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:
Linden Cota
Linden Cota
He is: A senior from Highland majoring in Marketing and minoring in Digital Communication and Social Media from Highland.
Her Internship: I am interning at Ferris State University’s News Services office in University Advancement and Marketing. During my internship at Ferris, I have gained marketing research skills by comparing the marketing resources and capabilities of other Michigan universities and colleges. I have also learned the fundamentals of social media management, including content conceptualization and production.
Ferris has provided me with the opportunity to make connections starting from the beginning. I’ve built many relationships from my freshman year residence hall. Some of these relationships turned into friendships, whereas others became professional connections. Through this network, I was able to find my current internship.
This internship has set a great foundation for my career. I have further improved my skills and have acquired new ones. I have developed social media management skills and enjoy content creation.
Advice to Students Seeking Internships: My biggest advice for students seeking an internship is building and maintaining connections. I had interned at two different companies before my Ferris internship. First, I was a marketing and social media intern at JAM in Grand Rapids. The next summer, I worked as a sales intern For Aflac in Metro Detroit. Acquiring marketing, social media and sales knowledge has turned me into a well-rounded business professional.
Campus Involvement: I am not involved in any groups at Ferris. However, I have participated in several different events and activities on campus, including Intermural sports. I have played Intramural Basketball and flag football; both are fun ways to stay active and meet new people.
Ferris Core Value Linden Relates to: Of all of Ferris’ core values, I resonate most with the core value of collaboration. The smaller school size provided me with the opportunity to collaborate in a way I may not have been able to at a school with 20,000 students. Given our school’s size, the professor-to-student ratio mimicked a high school classroom, making it a comfortable transition into university life. Ferris State University allowed me to collaborate with fellow Bulldogs in the classroom, on campus, in my free time around Big Rapids, and in my upcoming post-graduation journey.