Each year, nearly 600 top organizations conduct more than 15,000 interviews with students at MSU. Students gain valuable field experience, as well as being a part of Michigan’s Legislature, right off campus at the Capitol.
Lansing’s thriving community offers a large variety of internships to students. A substantial number of these opportunities are in the political sphere and having a close proximity to the Capitol allows these students to gain experience in their field of interest.
Political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore Brieann Sauer said she cherishes her experience working at the Anderson House Office Building with Rep. Gretchen Driskell.
“It was an incredible opportunity to have as my first internship and I’m looking forward to more opportunities like it in the future,” Sauer said. “We are all incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity to work in our chosen field through various internships so early on in our college careers. It’s not something all students can do so easily.”
Internships in the Capitol encompass several professional fields, primarily offering political science and James Madison College students an opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the professional world.
Students interning at the Capitol are able to gain skills that would be nearly impossible to develop in any other environment. Through working in the government, students learn to think analytically and critically about public affairs.
While working with a state representative, Sauer was able to incorporate everything from the classroom into a professional job.
“I helped out 10 hours a week honoring deserving members of the community with written tributes and congratulations letters, completing various filing tasks, researching, responding to and solving constituent relations issues, coordinating calendar events and whatever else was needed to keep the office running smoothly and effectively,” Sauer said.
The internships also embody the idea of community — besides working in government positions, many jobs work with community outreach projects. Working in Lansing, students are able to integrate a job into the communities in which they live.
MSU alumna Andi Vail, a former social relations and policy student, cherishes the time she spent working with a political consulting firm called Grassroots Midwest. Although the company worked mostly with candidates to raise money for elections and causes, Vail really felt like a part of the Lansing community.
“I loved working downtown,” Vail said via Facebook. “You get to know a lot of people in your field.”
International relations senior Eric Lofquist said students looking for field experience are extremely lucky to have so many opportunities so close to the university.
“Many students chose to work in Lansing because it’s easy to travel to and from while still managing a decent class load,” Lofquist said.
Max Olivero, Coordinator of Field Experience at the James Madison College at MSU, said students are incredibly fortunate to live right next to the Capitol.
“Besides those elements, students are able to gain professional exposure,” Olivero said. “But primarily, internships give students the confidence to use the skills that they have learned in the classroom in a professional environment.”
Olivero said it is important students take advantage of internships early.
In addition to learning new skills, internships offer students a chance to develop excellent job contacts for the future.
“(Students) are able to develop a lot of different contacts in the state Capitol,” Olivero said. “Oftentimes sharing those contacts and becoming familiar with organizations through internships is very conducive to career exposure.”
With the constant stir of activities in the Capitol, Lansing is the perfect place for students to intern and work with the leaders of Michigan.
“Field experience is intended to emulate what students will be interested in doing for careers after graduation,” Olivero said. “It gives that kind of experience that you can’t really get in a classroom.”
