At the University, students quickly learn to be conscious of
early deadlines. Beginning in September, the race is on to sign
next year’s rental agreement, and future scholarship
applications seem to fly on and off the pile of things to do each
month. The search for summer internships is no different. While
some employers request resumes as early as November, January marks
the biggest push to snag the perfect employment opportunity.
- Kate Green
- Trevor campbell/Daily
The Ark is one Ann Arbor venue that offers non-profit volunteer positions to interested students.
Although internships offer valuable hands-on education, the
timing could not be worse for some. With the added pressures of
finals, holiday obligations and the start of a new semester, many
students find themselves losing sight of the job search for more
imminent concerns.
Not to worry. Thanks to Ann Arbor’s plethora of unusual
retailers and employment opportunities, the hunt does not have to
end with professional internships. In only a few keystrokes,
students can access dozens upon dozens of resume-worthy summer jobs
all around campus. From computer consultants to administrative
assistants, Internet posting boards house unique goodies for this
season’s eager applicants.
Perhaps one of the most expansive posting boards for University
jobs, the Student Employment Office site covers a wide array of
opportunities for work study and non-work study students alike.
Each job that is posted ranges in duration and skill level, and the
list is updated regularly with newly available positions. The site
includes a temporary job posting board, which is open to all
students, and a more specific work study board for listings where
only those with this form of financial aid should apply.
Many of the University-affiliated postings seem to resemble
internship positions; they are often specifically linked to one key
area of research. Though some prefer upper-level concentrators or
even graduate students, others remain open to all applicants.
For those looking for a little break from school-related work,
the SEO site also contains descriptions of non-University jobs,
whose various duties include such tasks as care giving and
occasional yard work.
Although this University posting board provides an excellent
starting point in the long search for employment, it is certainly
not the only available resource. Ann Arbor area restaurants and
shops welcome many new students to their staffs each semester.
For example, members of The Ark, one of Ann Arbor’s
favorite theater haunts, even attend the University’s annual
Festifall event in order to recruit volunteers for their shows.
Like many internships and similar nonprofit arts organizations, the
majority of The Ark’s postings are unpaid positions, but its
service opportunities still provide valuable experiences.
Volunteers are privy to performances by such artists as Ani
DiFranco, Bonnie Raitt and the comedic stylings of the Second City.
Its website advertises more information on how one can become an
Ark volunteer as part of the United Way Community Services
program.
As part of Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Places to
Work for,” Whole Foods Market gained serious attention in Ann
Arbor last year when it made a surprising move from its small,
out-of-the-way location to a significantly larger building
downtown. But the building was not the only thing to change
size.
The staff has also grown to include hundreds of knowledgeable
employees, many of whom are students. The company’s national
website maintains a running list of available jobs arranged by
state.
While internships undoubtedly appear desirable to future
employers, they are not necessarily the be-all and end-all of
student employment. Ann Arbor’s increasing area diversity
lends itself to more and more unusual job opportunities for the
undergraduate work force. As additional employers look to the
Internet to find new recruits, students’ resources are
steadily increasing, and the long process of job hunting seems
slightly more bearable.