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:
Nathan Rubelman
He is: a senior from Zeeland studying Plastics Engineering Technology with a minor in Lean Systems. Nathan is completing an internship with Hudsonville-based Royal Technologies.
What Nathan is Learning on His Internship: “I am gaining hands-on processing experience by operating the machines. I’m also learning about communicating with outside vendors and automation integrators for my automation projects. Lastly, I am finding out about the day-to-day problems I will be encountering as a process engineer.”
How Ferris Helped Nathan in Securing His Internship: “I gained my internship through the Fall Career Fair that Ferris offers. The company I am working for came in and talked about the opportunities they offered at one of our SPE (Society of Plastics Engineers) meetings.”
Advice for Students Seeking Internships: “Start early. Also, understand that it is not just about going and handing out your résumé at a career fair. If you are interested in working for a company, make it happen. After talking to them, follow up with an email. It shows you are interested and driven.”
Future Plans: “I feel that my current internship, which is the third I have had while at Ferris, is helping shape my becoming a better engineer once I complete college. The experiences I am gaining here will help me hit the ground running at my first job. It has also helped me narrow down what position I would like to seek once I am done with my degree.”
Ferris Core Value Nathan Relates to: Opportunity. “Ferris provides an abundance of resources, especially in engineering programs, to help its students gain internships that will allow them to excel once they begin a career.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Zeeland native Nathan Rubelman, a senior majoring in Plastics Engineering
Technology, is an account coordinator intern for Hudsonville-based Royal Technologies.