“Brain-Drain” to Internships
I keep hearing that there is a major “brain-drain” of Michigan college graduates to other states. Though it might be fun to say the phrase “brain-drain”, we need to stop that fad. And we shouldn’t be so quick to pass this judgment as our graduates may not be leaving as fast as we think. To make things even better, several organizations are working hard to keep these graduates in the great state of Michigan.
Now, I’m not a journalist, so I don’t have the specific numbers, but, I have heard from various colleges and universities in Michigan that our young folks are not leaving in huge numbers. One way to ensure to keep them in Michigan is to keep them informed as to opportunities here in the state, specifically those within their areas of study. But, at the same time, there is a natural lure for college graduates to “leave home” and move to the likes of Chicago, NYC, LA, San Diego, or North Carolina. I mean, for a recent graduate, leaving Michigan seems so enticing. Didn’t we all have thoughts of leaving home when we were departing the nest?
But I am here to tell you that those other locations don’t have many jobs either, nor do they have family and friends around to support the young grads in so many ways. I remember reading that the folks at Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University, Oakland University, Wayne State University and Walsh College say that more than 75 – 80 percent of their graduates are staying in Michigan. That’s a high number, not as high as it could be, but a good step in the right direction.
To keep these percentages rising we need to encourage businesses to host interns and offer opportunities that make these graduates want to stay. For example, companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, The Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and Wayne State University have programs in place to look for strong interns and to help graduates find opportunities and therefore remain in Michigan.
I have to say, if I were at this point in my career, I would definitely check out these organizations and others offering some great opportunities to see what they have to offer.
Looking at the internship program here at our company, I’d have to say it is quite strong. At times during the year, we have at least three interns employed – as we do right now. They do a fabulous job and are economical and fun to have around. Plus, you have the opportunity to look for the best fit for future employees. We currently have five former interns as full-time staff professionals.
Trust me, it works folks!
