Cornerstone Hosts Virtual Employer Training Workshops
Cornerstone University is proud to partner with the West Michigan community, area higher education institutions and traditional undergraduate students in the pursuit of meaningful work as a host of Virtual Employer Internship Workshops for the 2020-21 academic year.
For the third year, Cornerstone hosted an internship training workshop for employers in August; a second workshop will be offered on March 10, one of eight workshops hosted by West Michigan-based colleges and universities. In past years, the West Michigan Internship Initiative employer training workshops focused on the process of how to start an on-site internship within a company. With the current adjustments workplaces are making in response to COVID-19 , the team decided to discuss how to transition to and facilitate a beneficial virtual internship experience for college students, creating new opportunities for the next generation to build their career skills and resume.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers defines an internship as “a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting.” NACE empowers students to pursue internships because it “gives students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.”
One of Cornerstone’s main advocates for students seeking internships is Anne Gaertner, senior director of employer relations and internships. Anne works hard to develop, establish and maintain relationships with people and businesses in the area looking to hire Cornerstone students. She also works with faculty partners to teach internship courses and hiring process preparation. Anne is the representative for Cornerstone for the West Michigan Internship Initiative. She is responsible for ongoing meetings, content development, securing employer speakers and promotional efforts.
Anne assisted in making the decision to move the workshop to a virtual format.
“COVID-19 dramatically influences where and how we work, yet it doesn’t change the fact that work is still happening,” Gaertner said. “Society is based on work regardless of the industry. Whether you’re in a clinical role in a health care facility or analyze financials for a client, work still needs to be done and there’s a place for an intern.” She is excited to help empower employers to incorporate young talent into organizational operations.
The training provided fundamental information and tools to help employers create an internship experience for their organization. Whether they are looking for one intern or 20, the workshop is an excellent opportunity to learn more about what qualifies an internship. The workshop is a low risk, high reward opportunity. Attend, learn about internships and start to build one for your organization.
Cornerstone hosted this year’s first Virtual Employer Internship Workshop on Aug. 12 and looks forward to hosting a second workshop on March 10, 2021. Join us for an inside look at flipping the switch to a virtual internship experience.
