Meet the UM-Flint Wolverines ‘stacking’ and extending internships

Students are "internship stacking" at the University of Michigan-Flint. Their plan? Use diverse jobs to gain an edge with employers.

Short-term 'stackers'

Miles Aeschliman of Linden has completed six accounting internships at four firms. These roles gave him 2 1/2 years of experience before his graduation in May.

Aeschliman recently began a new role at Magna. It is his seventh internship, but his first in finance.

Some people might see Aeschliman's efforts, also called "internmaxxing," as overkill. He does not see it that way.

"Bouncing between so many jobs in such a short amount of time could be viewed as negative," Aeschliman said. "Yet, if you take that and you turn it into internships, it's different. Suddenly, it becomes a strength on your résumé and not a weakness."

Aeschliman's plan worked. In November, he plans to join Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC full time. He is well acquainted with the firm, having interned there on three prior occasions.

Long-haul interns

Other students prefer the opposite approach. Rather than pursue several short-term internships, they are opting for extended training.

Michael Davis of Metamora is using his finance degree in his co-op role. He has spent the last 16 months at what used to be American Axle & Manufacturing. During this time, it acquired a foreign competitor, rebranded and is now known as Dauch Corporation.

Andrew Cheng of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, is a senior finance intern at Mettle Ops. His 13 months on the job have allowed him to learn from the defense contractor's March acquisition of Bay Electronics.

Some people work their whole careers and never witness such deals, but Davis and Cheng had front-row seats.

"I chose to take the opportunity to become more immersed in the team," Cheng said. "I believe that the longer you stay, the more you build credibility. That credibility leads to more responsibilities and opportunities to learn."

The blended approach

Caroline Huffman left nothing to chance. She completed a blend of short- and long-term accounting internships.

The Flushing native's first role at UM-Flint lasted more than two years. She then stacked up an additional four internships, each lasting a semester or two.

Her on-the-job experience taught her more than accounting. Huffman also learned:

What work she does and does not enjoy.
The type of office where she performs best.
What starting salary to negotiate.

"I feel that internships have put me in a better position than most," Huffman said. "They gave me a pretty strong bargaining position when it comes to salary."

Huffman has also accepted a full-time job offer at Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC. The former tax intern will soon become the firm's newest staff accountant.

Which plan is best?

Julie Bellamy is the founder of Sequelle HR Suite. She recently joined the School of Management Advisory Board and has advice for students.

Bellamy said students may prefer internship stacking if they like variety. In the workplace, variety may mean:

New people.
Frequent challenges.
Different environments.
Changing roles.
Flexibility and adaptability.

"Internmaxxing can provide just enough knowledge for students to get a good feeling for what they like and what they don't," Bellamy said. "They can also quickly develop more skills and relationships through a variety of assignments and companies."

She said people may prefer long-term internships if they like stability. This way, they can:

Develop deeper relationships.
Assess the company's culture.
Observe how managers behave, lead and develop their teams.
Better learn how a company operates.
Demonstrate ability.

"A longer internship can allow a student to take on a larger role in a project," Bellamy said. "In turn, the company can truly evaluate the student."

Ultimately, she encourages would-be interns to consider their goals and working style.

Scholarships and credits

Students can earn more than pay from internships. They can also earn 3 credit hours and a scholarship.

To qualify, students must:

Be juniors or seniors.
Receive wages (i.e., not volunteer).
Enroll in BUS 394, aka "Business Internship Experience."

These scholarships are possible thanks to generous supporters who wish to remain anonymous.

Cheng is one of eight students benefiting from a scholarship this summer. Huffman also received one prior to graduating in May.

Where to start?

Students and alumni can contact Career Services for help with internships. It hosts virtual office hours from noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Many employers list internships on Handshake and virtual "micro-internships" on Parker Dewey. Micro-internships are short-term, paid projects lasting 10 to 40 hours.

Dozens of employers will recruit interns at SOM's Career Fair. This event is scheduled for 1-4 p.m., Oct. 27, at the Riverfront Center.

SOM is hosting a Networking 101 event to prepare students for the Career Fair. It is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m., Sept. 2, in the same location.