How to Help Your Career Take-Off: The Power of Internships

Published by Scott Warner on Fri, Feb 15, 2013

How to help your Career Take-Off: The Power of Internships

Internships come in many sizes, shapes and disciplines, but most everyone agrees that an internship will do wonders when applying for first career jobs.  Internships offer a practical way to apply skills learned at educational institutions in a workplace setting.  Additionally, they supply students with an understanding of how the knowledge gained in an academic setting will merge with a modern work environment.

At Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation, students are encouraged to take part in numerous networking opportunities throughout their tenure at the University.  The flagship event is Aviation Outlook Day, taking place this year on April 5, 2013.  Since its re-launch in 2010, the program has consistently grown both with the numbers of companies participating and students attending.  All students are encouraged to attend and learn about career opportunities and information from the aviation company representatives who ultimately hire WMU College of Aviation graduates.  Many of the companies attending Aviation Outlook Day offer internships for students.  These internships are available to all students and all degree programs at the College of Aviation.

Don’t take it from me; data from WMU’s Career Services support the power of internships.  Of those students reporting full time employment after graduation, 60% had an internship prior to graduation in 2012.  If you are a student reading these numbers, you now realize the necessity of pursuing an internship opportunity while an undergrad.  Not only will this provide you valuable real-world experience, the opportunity will also heighten your chances obtaining full time employment post-graduation.  High internship completion numbers exist for students studying Aviation Science and Administration, also known in many cases as Aviation Management and Operations and Aviation Maintenance Technology.  An impressive 33% of Aviation Science and Administration graduates who reported full-time post-graduation employment had an internship while attending WMU.  Even better, 55% of Aviation Maintenance Technology graduates who reported full-time employment participated in an internship while studying at Western Michigan University.

Many students who study Aviation Flight Science (Professional Pilot Training) often fail to realize they too should participate in internships.  These experiences enhance networking opportunities and raise job prospects for students upon completing their education.  Aspiring pilots need a good understanding of the business that surrounds the aircraft as well as how to operate it.  Many aviation internships do a great job at demonstrating the inner workings of an airline, corporate operation or other aircraft operations.  Dave Powell, Dean of the College of Aviation encourages students in the Aviation Flight Science curriculum to focus on being both an exceptional pilot and an individual who understands the business behind the aircraft.  Knowing the business aspect of aviation enhances the marketability of post-graduates seeking employment, and may set pilots apart from their peers.  Internships do a remarkable job of putting the finishing touches on this part of a student’s education.

After reviewing data, internships are a no-brainer.  Students interested in pursuing exceptional internship opportunities are encouraged to subscribe to the College of Aviation internship blog.  Subscribers will receive e-mails sent on a weekly to bi-weekly basis.  These notifications will provide students multiple opportunities to learn about internship opportunities and indicate the deadlines and time frames that are critical for obtaining an internship.  Students are also provided a forum to ask questions and receive advice about the opportunities.

As mentioned earlier, internship opportunities abound at many companies and organizations.  One company in particular, offers a great internship program which highlights all aspects of corporate aviation.  Northern Jet Management offers multiple length, year-round internships that build additional skills sought by companies hiring aviation graduates.  As a company specializing in corporate aviation, Northern Jet Management offers internship opportunities highlighting many aspects of the industry: aviation business, maintenance, operations, and even flight.  Students in the Aviation Science and Administration (Aviation Management and Operations) curriculum interested in corporate jet operations, fixed based operator management, or aircraft sales would be wise to apply for this particular internship.

Learn more about careers in Aviation Management and Operations by clicking the button below. 

Download the Aviation Management and Operations 
Career Guide

Northern Jet Management is a corporate aviation management company that specializes in turnkey aircraft and flight department management.  Northern Air, Inc. is a Fixed Base Operation that provides full line and concierge services as well as aircraft maintenance.  To learn more about this great company, please click here.

Northern Jet Management and Northern Air, Inc. partner with Western Michigan University for aviation internships and career opportunities in West Michigan.  Our internship opportunity allows the student to experience maintenance, flight operations, customer service, and participate in job shadows with aviation management and senior leaders.  Western Michigan University students studying in the Aviation Science and Administration, Flight Science and Aviation Maintenance Technology programs gain a knowledge base that prepares them for aviation opportunities including the company internship program with Northern Jet Management and Northern Air, Inc.  Previous experience is vital when students are looking for careers after graduation.  Since students can build an internship around their area of interest at Northern Jet Management, the opportunity offers them a chance to apply their knowledge learned at WMU to the aviation workplace.

If students or alumni are interested in Northern Jet Management or Northern Air, Inc. for career opportunities, please email your resume to @email or visit their websites at www.northernjet.netorwww.northernair.net.  Students interested in the semester based internship program can also apply to Tami Barnes at HumanResources@northernair.net

Not a Western Michigan University aviation student? Find out how you can join an in demand career that is exciting and valuable.