Butler is proud to provide a program providing education and training to become a Caterpillar Technician through ThinkBIG. ThinkBIG, Caterpillar’s Dealer Technician Education Program, is designed to develop entry-level diesel service technicians to serve at Caterpillar dealerships like Butler Machinery Company in North and South Dakota. ThinkBIG is geared towards high school and college students looking to begin or further their career in the field through a blend of hands-on training and classroom learning. Several questions we are often asked regarding the ThinkBIG program we have answered below, to provide more context and clarity on the opportunity:

1. Does Butler provide any tuition reimbursement?

The tuition, books, and tools are all the students’ responsibility. We help offset the cost by providing a generous wage during the internship.

2. Is there a contract to come and work for Butler for so many years post-graduation?

Upon successful completion of the program, there certainly is opportunity for full-time employment, however there is no contractual agreement regarding employment post-graduation.

3. How many spots are available within the program?

We accept 16 applicants per school between NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND and LATI in Watertown, SD for 32 total.

4. Can I choose my internship location?

We try our best to pair you with the internship location of your choice, however we do not make any guarantees as each store location’s capacity is based on business need.

5. What’s the application and interview process like?

We consider this to be a dual application process. You must apply and be accepted to the school (NDSCS or LATI), then also interview and be accepted at a Butler Machinery location. The typical interview process consists of a phone interview and online mechanical aptitude test, and from there the application would be passed onto the store location for an in-person interview and hands-on mechanical aptitude test.

6. How does the housing situation work with students going back and forth from school to their internship location?

We realize this can be a bit of a challenge for some students and do try to provide ideas and local contacts for the student to make the best possible arrangements for their living situation.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Feel free to reach out with an email to BecomeATech@ButlerMachinery.com or give us a call at (701) 298-1735. We would love to hear from you.