Casey Hanzaki, incoming senior at Michigan Tech University, landed his first internship at Gentex following his freshman year. Determined to build connections during his first year of college, he proactively sought opportunities regardless of his experience level. He diligently prepared for career fairs, talking to as many employers as possible. His curiosity and willingness to learn caught the attention of Gentex recruiters.
“Gentex’s technology and opportunities stood out to me, and I knew I wanted to be a part of the company,” Hanzaki said. “I've been looking for a place where I could eventually move and feel comfortable staying long term while building a successful career.”
During his first summer internship, he worked on the management of spreadsheets and documentation, oscilloscope work, and hardware testing with the Design and Analysis team.
His second summer looked a little different. He was introduced to Printed Circuit Board design which was his first real exposure to PCB layout work. He fell in love with the process and knew he wanted to come back for a third summer to continue working on PCB design.
“I enjoyed every part of the process: learning the policies, working through design challenges, making revisions, and seeing the final design come together,” Hanzaki said. “When it came time to choosing another internship, Gentex was the only place where I knew I could continue specializing in PCB design under a manager I already enjoyed working with.”
This past summer, he worked on layouts, routing, component placement, and direct collaboration with engineers across different disciplines. He designed boards from schematics and proved he could take on much more responsibility than previous summers.
He collaborated effectively with other engineers, oftentimes leading meetings to ensure clear communication across projects. By learning from engineers across different departments, he became highly adaptable and skilled at pivoting when needed. He learned the art of asking insightful questions. It not only made him more confident, but also allowed him to dig deeper in topics he wasn’t as familiar with.
“One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that PCB design isn't about working completely on your own,” Hanzaki said. “It's about balancing the needs of a lot of different people and making sure everyone is aligned.”
Having previously worked in grocery stores and volunteer positions where he often found himself wishing for the workday to end, he noticed a distinct shift after joining the Gentex team. He credits the engaging projects, positive culture, and supportive colleagues for completely transforming his daily routine.
“Honestly, one of my favorite parts is simply how excited I am to come to work every day,” he said.
This excitement is fueled by the opportunity to network with other interns and build a strong professional community. He also thrives on his daily project work, enjoying the chance to design, problem solve, and learn from other engineers.
When he is not PCB designing, Hanzaki enjoys exploring West Michigan. As a Wisconsin native, West Michigan was a huge part in why he chose Gentex. He loves exploring the trails, seeing the water, and visiting unique restaurants in the Grand Rapids area.
His advice for future interns: “Get to know the people you're talking to,” Hanzaki said. “Recruiters can already read your resume. What they can't learn from a piece of paper is who you are as a person.”
He encourages other students to complete attentive research on companies during the application process. The more informed a potential intern is, the better decisions they will be able to make.
One word Hanzaki used to describe his Gentex experience is privileged.
“Every day I come in, I remind myself that this isn't just another internship. It's an opportunity that has helped shape my future career,” Hanzaki said.
