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:
Mollie Doornbos
She is: A junior from Grand Rapids majoring in Human Resource Management with a certificate in Risk Management and Insurance.
Her Internship: Mollie is serving as a human resource intern with Pioneer Construction in Grand Rapids. “I have learned and done so much that both relate to what I have done in the classroom and what I have done at previous jobs. I have learned a great deal in my efforts surrounding orientation for new employees each week. I assist them with paperwork, questions and organize their personal files. Once orientation is complete, I fill out the workers’ I-9 forms and their medical paperwork. Since construction can be a dangerous job, we deal with multiple FMLA cases. Going more in-depth on the Family Medical Leave Act has been an amazing learning experience, because I am actually involved in the cases rather than interpreting from a textbook. This act can be highly confusing, and many companies are now considering the need for an FMLA specialist.”
Making a Difference at Her Internship: “I believe I am making a difference by being a part of the younger generation of employees. I am able to bring in new and fresh ideas, based on what I have learned so far at Ferris. In fields such as construction, manufacturing and many others, a large majority of employees are either retiring or thinking of retirement in the next five years. It is important that both I and others my age are able to join the workforce directly out of college due to this reason.”
Advice for Students Seeking Internships: “I believe they should start looking early in the year, during the late fall semester or early in the spring semester, rather than the end of spring. This gives students a greater list of options and different opportunities. Another piece of advice I have for students hoping to find an internship is to connect with people that have completed an internship that they are considering.”
Mollie’s Other Interests on Campus: ”For the last two years, I have been involved with the Society for Human Resource Management registered student organization. My first year, I was active in promoting SHRM on social media and in my second year I was elected President. For the upcoming school year, I was re-elected to the Presidency and can’t wait to take SHRM to the next level at Ferris, as we try to get more people interested in Human Resources.”
Ferris Core Value She Relates to: Opportunity. “By going out of my comfort zone and taking on additional responsibility,
more opportunities arose. There is so much that Ferris has to offer and by connecting
with other students, professors and faculty, even more, opportunities came about.
By joining SHRM my freshman year, I eventually had the opportunity to become president.
Through that role, I have had the chance to visit multiple human resource offices,
tour large facilities and strengthen my leadership skills.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Grand Rapids native Mollie Doornbos (left), a junior majoring in Human
Resource Management, is interning at Pioneer Construction in Grand Rapids.