Summer Job to Internship to Full-Time Work

Aaron Threndyle, currently a student at the University of Western Ontario, and the Head of Innovation for the packaging department at Labatt’s Brewery, accomplished a lot more than he expected to by the age of 22. He feels that his internship benefited him in many ways and in fact, Aaron is still working where he did his placement today!

Aaron’s role at Labatt’s right now involves implementing new ideas to help run things more efficiently. He explains, "I have done countless trials and have been involved in many changes at Labatt’s". One of the major changes was the introduction of Busch, Busch Light and Sterling beer into Canada. In addition, Aaron frequently organizes events for the QC department, and he is the Labatt’s representative to Atlantic, Labatt’s carton supplier. Interestingly, Aaron is now the person in charge of hiring the interns as well as managing them. The best part of Aaron’s job is working with the interns and he maintains that, "it is an interesting role being on the opposite side of the table during the interview process."

Quite out of the ordinary, Aaron did not choose his internship; in a sense, it chose him. It all began when Aaron accepted a summer job at Labatt’s, and worked there for four months beginning in May 2002. Soon to follow, Labatt’s requested that Aaron extend his stay for an additional 12 months to do an internship. During his internship, Aaron was a QC technician, but was quickly appointed the position of QC manager in 2003, after just eight months. While doing his internship, Aaron continued his studies as a part-time student at the University of Western Ontario.

Presently, Aaron is still a student at Western and is studying Physiology in the Medical Science program. Aaron did not expect to be where he is today but he has accomplished more than he had imagined at a very young age. In the near future, Aaron plans to finish his degree at the University of Western Ontario and then apply to the “Trainee” program at Labatt’s. This position entails traveling from brewery to brewery taking on, and learning different roles. Further down the road, Aaron’s goal is to be a Brew Master.

For those who are interested in knowing some “inside” details about what goes on at the London Labatt’s Brewery, Aaron has shared a couple of fascinating facts. Remarkably, 77 beers are produced every second in the London plant! What seems even more impressive is that Aaron can tell how many people have drank from a bottle just by looking at it! There is a trick to this, but to learn more he explains that, “you’ll have to come on a tour!”

The experience of his internship has changed the way Aaron sees the working world beyond university. He did not comprehend the wide range of jobs that are really out there, and he is grateful for the knowledge his internship offered. Aaron’s internship was very advantageous and he suggests that if a student has the opportunity, they should go for it. He explains that, “you won’t know if you like something or be good at something unless you try.”

For more information about the Science Internship Program, please visit www.uwo.ca/sci/iip.

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