Ferris State University students gain valuable work experience through internships. Internships also can confirm or redirect career decision-making, provide marketability, develop people skills and enhance classroom learning. Many academic programs require one, but the experience is encouraged regardless to provide students with a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the workplace.
Many students are participating in myriad internships this summer. Meet:
Cole Rickert
Cole Rickert
He is: a senior in Welding Engineering Technology from Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Cole’s Internship and Making a Difference: is with Bay Weld Boats in Homer, Alaska. “I am learning the custom boat-building process. I learned how to weld aluminum at Ferris, and I can make a structurally sound aluminum weld because of my education. I had to learn different techniques of welding to make them cosmetically pleasing.
I am helping Bay Weld by jumping in wherever they need me and learning along the way. This summer, I made WPS (welding procedure specification) and PQR (procedure qualification record) files in Excel, which they previously did not have. I will also be helping with the PQR testing and filing near the end of the summer, along with code book interpretations to fill out the paired WPS forms.”
Future Plans: “To move back to work for Bay Weld. I hope my supervisors have been pleased with my work and will offer me a full-time job once I complete school.”
Advice for Students Seeking Internships: “I would say to not limit yourself to the companies that come to the Ferris job fair. If there is a company, you want to work for, reach out and ask if they would be interested in doing an internship position. Bay Weld did not have a posting for an open position, but when I found them, I called and emailed my resume.”
Other Campus Involvements: I am involved with the AWS (American Welding Society) student chapter at Ferris. We do community service activities and fun group outings, like skiing or ice fishing. Those events are occasional. Most weekends or any free time I have is spent salmon or steelhead fishing.”
Ferris Core Value Cole Relates to: Opportunity. “I think this relates to me the most because of the opportunity that developed for me this summer. Ferris’ Welding Engineering Technology program will open opportunities for me all around the country and I can work pretty much wherever I want.”