Written by Nathan Babcock
Internships are the perfect way for a college student to explore future career paths, learn more in an applied field, build their resume, and start a professional network. In 2022, it is essential for college students to develop their career and land an internship while in college because it will become increasingly difficult to compete with other students in the full-time job market without work experience. In the COVID-19 era, finding an internship can be an incredibly daunting task, but I am here to provide some resources QMSS students can take advantage of that are lesser known!
Most students are aware of the job board platforms that most people use to find jobs: LinkedIn, Indeed, Handshake, etc. However, the best resource for undergraduates at the University of Michigan, and a criminally underutilized resource, is the LSA Opportunity Hub. The LSA Opportunity Hub helps students to develop their interests, uncover their values, and create a professional identity. The LSA opportunity hub offers students access to career coaching, interactive classes, alumni networking through events and hosted internships, internship scholarships for those who need funding to start an internship, and more! Alumni of the University and especially LSA are a great resource for students because they will have a deep understanding of what it means to be a student at the University of Michigan. Wolverines are out to help fellow Wolverines!
The Hub’s coaching efforts consist of drop-in office hours, one-on-one appointments, or even group workshops. I have personally utilized all of these options at least once, and my favorite has been the group workshops. The career coaches in the opportunity hub are fantastic and extremely helpful and insightful. Oftentimes, they know a lot about resources for students that most people are completely unaware of. Coaches will help you put together or revise a resume, help to examine your interests and values and how that will apply to your internship search, and help you determine your future goals and aspirations.
The interactive courses offered from The Hub are another great way to be active in your search. Through these courses, students will be able to learn how to make the most of their internships, as well as network and connect with alumni. The three Applied Liberal Arts (ALA) courses offered by the LSA Opportunity Hub are ALA 125, ALA 225, and ALA 325. ALA 125: Positioning Yourself for a Successful Internship is a one credit course aimed toward underclassmen that helps you become competitive for internships and allows you to explore connections between your academic interests and professional goals. ALA 225 is the undergraduate internship course where you can join a community of UM students who are starting an internship. You have the opportunity to share insights, talk about your experience, and hone in on your writing skills. This course is also connected to the LSA Internship Scholarship, which all students who need financial assistance should consider. Lastly, ALA 325: Putting Your Education to Work is a one-credit course designed for LSA Juniors and Seniors aiming to help them prepare for their goals beyond graduation from UM. I am personally enrolled in ALA 325 for the Fall semester and can’t wait!
Aside from these educational resources, the LSA Opportunity Hub also offers Hub-created internships. The engagement teams within the Hub work to source internships across many different industries. The internships offered are usually hosted by UM alumni and are exclusively for LSA students at UM. Not only will this allow you to get that coveted internship experience, but you will also have a support network around you from the start of the search process through to the end of the internship where you’ll be able to reflect on your work.
The University is not the only extremely valuable resource for QMSS students seeking an internship. Ann Arbor SPARK, an economic development group, aims to create a network of businesses in Michigan to promote economic growth and excellence. They provide resources to many groups: people launching their first startup, experienced business people, and ordinary people at any step of their journey. They also happen to be one of the organizations involved with the QMSS 451 capstone course! Ann Arbor SPARK and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) have launched a program called Michigan STEM Forward, which is a program within the state of Michigan that helps to match students attending Michigan colleges and universities with internship opportunities with the state’s leading innovative companies. The program is attempting to give students meaningful career experiences and promote job retention in the state, while also providing financial support to the companies that choose to hire the interns. College students attending schools in Michigan, like QMSS minors, are eligible to apply to the Michigan STEM Forward Internship Program. This is a perfect opportunity for people struggling with finding an internship through conventional outlets like LinkedIn and Indeed, and will give students the connections and confidence they need.
Finding an internship can be very challenging but is seen as necessary to most students in college. The LSA Opportunity Hub gives students access to fantastic resources like courses, coaches, workshops, connections, and scholarships. All QMSS students and fans should reach out to the Hub to see if they’re eligible for their programs and apply! In addition, for students interested in exploring careers in STEM and need assistance, seek help from the Michigan STEM Forward Internship Program.