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SBAM, Intern In Michigan Partner To Fight Brain Drain

DETROIT --Intern in Michigan announced this week that it has finalized a partnership with the Small Business Association of Michigan that will help state business owners match internships with organizations based on their individual interests and unique skill sets.

"We're eager to assist Intern in Michigan in connecting talented young people to internship opportunities in small businesses," said Small Business Association of Michigan president and CEO Rob Fowler. "Intern in Michigan addresses two important workforce development goals: enhancing student skills in order to help meet the rapidly growing employment needs of small businesses, and giving our college students an opportunity to get the on-the-job training and hands-on experience that will make them even more valuable and productive when they enter the full-time workforce."

Unlike other career Web sites, Intern in Michigan is and instantly matches employers with qualified internship candidates based on your requirements.

Saving employers time and money, this new system allows businesses and organizations that ability to post internship opportunities and select from a pre-screened pool of candidates from around the state.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has also recognized Intern in Michigan as a valuable resource for employers, young professionals, and college students in the state.

"In Michigan, it's critically important to retain our talented college graduates," Snyder said. "It is these individuals who will become the state's next generation of innovators and economic leaders. Intern in Michigan is leading the way in working toward this goal. By connecting students with meaningful job opportunities across the state, we can help ensure that a skilled workforce is retained in Michigan."

The Intern in Michigan online tool, at www.interninmichigan.com, is ideal for employers who see value in hiring interns as a way to further develop future job candidates and supplement existing staff. Thus far, more than 8,000 students from colleges and universities across the country have used the system to explore new careers in Michigan, while nearly 600 employers throughout the state have posted more than 1,700 opportunities with Intern in Michigan.

Intern in Michigan also gives thousands of students a taste of entrepreneurship as they work alongside the innovators and leaders who have started businesses all across Michigan, Fowler said.

"We think this is an important element of Michigan's economic turnaround; helping our young people understand that they can be the next generation of Michigan entrepreneurs," Fowler said. "Internships help SBAM members attract and retain young talent. They can enhance your current hiring practices by posting opportunities with Intern in Michigan because it allows our members to reach a greater audience of potential employees."

Intern in Michigan is funded by the New Economy Initiative and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Employers such as DTE Energy, Quicken Loans and Beaumont Hospitals are among the hundreds that have found the site an effective and valuable recruitment tool.

Powered by Classroom to Career technology, Intern in Michigan uses innovative matching algorithms to make its connections. Students answer questions based on their individual skills and interests, and are matched to organizations looking for someone who fits the unique profile.

Designed by Detroit-based Digerati, this technology is radically different from existing Web-based hiring practices. Intern in Michigan saves time and money by creating instant connections between employers and job seekers, which lead to real opportunities that have the potential to become careers.

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