How Metro’s College Intern Program Shapes Future Leaders

D.C. is where urbanites immerse themselves in the fast-paced realm of public transportation. Many, having been dedicated riders for decades, are often curious about the day-to-day operations of Metro.

Our College Intern Program allows individuals to gain first-hand insights into the transit industry and Metro's operational environment, making their next ride on our Metrorail and Metrobus much more impactful.

Steven Boney, Metro's Talent Acquisition Manager, has overseen the program for nearly a decade, envisioning something purposeful that leaves its mark on both Metro and the students.

At first, Metro’s College Intern Program was predominantly comprised of children of employees and rarely was internships extended to job offers. However, since taking charge of the program, Boney said there had been a shift towards preparing these interns to become full-time employees at Metro.

"When I came to Metro, we changed that and said we needed to do something meaningful and something that Metro can benefit from, just as much as the students,” said Boney.

Fast forward to Summer 2023, Metro has garnered 64 interns, the largest number of interns yet, compared to 32 last year.

"We could have taken on more, but to manage the program and make it a great program that it's been, we have to restrict the numbers so that it's manageable," he said.

When interns join Metro, they bring forth great ideas, making them ideal candidates for the 11-week internship program aimed at transitioning them into full-time employees. An example shared by Boney was an intern whose previous internship got extended and now participates in this year's summer program.

In addition to this, Metro has also welcomed four new hires earlier this year.

While some interns apply directly through Metro's website, Boney and his team also reach out to college students from all backgrounds, ensuring diversity and accessibility in their selections.

"We make sure that our selections are going to be diverse."

Currently, the interns at Metro come from colleges and universities across the nation, such as University of Maryland, Georgetown University, Morehouse College, Johns Hopkins University, Lewis & Clark College, and various others.

The theme for this year's program has been focused on customer support; the interns are divided into six teams to develop strategic approaches that enhance customers' experiences.

They will present their findings on August 11, during their closeout session.

"We also invite the hire managers to come in and see their presentation," said Boney, adding, "The interns bring a fresh perspective. They come full of great energy."

With more than 20 departments available, each intern is assigned to a department aligned with their major, allowing them to dive deep into the world of transit. The Strategic Planning department has an impressive 23 interns alone, Boney said.

Also, the internship program offers free rides on Metro, allowing interns to fully immerse themselves in their work, thus alleviating any financial burden.

“Recognizing the huge expenses for college tuition, books and travel, we thought this would be a great perk for our interns as well as a feature of the program that sets us apart from all other internship programs in this area,” said Boney.

While these interns are proposing improvements for Metro, they are also building lifelong relationships with our Metro employees.

"We definitely try to encourage them to network as much as they can while they're here, not just with their peers in the program, but with leadership here, and with other people who work in the organization,” said Boney. “The interns get an opportunity to work in a corporate setting which they may have never done before in their lives. And then also, of course, which I think again, is the most valuable component, they get an opportunity to feel us out as a future employer when they graduate."

To learn more about Metro College Intern Program, please visit here.