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: Matt Haines
He is: A senior from Edwardsburg, Mich., majoring in Music Industry Management
Internship: Famined Records, an independent record label for metal and hardcore music based in Grand Rapids, whose motto is “Before the Feast, There must be a Famine.”
His unpaid internship began in May and will wrap up in August.
What he’s learning: Matt’s work is focused on marketing the record label’s bands by writing and distributing press releases, and updating its social media platforms with current news.
“What I really love is listening to new music that comes in from bands wanting to be signed by us,” he said. “It is a great feeling to bring a new band aboard and welcome them to the family.”
He also has enjoyed learning from industry professionals, and developing his communication, social media and marketing skills to meet music industry demands. The internship is virtual, but he meets with the label’s manager and often Skypes with other label assistants.
Something cool: Seeing how the marketing plan he created is working has been satisfying.
“It is gratifying to see your work quoted on other websites and to hear fans’ reactions to the news you give,” he said.
Core values: Matt’s internship emulates all of Ferris’ core values – Collaboration, Diversity, Ethical Community, Excellence, Learning and Opportunity – in some form, he said.
“I collaborate extensively with my peers on plans for the label,” he said. “Collaboration is the key to success, because if you have the right person to bounce ideas back and forth, you’ll reach new heights and open up new doors for the future.”
The internship has provided a huge learning opportunity and the chance to work with a diverse group of people to provide the means to help them succeed, Matt said. The internship also has provided him an opportunity to connect with people in the business he would like to work in.
On campus: He is a member of the Music Industry Management Association student organization and served his senior year as president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He credits his involvement with helping to prepare him for the internship and life after college.
His plan: Matt, who also did an online internship the summer after his freshman year with Under the Gun Review, will graduate with completion of his internship. He plans to move to the Portland, Ore. or Seattle area, find a job and “maybe find myself a nice girl to settle down with and get a boxer puppy.”