EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS
Internships are a fantastic way to gain real-world professional experience, knowledge and skills, while establishing important connections and building your network. Internships are a great way to find out what it is you really want to do, but they’re also a great way to find out where you want to live next! We think the Traverse City area is a world-class place to land an internship, with a wide range of industry and career opportunities, as well as a unique quality of life, outdoor activity, things to do, and people to meet. Read on to learn more about completing an internship on Michigan’s Creative Coast…
FIND AN INTERNSHIP in the grand traverse region
The Grand Traverse Region is home to a diverse and impressive array of career opportunities. Jobs in technology, trade and manufacturing industries, and the creative sectors offer growth opportunities in small and medium-sized businesses. Click the buttons below to discover local companies by industry:
EXPLORE JOB POSTINGS
By completing an internship successfully you have the chance to make a lasting impact, providing you with a great reference letter at the least, and maybe even leading to a full-time job offer. But how to find an internship? Our local job board is a high-quality and curated showcase of key employers and fairly compensated job opportunities available in the Grand Traverse Region, including internships. Click the links below to find your next great opportunity:
Upload your resume
By uploading your resume you are giving us permission to share your resume and information with a network of 250+ regional employers and HR Managers. We compile all submitted resumes and distribute them every two weeks via a Resume Pack.
*IMPORTANT* By uploading your resume you are making it known that you are open for work. If you would prefer that we do not share your resume please do not complete this form.
SOCIAL EVENTS & THINGS TO DO
Traverse City is a great place to live, frequently making it onto Top 10 listings and nationally recognized for being the #1 lake beach town to live in, having the best hikes, a Top 10 arts & culture scene, the best ice cream and a small-town food scene.
There are plenty of opportunities to connect with other interns and folks living in the area. Start with the Traverse Area Human Resources Association’s Intern Networking Events hosted all summer long. Also, search for your alma mater’s alumni clubs in the region such as the Grand Traverse Area Spartans, U-M Club of Grand Traverse, and MTU’s Northwest Michigan Chapter. We also recommend joining the Traverse City Young Professionals, checking out the events listed at Traverse City Tourism and MyNorth, attending one of our own Fresh Coast Quarterly Clubs, and keeping an eye on Traverse Connect’s events page for the annual Summer Splash interns event!
FIND HOUSING
Finding short-term rental housing in the Traverse City region can be a challenge, so start your search early. The first step is to talk to your employer – you may find they have a lead, or already have housing arranged for their temporary workers. You might also talk to your college or university’s career center to connect with alumni living in the area. If you are fortunate to have relatives or friends in the area ask if you can stay with them.
An affordable option to consider is the Residence Halls at Northwestern Michigan College, which can be rented during the summer months to non-college residents. Along with each room rental, the amenities include Wi-Fi throughout campus, access to the fitness center in North Hall, and parking. Be aware that the NMC Residence Halls book up very fast, so be ready to make your reservation by the beginning of April if possible. Click the link below to learn more about NMC’s housing option:
MEET A NORTHERN NAVIGATOR
Moving to a new place can be overwhelming and sometimes lonely. Our team of Northern Navigators act as ‘regional ambassadors’ and are available for you to connect with. You can speak to our Northern Navigators about anything you might like to know about your stay in the Grand Traverse Region be it where to get the best tacos, which beaches to hit, or where to find free events in the evenings and weekends.
Connecting with a Northern Navigator is simple – just browse their profiles and schedule a time to chat.
your NORTHERN NAVIGATOR: CONNECT WITH MADDIE
After graduating from Michigan State University, I knew I wanted to move back to Northern Michigan and that I wanted to live in an area that would provide a multitude of opportunities. I wanted the perfect balance of social life, outdoor recreation, and unique businesses to explore. Traverse City, MI checked all of those boxes and welcomed me in 2017.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF ENJOYING ALL OF THE LAKES, RIVERS, AND HIKING TRAILS AS WELL AS INDULGING IN DOWNTOWN TRAVERSE CITY’S FOOD & DRINK BUSINESSES.
Traverse City is a place for everyone. Regardless of your background or identity, the community offers a niche for you. It might feel isolating or overwhelming being a new person in this area. However, once you make one or two connections, the opportunities keep coming.
your NORTHERN NAVIGATOR: CONNECT WITH BRITTANY
I will never forget moving to Traverse City in February 2020 to start a dream job opportunity at Hagerty two weeks before a global pandemic reached Michigan. I knew that I was lucky to move to Traverse City which is the essence of Michigan: crystal clear freshwater everywhere you look, trails for hiking, biking, and skiing, rolling hills of wine country, fresh farm-to-table foods, and Midwestern hospitality.
I CAN RELATE TO THOSE WHO ARE MOVING AND ADAPTING TO NEW PLACES, AND AM PASSIONATE ABOUT SHARING MY LOVE OF MICHIGAN’S CREATIVE COAST.
My biggest challenge was finding affordable housing in Downtown Traverse City. I realized that searching the nearby neighborhood rental properties helped me find the space I was looking for in a location convenient for all of the area amenities.
FOR EMPLOYERS
We get it – not only is it time-consuming to source uprising talent, it also takes a lot of commitment to developing a good internship program plan that will be beneficial to both your company and to the intern’s growth and professional development. We’re here to help with these simple resources at your fingertips:
STEAM INTERNShips
Michigan STEM Ahead is a statewide program of Michigan Economic Development Corporation that matches students attending Michigan colleges and universities with internship opportunities at the state’s leading innovative companies. Companies do not have to be in a specific industry, but all internships must be STEAM-focused. Michigan STEAM Ahead provides students meaningful career experience and promotes job retention in the state, while providing financial support to companies who hire these interns.
Photography on this page by Michael Kent, Casey Chamberlain & John-Paul Morris