It’s a question we’ve all likely been asked: What do you want to be when you grow up? For software developer Rohit Mucherla, the answer became clear in high school, when his dad began working at General Motors.
“When he joined the company, I had the opportunity to see all these different types of vehicles and learn about the industry,” Mucherla says. “Plus, I’m a huge car nerd. I spend arguably all of my free time learning about cars, from the high-level technology to the nitty gritty mechanical details. GM felt like the perfect intersection of my interests.”
Mucherla applied for an internship at GM while in college in 2017, landing one in Austin, where he still lives today. For three months, he worked alongside employees who mentored him. The experience, he says, showed him what day-to-day life was like at GM, and gave him a behind-the-scenes look at the business. He was happy to find that the company appreciated his input and contributions as much as he valued the opportunity to learn.
“I wasn’t treated like an outlier, but rather more like a full-time employee,” Mucherla says. “Nothing I did ever felt like busywork. I had the opportunity to work on significant projects, like brand websites that numerous people visit every day. It was amazing.”
His hard work paid off: After his internship, Mucherla was offered a full-time role as a software developer, which he began after graduating the following year. He’s been at the company ever since.
Mucherla’s experience is exemplative of the way GM helps entry-level employees jumpstart and grow their careers by exposing them to various areas of the business and building their skills. In addition to internships, the company offers a three- to six-month co-op program for students at participating universities, during which they complete work that complements their classroom learning. For graduates, GM offers early career opportunities, including a rotational program called TRACK (Technical Rotation and Career Knowledge).
Anila Mehdihassan found her way to GM through the three-year TRACK program, focusing on human resources. She applied while she was still completing her undergraduate degree in her home state of Florida and is currently in her first year, working the talent acquisition group. (Her next two rotations will include a position in labor relations and an HR business partner role.) Now, as a member of GM’s early career talent team, she’s the one hiring graduates.
“Our leadership really values the fresh perspectives people bring in, especially new college grads,” she says. “They want to hear what you think and if you have a better way to do something. They honor and value that feedback. From the start that was something I was really drawn to.”
Becky Nebeker, a Detroit-based engineer in the TRACK program who also began her role right after college, says the mentorship she’s received has been one of the most impactful aspects.
“They understand the anxieties that come with starting your first job, and there’s a lot of mentorship set up within each team,” Nebeker says. “In my last position, I had a specific person I could reach out to, and they would teach and train me. In my current role, the mentorship is more like a team effort. Everyone is constantly assuring me that I’m doing well, and they welcome all of my questions.”
All three employees unequivocally recommend GM to new college grads and others who are just starting their careers. As Mehdihassan puts it, “Especially after graduation—when you’re trying to figure out who you are and explore your interests—being in a good work environment surrounded by great people makes life a lot easier.”
While the opportunity to learn initially drew each of them to join the company, they’ve all come to appreciate other elements of the GM’s culture—and have no plans of leaving. Mehdihassan, for example, says she loves her job for a number of reasons—the people, the good pay, the benefits—but above all of that is GM’s mission statement.
“Their greater vision is the triple zero initiative: zero crashes, zero emissions, zero congestion,” she says. “Being part of something so significant adds value to the work I do. I like knowing that I’m part of something that’s bigger than myself.”
Mehdihassan also appreciates the company’s approach to work-life balance and productivity. “One of the best things about GM is that you can be transparent with leadership if you’re feeling burnt out,” she says. “You aren’t expected to be at 100% and be perfect every day. All they ask is that you bring the best version of yourself to work that day.”
For Nebeker, the endless opportunities for growth—and the way they actually encourage employees to take control of their path at the company—will keep her GM for as long as they will have her.
“GM’s ideology is that if you feel you’ve learned everything you can in a position, go to a new one and learn more—don’t get into a rut or stay in one spot,” she says. “I genuinely feel like they’re helping me progress in my career, and I’ve realized that’s not very common.”