Creative Corner: Internships drive success


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Author: 

Beth Hill


Publication: 

  • Burlington Free Press

More than ever, scientific discovery and the technological innovations derived from basic research are serving as the foundations for dynamic state, regional and national economies. Since 1992, The Vermont Technology Council has been a catalyst for science- and technology-based economic development. The council brings together the research of our universities and colleges with the entrepreneurial spirit of our businesses and the support of state government...

...In this economy, students need to be looking for opportunities to build their resumes while they are still undergraduates. Gone are the days of a college degree alone leading to a career. Businesses are learning that the time invested in hiring a student with a specific interest in their product or service is time and money well-spent. Many companies hire those interns full-time when they graduate.

Just ask Jen Loiselle, office manager of Physician’s Computer Company; Frank Cioffi, president of the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation; or Steve Arms, president and chief executive officer of MicroStrain Inc. These savvy employers fully understand the power of internships.

MicroStrain’s college interns earn extra money while gaining valuable experience working with senior engineers to develop cutting edge sensing systems.

“MicroStrain has a long history of providing paid internships for engineering and computer science students from Vermont colleges and universities as well as for students who may be returning to Vermont from out-of-state schools over their winter and summer vacations,” Arms said. “Many of our former student interns are now full-time members of our staff, and they’re now mentoring our student interns for the future.”

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