Oakland Community College is building strong bridges between education and industry. Through OCC’s Career Services internships, students gain real-world experience while employers discover emerging talent, creating partnerships that often lead to long-term employment.
“An internship provides exposure and practical, entry-level job experience for students in an industry they hope to build a career in,” said Cameron Albring, OCC’s Director of Career Services. “It also gives employers an opportunity to get to know the student and often leads to job offers after graduation.”
Most internships last at least one semester and may be full- or part-time, paid or unpaid. Students may also earn academic credit when internships align with their program of study. For employers, internships offer a cost-effective way to identify and develop future talent.
Internships differ from apprenticeships, which combine paid work with classroom instruction. Most apprenticeships include on-the-job learning and up to 45 credits toward a certificate or degree.
OCC Faculty Integrate Internships into Their Academic Programs
OCC Paralegal faculty member Sara Bowman knows full well the benefits of internships for her students.
“The intention of the internship is to bridge the gap between education and work experience,” Bowman said. “It provides hands-on training that students can add to their resume.”
Although the Paralegal internship is an elective, Bowman said students gain valuable insights while interning at law firms, courts and legal offices, and often receive job offers or referrals. "It also gives the student the opportunity to find out what type of law office they want to work in and what type they don’t,” she added.
“The legal community is small, and a strong internship can open many doors,” said Bowman. “While a student may not always get a job offer where they interned, they may get a recommendation at another firm.”
Graphic Design faculty member Peter Schade sees similar success. Internships are required for the Associate of Arts degree, and Schade estimates 75% of graduates secure jobs after completing the program, and an internship plays a large part in that.
“Applying skills learned in class within a business setting really gives students a major advantage when looking for a job after graduating,” said Schade. “It also helps them build a solid portfolio, which is vital to getting a job in the creative field.”
Schade said internships give students a great chance to land a good job because of the connections they make with businesses. “Often students are offered a job after their internship because the business got a chance to see how good their work was,” he said. “And even if the business doesn’t have a job opening, they often know other companies who are hiring and will give the student a good recommendation.”
Schade’s former student, Dani Kilby, credits her summer internship at Leo Burnett for launching her career. After graduating from OCC in 2018, she was hired to work on the agency’s social media team. Today, she is an art director at Weber Shandwick, working on "all types of creative projects.”
“The great thing about my internship is that it helped me build confidence and see myself working in an agency – and it bolstered my portfolio,” Kilby said. “I like to learn new things, and it exposed me to other areas in an agency. It really helped shape my career path, where I now work on a variety of projects.”
OCC’s Career Services supports students with finding, preparing for internships
While not every program includes internships, OCC’s Career Services team helps interested students find opportunities that match their interests.
Business student Luanda Barral Da Silva worked with Career Services to secure an internship in Marketing and Communications at Magna International.
“I wanted to get some business experience before I graduated from OCC and transferred to earn a bachelor’s degree,” she said. “I contacted Career Services, and they helped me find an internship that fit my career interests, helped me with my resume, and coached me on the interview process.”
“I really appreciate all the work they did to find me a great internship and make sure I was ready for the interview! I highly recommend Career Services to other students interested an internship.”
New partnership expands opportunities
OCC recently partnered with Parker Dewey to offer paid “micro-internships,” short-term, professional projects typically requiring 10–40 hours to complete. It is well-suited for students in liberal arts, general studies, I.T. and business programs, and those still undecided.
“Micro-internships are ideal for students who can’t commit to a full-semester experience,” Albring said. “Most projects are flexible and remote, and a great way for students to gain experience and build connections with potential employers.”
For more information about internships and micro-internships, visit OCC’s Internship page. To learn more about career and student employment services, visit Career Services.
About OCC
Oakland Community College (OCC) has empowered individuals through education since 1965. Serving more than 20,000 students annually, OCC offers 80+ degree and certificate programs, workforce training and community education programs with flexible class options, low tuition, robust services, and top transfer opportunities. Ranked Michigan’s top online college and seventh nationally by Newsweek’s America’s Top Online Colleges 2025, OCC delivers education that drives opportunity, workforce growth and community impact. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.
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Media Contact: Marketing & Communications |(248) 341-2020 | contactus@oaklandcc.edu .