USM Summer Internships (Cicero)

Established in 1978, United Scrap Metal (“USM”) has grown from $200 and a rental truck into one of the largest full-service recyclers in the country. Today, the USM team continues to pioneer innovative, solutions-driven recycling programs through ethical and sustainable practices, which have earned them both acclaim and recognition amongst industry partners. With 700+ team members across 11 locations nationally, the company’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its award-winning history, as well as an outstanding client retention rate across thousands of customers throughout North America. Equally as important is the expansion of the team’s focus on philanthropy, sustainability, diversity and carrying out our corporate mission: making a positive impact on the lives of others . USM is proud to make a difference for its customers, partners, team members, communities and the planet as it continues to drive its expansion forward for the next forty years and beyond.

USM is looking for purpose-driven individuals who seek to utilize their unique traits and attributes to make a positive impact on the company and further our mission. Team members at United are driven to achieve results and are tenacious in the face of challenges. They are humble and intellectually curious, seeking the ability to roll up their sleeves and “get their hands dirty” to solve complex problems while maintaining the motivation to develop both personally and professionally. Lastly, collaboration is vital to our business and line of work; therefore, our team members must be able to communicate and build relationships with multiple cross functional departments across the organization.

Position Overview

The United Scrap Metal Summer Internship Program is designed to give college students the opportunity to learn about our business, develop professional skills, and gain meaningful hands-on experience in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Our goal is to provide interns with a valuable introduction to the recycling and sustainability industry, while also helping them explore career paths and build professional experience.

Program Structure

The internship program runs approximately eight weeks and includes exposure to several areas of the organization. Depending on each student’s interests and academic focus, interns may spend time learning about:

• Operations & Facilities – Scrap processing, logistics, yard operations, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, hands-on experience
• Sales, Customer Relations, & Consumer Marketing – Understanding customers, suppliers, and market dynamics
• People Experience (PX) – Talent development, recruiting, and culture initiatives
• Finance & Accounting – Business operations, reporting, and financial processes
• Business Support Teams – Administrative, systems, and cross-functional support
• Information Technology – System support, cybersecurity, troubleshooting
• Safety & Compliance – Safety protocols, hazard assessments, regulatory compliance

Interns will have the opportunity to shadow team members, assist with projects, and participate in learning sessions designed to give them a broad understanding of how our business operates.

Learning & Development

Throughout the program, interns will:

• Gain real-world work experience

• Learn about the recycling and metals industry

• Develop professional communication and teamwork skills

• Participate in structured learning sessions with company leaders

• Contribute to projects that support our teams and operations

Our goal is to provide a meaningful experience that helps students grow personally and professionally.

Program Dates

To support both training quality and student schedules, we anticipate two start groups :

Session 1: Late May – Early July

Session 2: Mid-June – Early August

Exact dates will be confirmed once intern availability is finalized.

Who Should Apply

This opportunity is intended for college students who are interested in gaining professional experience during the summer months.

Students from a wide variety of academic programs are encouraged to participate, including:

• Business
• Engineering
• Environmental Studies
• Finance / Accounting
• Supply Chain / Logistics
• Communications or Marketing

We strive to demonstrate our Core Values in all positions at USM:

Trust ● Commitment ● Loyalty ● Passion ● Respect● Service ● Performance

USM is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. USM will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. USM is a Zero Impairment Workplace. USM provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify your Talent Acquisition contact or another member of our People Development Team at [email protected]. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.