski
Aviation Maintenance Technology 

My journey began in September of 2013 when I applied to the Southwest Airlines NoLimits Internship, for the Maintenance Program Specialist position.  After submitting my application and my resume, I waited anxiously for a phone call or at least an email.  A few months went by, and finally in February of 2014, I received a voicemail from an HR representative, expressing an interest in scheduling an over the phone interview!  What a surprise this was, an incredible feeling, a surreal moment.   From that moment on, things started moving very quickly.

I scheduled a phone interview for March 6, 2014, and few days later, I received an invitation to fly out to Dallas, TX for a second interview on March 21, 2014 at the Southwest Airlines Headquarters.  As soon as I received the invitation, I knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase my passion for the field of aviation.  I could not believe that this was really happening!  I grabbed my phone and immediately called my sister and brother-in-law to prepare for the interview.  Preparation was the key!  I knew that this was the opportunity of a lifetime.  Being invited to the interview by itself felt like an award winning experience.  I was feeling very lucky, because Southwest Airlines had received about 14,000 applications for the summer internship, but out of the 14,000 applicants, only 113 were selected to join the NoLimits Internship.  

I was officially accepted into the Southwest Airlines NoLimits Internship on March 26, 2014; a 12-week summer internship from May 19th through August 8th.   This was my first trip to Texas and my first major trip away from home and school.  I didn’t know a single soul in Dallas, TX and this was a true test of the real world and complete independence.  I drove to Dallas a week before my internship started, because I needed to find a place to live.  My suggestion for all future interns is to find a roommate as soon as possible!  The apartment market in Texas is very expensive, and it’s tough to find a short-term lease.  I had to stay in a hotel for the first 2 weeks, and I was very fortunate to find three roommates who were also interns at the Southwest Airlines NoLimits Internship.

At the beginning of my internship, I felt overwhelmed and under pressure to perform well.  But after my first week, I was able to adjust to the new work environment.  As a Maintenance Program Specialist, my job was to review Southwest Airlines’ maintenance program for completeness, accuracy, and regulatory compliance, including maintenance instructions used by the Southwest Airlines technicians to ensure accurate and efficient compliance for required tasks.  I was also updating and auditing computer based systems for tracking the Southwest Airlines maintenance program requirements.

This internship gave me insight into the airline industry.  I learned a lot about the maintenance side of the airline business, especially about the maintenance and regulatory compliance with the FAA.  I was also exposed to other departments within Southwest Airlines.  During the internship, interns were encouraged to spend some time in other departments to learn and explore different aspects of the working world within the company.  My top pick was fuel management and fuel operations, where I had the chance to learn more about Jet A fuel, and about the purchasing and supply of fuel. I also spent some time on the Dallas flight line observing fueling operations.

I worked 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday.  I was assigned to a cubicle down the hall from the hanger.  I spent most of my time looking at regulatory paperwork, task cards, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificates, and attending meetings with my supervisor.  On the way to lunch, I would always cut through the hangar and ramp to check out the Boeing 737.  Southwest Airlines is a wonderful place to work.  The work environment is very joyful and positive.  The company treats its employees very well and everyone has a smile on their face.  The NoLimits Internship is not only about work, Southwest Airlines takes philanthropy and charitable work very seriously, and reaching out to impoverished communities and those in need is an integral part of the company’s culture and beliefs.  With a team of interns, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the local food bank in Dallas, Texas.  It felt good to give back to the community in need.

One way Southwest Airlines showed their appreciation towards their employees and interns was by hosting a deck party every Monday, outside the headquarters building.  All of the Southwest Airlines employees were invited to eat, grab a drink, play games, and have a chance to win a prize.  But one of the biggest perks of working for Southwest Airlines was the opportunity to fly for free on standby, anywhere in the United States.  Thank you Southwest Airlines!  This was the best gift ever.  I spent almost every weekend this summer flying for free and visiting some of the best cities in the world like San Francisco, San Diego, and Las Vegas.  In addition, I made new friends from other universities and cities across the U.S.  I had the opportunity to network and build connections with many professionals within this industry; people that have been in the aviation field for a very long time.  I was very fortunate to be a part of the Southwest Airlines family and have a great supervisor and mentor, Jack Roth.

My internship with Southwest Airlines has been my greatest achievement and experience!  This opportunity has added tremendous value towards my career goals, personal development, and resume.  I gained first hand experience on the maintenance side of commercial airlines.  Prior to my internship, I was leaning towards becoming an aircraft maintenance technician for private/ business jets.  This internship has opened my eyes on a different level.  I have set my mind to go into commercial airline maintenance.  Overall I feel very lucky, grateful, and honored to have been part of the Southwest Airlines team.  I learned a lot from this internship, and hope to apply my experiences toward my academic work at the College of Aviation at WMU and my future career endeavors.