How early career experiences are opening doors for young professionals

This piece is sponsored by Direct.

For Daniel Jimenez, the introduction to Direct Companies started with a conversation overheard in class.

The Southeast Technical College student was asking a professor if he knew of any summer internship opportunities when a classmate spoke up. He worked at Direct Companies, he said, and the company offered summer internships.

That one connection led Jimenez not only to an internship but also to Direct Career Day, an event hosted at the company’s Sioux Falls headquarters to introduce students and young professionals to Direct, its culture and potential career paths.

“The event allowed me to learn about the company’s history, where the company started and how far it has come since then,” Jimenez said. “It also gave me an opportunity to see how the work environment looked and felt on the tour.”

The experience made an immediate impression.

“I instantly fell in love with the level of professionalism while also having a fun work environment,” he said.

For Direct, that is exactly the point.

The company hosted its first Career Day this spring, welcoming about 25 students from five schools whose majors aligned with roles Direct is seeking.

“It was super-successful thanks to the hard work of our experience team,” said Stephanie Kaiser, brand experience manager.

“Each business unit lead and their team took time to give college students an inside look at a day in the life in their division, the types of clients we serve and what innovation looks like at Direct.”

Students also had the opportunity to connect with Direct leaders and learn more about what it takes to build a career with the company.

As Direct continues to grow, events such as Career Day, which will become an annual event, are part of a broader strategy to introduce students and new graduates to the range of opportunities available within the organization — and to show them there is room to build a future.

Direct includes opportunities in automation, IT, cybersecurity, data, fabrication, project management and administrative roles.

“I would tell new grads and students that Direct is a great place to get exposure to a lot of different areas early in your career,” said Dawson Portner, special projects coordinator.

“One of the biggest positives is that you are not boxed into one narrow lane.”

Portner understands the early career path at Direct firsthand.

He discovered his first role with the company on LinkedIn during his final weeks at Dakota State University while finishing his degree. He joined full time in May 2025 as an experience associate and since has moved into his current role.

His position now includes recruiting, coordination, special projects and general support across the company. He also represents Direct at career fairs, where he talks with students and job-seekers about the company and the types of roles available.

“If you are willing to learn, ask questions and take initiative, there are a lot of ways to grow and get involved,” Portner said.

That has been true for Apphia Deckert, a brand experience intern who grew up on a farm near Freeman and recently graduated from Southeast Technical College with a degree in digital media production technology.

Her path to Direct began late one night while scrolling job listings when a job title caught her attention.

“It just sounded cool because it said brand experience intern, and it sounded super-fun and exciting, so I figured I would try and apply,” Deckert said.

She started June 1 and quickly found that the role offered the kind of experience she hoped to have.

“It’s super-fun, and I love the variety,” she said. “It’s not one specific thing. It’s a lot of learning, mostly. Dipping my toes in a lot of things has been immersive and helpful.”

Her work already has included video edits for a commercial, recruitment videos, interviews, photo shoots and coordinating smaller projects.

She was struck early by the office environment and the company’s pace, she said.

“It’s a super-nice, super-clean, amazing office,” she said. “Very modern and professional. They just get things done immediately. You have an idea, and they say to get it done. They’re very ‘Direct,’ so it makes sense as their name.”

The internship is expected to run into September, and Deckert said she’s open to many career opportunities after that – hoping to stay in Sioux Falls.

“Not many people know about Direct, but it’s a very good company,” Deckert said.

“Everyone is super-nice. It’s a great step out of college, or if you’re still in college, it’s a good step into the real world.”

For students who might feel intimidated about joining a company right out of school, she said the experience has been reassuring.

“It’s not as scary as you think,” she said. “It’s actually fun. Everyone is super-helpful and ready to answer questions. You’re not by yourself. Everyone is out to help you.”

That kind of support is intentional, Kaiser said.

Direct has a robust internship program and typically starts securing interns in January or February for the upcoming summer. When students have flexibility in their schedules, the company sometimes works with them to start even earlier so they can get up to speed before potentially joining full time.

This summer, Direct has internship opportunities in cybersecurity and staff technician roles, plus a new marketing and video editing internship.

“The skill sets that translate especially well are things like technical aptitude, strong communication, adaptability and a real eagerness to learn,” Kaiser said. “Those are the qualities that help our interns get the most out of their experience and set themselves up for a long-term career with Direct.”

That same sense of support has stood out to Jimenez in his IT internship.

His path to school came after years in the workforce. After graduating high school in Nebraska, he moved to northwest Iowa and worked nights as a robotic hydraulic press brake operator.

Because he worked overnight, often without supervisors or mechanics on-site, he had to learn to solve problems quickly.

Now at Direct, he said one of the most rewarding parts of the internship has been seeing the company’s client focus up close.

“My favorite experiences are seeing the clients happy with the work we do for them and the level of attention to detail and care we take when working with them,” Jimenez said.

The culture also has stood out.

“It’s one big family,” he said. “Everyone here is extremely supportive and is willing to help you learn and achieve your goals without hesitation.”

For someone looking for a career, he said, the environment is both engaging and supportive.

“It’s a wonderful place for someone looking for a career,” Jimenez said. “The work environment is super-fun, engaging, and everyone is willing to help and guide you.”

For Direct, career development continues after someone joins the company.

Its learning and development program, Direct University, is launching tailored training programs for each position. The program started with the automation team and is designed to help new team members become informed, confident and ready to serve clients, all in a more streamlined way.

“I’m really impressed with how well everyone embraces training and development at Direct,” Kaiser said. “People genuinely want to learn and stay engaged for the clients they serve, and that’s so special.”

That intentional approach is critical as Direct looks to the future, she said.

“Our people are the heart of everything we do, so investing in their growth has a direct impact on the kind of service our clients get,” Kaiser said. “When team members feel supported, well trained and confident in their roles, they’re able to really show up for the clients they serve.”

As Direct grows, workforce development becomes even more important.

“Scaling a business isn’t just about adding more people,” Kaiser said. “It’s about making sure everyone who joins is set up to succeed from day one. That’s what gives us the confidence to take on new clients, move into new service areas and keep delivering the kind of excellence our clients expect from Direct.”

Portner has seen that approach in his own experience.

“What has stood out to me is that Direct gives people opportunities to step up,” he said.

“I’ve been trusted with projects and responsibilities that have helped me grow professionally, and I’ve had a lot of support from people across the company along the way.”

At Direct, “there is a lot going on here, and that creates a lot of opportunity for people who are motivated and open to taking on new challenges,”  he added.

Direct currently has multiple career opportunities available, including an AI internship, software engineering roles and operational technology security positions.

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