In the future

'U' office helps student job search

Some argue experience in a possible future career can be nearly as important as classes and grades during the college years.

LSA senior Courtney Stamm, student coordinator of Career Planning and Placement's Public Service Internship Program, said she thinks any internship experience is helpful for students, regardless of whether it incorporates their major area of study.

"It's good to have a variety of backgrounds. I'm a history major, but I'm interested in journalism and broadcasting," said Stamm, who spent a summer in Washington, D.C. working for NBC's news show "Meet the Press" through PSIP.

LSA junior Matt Israel registers for a chance to apply to dental school

Stamm recommends CP&P for job-searching students because it has many valuable resources most people don't know about, she said.

CP&P, located in the Student Activities Building, is a comprehensive resource center for students searching for work, CP&P Project Administrator Sharon Vaughters said.

The center provides a variety of books and other resources listing internship opportunities, Vaughters said, as well as Web pages and job bulletins to which students can subscribe.

"Students are looking at actual postings ... as well as being active in contacting employers whether or not they know they're hiring," she said.

Besides providing job opportunity information, CP&P counselors help students one-on-one with narrowing down their fields, writing resumes and preparing them with other career tools they might need, Vaughters said.

"We help them to explore what their interests are and target the internship of their choice," she said.

In addition to career counselors and resources, CP&P provides forums and workshops throughout the year, which students can find out about at its Website http://www.cpp.umich.edu.

Vaughters said CP&P has a high rate of success in matching students with work opportunities.

"We have an increasing number of students looking for jobs and internships," she said. "People often ask for ones in finance, investment banking, consulting and advertising."

Some of the more unique internships Vaughters has helped students find are positions with CNN, former Jack Kevorkian attorney Geoffrey Fieger, Capitol Hill, major fashion companies like Revlon and film production in Hollywood.

"Employers look for students who have been involved in student activities," Vaughters said. Positive internship experiences can lead to a future career in the same field or with the same company, she added.

Whatever the job, Vaughters said, the focus is on employer development and experiential learning.

"We've dedicated a lot of staff and resources to that," she said.

LSA sophomore John Williams said he hopes to gain entry to the School of Business Administration but currently is looking for an internship in law enforcement, specifically with the U.S. Marshals.

He started looking through CP&P about a week and a half ago, Williams said, after he received a flier in the mail.

"When I went to CP&P, the secretary pointed me in different directions, gave me resources and information for the Web pages," he said. "She was also able to provide me with phone numbers to call."

Williams said the process was made even easier because many employers had applications available online.

"All the resources are there for me," he said. "I've found it real easy."

Although she has not yet heard back from prospective employers, Christine Gehringer, a Business junior, also has been searching for an internship.

She said she is using the Business school's M-Track, which posts job and internship opportunities online. Advisors and career counselors are available.

"The system's very complete," she said. "It's pretty thorough."

Gehringer said she definitely wants the experience an internship would offer as well as the opportunity for a future career.

"I want an internship that I could see myself at once I graduate," she said. "I think most people want to know they have that security."

Sue Grote, senior recruiting manager for Proctor & Gamble in the U.S., said a career often stems from summer internships.

"We hire interns with the hope that we'll be able to offer them a full-time position after the summer," she said, although only about 20 percent of applicants to Proctor & Gamble initially get an internship position.

"We get thousands and thousands of applications," Grote said.

She suggested students get an early start in the fall and surf companies' Websites to have a better chance of getting the internship they desire.

"A lot of universities are very aggressive" in encouraging students to start looking early, "almost as soon as school starts," she said.

Although the University has much later interviewing times than other schools, she said, her company hires students from the University on regular basis.

A Pharmacy junior looks over materials at the Career Planning and Placement office yesterday

.

KELLY MCKINNELL/Daily

01-12-99