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Campus Reach: Where Are They Now?

kgao
Employee
Employee

We’re often asked if Campus Reach Interns are ever hired for full-time employment after their internship. Our answer: we love hiring interns! The Campus Reach Program has built a talent acquisition pipeline here at Southwest, so you will see many of our former Interns roaming the hallways now as full-time Southwest Employees.

 

Kiki Gao is one example. She interned in the Corporate Tax Department in spring 2013, and is now a Tax Accountant within Corporate Tax.

 

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Year/semester of internship:  Spring 2013

 

Department/Team interned for: Corporate Tax

 

Department/Team and current job title: Corporate Tax, Tax Accountant

 

Years at Southwest: 3.5 amazing years!

 

Favorite Southwest city: Mexico City

 

Most memorable Southwest moment/event: My first day as a full-time Southwest Employee fell on the same day as my birthday—best present ever! Also, during 2014, I had the chance to participate in the annual Southwest Airlines Pigskin Plane Pull, where Employees who are alums of OU and Texas compete to see which team can pull an 83,000-pound Southwest Airlines 737 the fastest!

 

First ever job: My first job ever was in the Baylor University mail room when I was an undergrad; I was obsessed with sorting the mail super-fast so people could get their mail and care packages ASAP!

 

Proudest Southwest moment: I am filled with pride every time I see my Southwest Family interact and help our Customers (both external and internal). I feel honored and proud to be part of it.

 

Words to live by: The Golden Rule. Also, “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default.” –J. K. Rowling

 

Reasons other people should intern at Southwest: When you intern for Southwest, you become a part of the Southwest Family and will be treated as such. The Southwest Culture is second to none: if you want to learn about the aviation industry, work on exciting and challenging projects, meet your future best friends, surround yourself with superb Leaders and mentors, help the Community around you, and feel you’ve made a difference with your contribution, then Southwest is the place for you.

 

Ultimate travel tip: Fly into Mexico City in the evening and pick a window seat on the left side of the aircraft—the sea of lights you see as you land is spectacular!

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