Michigan's Free Internship Resource Matches Students and Employers

myFOX Job Shop - Michigan-based employers like DTE Energy and Northwestern Mutual Insurance Network are utilizing the Intern in Michigan website and tool as a way to keep talented young professionals in the state to build their lives and careers.

The technology and website www.interninmichigan.com is the ideal tool for employers who see the value in hiring interns as a way to further develop future job candidates and supplement existing staff. Thus far, more than 5,000 students from colleges and universities statewide and regionally have explored new careers and hundreds of employers throughout the state have posted more than 1,000 opportunities with Intern in Michigan.

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network has been named as one of the best national employers where students can intern. It has posted multiple internship positions with Intern in Michigan, including 35 in Southeastern Michigan, 25 in Grand Rapids, 11 in Saginaw and 10 in Grand Blanc/Flint.

"Our interns take on important roles. They are essentially test driving their career in the financial services industry and so they do exactly what our full-time financial representatives are," said Northwestern Mutual District Director Brian Young. "We hire interns with the intention of converting them to full-time professionals after graduation."

The website was launched in October and is being used by employers from Southeastern Michigan to Grand Rapids and from Flint to the Upper Peninsula. Employers cover all industries from high-tech to healthcare and from automotive to financial services.

DTE Energy has been focusing its efforts on retaining talent in Michigan and has posted more than 200 internships on Intern in Michigan. DTE Energy provides job opportunities for hundreds of interns and co-op students every year, most of who are working toward engineering or business degrees.

DTE Energy worked with Intern in Michigan to help ensure that the website's software allowed employers who are federal contractors to adhere to regulatory and compliance requirements. In January DTE Energy brought on its first group of students recruited through Intern in Michigan.

"We've been very pleased with how much the site has broadened our reach, allowing us to connect with candidates who might not otherwise have been aware of the many opportunities at our company," said Kathleen Herwick, Director of Corporate Human Resources for DTE Energy.

"Intern in Michigan has been a success for us right out of the gate. We believe it's going to be a valuable recruiting tool for our company, and will make an important difference in keeping Michigan's college graduates where we want them - in Michigan," Herwick said.

The goal of the program is to help employers attract qualified, talented young professionals, showing them the opportunities they have to build their careers in Michigan, said Intern in Michigan Executive Director Wendy Pittman.

"We've seen tremendous growth in postings and job applicants in our system and the feedback we get from employers is that the candidates they are interviewing are very well qualified," Pittman said. "Employers rely on interns more than ever before for important tasks and support, often of the customer-facing nature."

The Intern in Michigan Initiative is funded by the New Economy Initiative and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Employers such as DTE Energy, the Michigan House of Representatives and Beaumont Hospitals are among the hundreds that have found the site easy-to-use and extremely valuable.

Powered by Classroom to Career technology, Intern in Michigan uses innovative matching algorithms to make its connections. Students answer questions based on their individual skills and interests and are matched to organizations looking for someone who fits the unique profile.

Designed by Detroit-based Digerati, this technology is radically different from existing web-based hiring practices. Intern in Michigan saves time and money by creating instant connections between employers and job seekers, connections that lead to real opportunities and opportunities that become careers.

About Intern in Michigan
Intern in Michigan is a groundbreaking new system instantly connects students and employers through a unique online matching system. Saving time and headaches, Intern in Michigan makes connections based on specific job-requirements and the individual interests and skills of the candidates.