Aug. 6, 2025
Classrooms to Careers: Ferris State senior blends academic training with practical experience gained during Mill Steel internship
Bringing confidence from his Ferris State University classroom experiences into a Mill Steel internship, Benji Zorn is adding to his resume an experience that will help make him industry-ready after graduation in Spring 2026.
Mill Steel, based in Grand Rapids, is one of the largest steel service centers in the nation, with six service centers across the country.
Woman-owned, technically driven and market-focused, Mill Steel delivers flat-rolled carbon, aluminum and stainless steel to the most demanding industries all over the country.
Zorn, a Grand Rapids native and Business Administration major, is not hands-on with the actual steel work, but is investing the hours with the Inside Sales team. His summer internship work includes assisting with forecasting, which helps guide the company’s steel purchasing decisions.
“This internship has given me a valuable perspective on what life after college might look like and has highlighted the importance of aligning yourself with a company’s values and culture,” he said. “My academic experience at Ferris State has significantly prepared me for this role. Beyond technical knowledge, Ferris has helped me strengthen the soft skills that are critical to success in any workplace.”
Zorn’s success beyond the classroom includes being the 2024 Disc Golf Singles National Champion.
“I’ve learned how to ask for help when needed, how to approach problems strategically, and how to become more technically proficient in business tools and systems,” he said.
Picking up an internship suited to enhance his classroom experience has been no accident for Zorn, who also has a minor in Professional Sales and a certificate in Data Analytics. He utilized Ferris State campus resources to position himself for the internship opportunity he earned.
“I secured this internship through the Ferris State University Career and Internship Fair,” he said. “It happened near the end of the event, where I walked over to say ‘hi’ to a friend at another table when one of Mill Steel’s outside sales representatives noticed I was wearing a Sales Club shirt. That sparked a conversation, and by the next week, I was headed to their headquarters to interview for the position I now hold.”
Zorn, who claimed third in a Perfect Pitch Competition earlier in 2025, advises future interns to learn from all aspects of experiences to become better employment candidates and stronger employees.
“To students preparing for an internship, I would say lean into doing your job to the best of your ability,” he said. “At times, you might be assigned tasks that seem insignificant or outside the scope of what you expected. But if you take a closer look, those ‘mundane’ tasks often serve an important purpose in understanding how the company and industry operate.”
Long-range career success is a marathon, Zorn believes, rather than a sprint. He encourages students to invest time in networking.
“Over time, those connections will begin to work in your favor and employers may begin to seek you out because they are looking for top talent,” he said. “This process takes effort and persistence, but if you continue to put yourself out there, people will notice, and opportunities will come your way.”
The U.S. Department of Labor reports a median annual salary of $76,570 for business and financial operations jobs.