By Kathryn McKean

As an intern working at United, you're more than a student—you're a member of the team! Interns at United have the chance to develop professional skills, network with leaders, and gain real-world experience by working on projects that actually have an impact on the business. This hands on approach and once-in-a-lifetime experience earned United Airlines a Handshake 2023 Early Talent Award, which celebrates the best employers for Gen Z careers.

In honor of National Intern Day, we wanted to celebrate our hardworking United Cargo interns. We’ve asked them to share what they’ve been up to this summer.

Michael Taylor - The Ohio State University, ULD Continuous Improvement Intern

What project(s) are you working on this summer?

My main project this summer is to improve the current ULD demurrage policy to make it clearer to customers, while trying to keep dwell time low for ULDs. I’ve been accomplishing this through benchmarking our policy with industry data and analyzing potential policy changes.

Best part about working for United?

My favorite part is coming into the office and getting to have impromptu conversations with everyone around you. So many people at United have a passion for aviation and/or travel which unites us all. Being a part of a community that you get excited to see is certainly the best part about working for United.

Where was your favorite place you travelled to this summer?

My favorite place to travel has been Amsterdam. I went to some of the coolest museums and learned more about the amazing art and rich history that Amsterdam had to offer. I also got to go with some of my best friends who also work with United, which made the experience that much better.

Esme McCarthy - University of Chicago, Cargo Sales Strategy Intern

What project(s) are you working on this summer?

I am working on creating a comprehensive report of carbon emissions for every company that works with United Cargo. My secondary project is in relation to tracking allotment utilization.

Best part about working for United?

My team! Everyone on my team has been patient with my learning process. It has made the last five or six weeks of this internship an amazing experience.

Where was your favorite place you travelled to this summer?

I traveled to NYC! Being from Chicago, I thought I was going to be prepared for New York, but it opened my eyes to just how crazy NYC is compared to Chicago.

Andrew Villalobos - The Oho State University, Mail Operations Intern

What project(s) are you working on this summer?

I’m analyzing the density of mail for different lanes and customers. It will provide the team with a better resource to understand what is being sent and our capacity.

Best part about working for United?

I love working on a dynamic and global team. I also love that I get to work with customers around the world!

Where was your favorite place you travelled to this summer?

So far, my favorite place I've been to is São Paulo, Brazil. I got to practice the little Portuguese that I know and was able to use it to negotiate soccer ticket prices for my group of friends. We got 5 tickets for $40 total!

Kathryn McKean - Brigham Young University, Cargo Marketing & eCommerce Intern

What project(s) are you working on this summer?

I’m working on a communication strategy for the new United Cargo booking portal. The strategy focuses on generating awareness and education for both internal and external stakeholders on our upcoming booking portal launches.

Best part about working for United?

United really emphasizes networking and mentorship for interns. The Marketing & eCommerce team has been so kind in helping me develop my marketing skills. United also provides several opportunities to network with employees outside of your department.

Where was your favorite place you travelled to this summer?

I got to visit family in Boston over the Fourth of July weekend! We went to markets, visited Harvard’s campus, and ate some delicious food. I loved celebrating the holiday in such a historic city!

Lucinda Hu - Northwestern University, Cargo Support Service Intern

What project(s) are you working on this summer?

I’m currently working on invoice automation for the Cargo Support Service team, along with the Cargo Cost Dashboards and Accessorial Fee Trends Dashboards.

Best part about working for United?

Working on a great team with so many exciting changes every day!

Where was your favorite place you travelled to this summer?

My favorite place I’ve traveled to this summer is San Francisco! I love the city and the culture there. My trip experience in San Francisco was fantastic.

Matt Borucki - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Technology Products Intern

What project(s) are you working on this summer?

I’m working on numerous projects throughout the summer, but the primary project that I am working on relates to Salesforce optimization within the Cargo organization.

Best part about working for United?

The best part about working at United is the vast networking opportunities, as well as the easy opportunities to learn about other departments throughout United. It provides us an opportunity to learn about the company overall.

Where was your favorite place you travelled to this summer?

So far, the best place I’ve traveled to this summer has been Brussels, Belgium. I loved how unique Brussels is in terms of the infrastructure, cleanliness, and how friendly the people are.

We’re so thankful to have a fantastic group of interns joining us this summer and wish them all the best as they return to their universities in the fall!