Comments on: Connecting local companies to UM students http://mibiztools.com/archives/12 New Ideas for a Michigan Economic Turnaround Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:33:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Dan Romanchik http://mibiztools.com/archives/12#comment-13 Dan Romanchik Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:12:52 +0000 http://mibiztools.com/archives/12#comment-13 I haven't tried working with U-M students, but I did try doing the intern thing with some students from Washtenaw Community College. My results were mixed. On some projects, it worked out fine, but on others, it took me as much time or more to explain and evaluate the work as it would have taken me to do just do it. Having said that, the observations "...companies and entrepreneurs get software help, and students get real software development experience," and "other benefits include the potential of retaining local talent and helping to grow a technology base in Ann Arbor" are true enough. Just be aware about what you're getting into. I haven’t tried working with U-M students, but I did try doing the intern thing with some students from Washtenaw Community College. My results were mixed. On some projects, it worked out fine, but on others, it took me as much time or more to explain and evaluate the work as it would have taken me to do just do it.

Having said that, the observations “…companies and entrepreneurs get software help, and students get real software development experience,” and “other benefits include the potential of retaining local talent and helping to grow a technology base in Ann Arbor” are true enough. Just be aware about what you’re getting into.

]]> By: Bob Kuehne http://mibiztools.com/archives/12#comment-12 Bob Kuehne Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:28:53 +0000 http://mibiztools.com/archives/12#comment-12 i suffer through this every summer when i try to hire interns. i'm not as fortunate to have a deep network in umich cs or cpre, not having either attended or worked there. however, i do have real needs for interns, contractor, and part-time help, but have virtually no luck finding these people. i've tried craigslist, with some success, but for the most part, it's a challenge even finding these people, let alone matching interests and needs. a wiki would be a great start, facebook, perhaps, especially given it's prominence among the youts. and personally, i'd love to see a social network application that actually provides value to the participants, other than a voyeuristic thrill - this would be a great step towards providing tangible value to a social networking platform. ship it! bob i suffer through this every summer when i try to hire interns. i’m not as fortunate to have a deep network in umich cs or cpre, not having either attended or worked there. however, i do have real needs for interns, contractor, and part-time help, but have virtually no luck finding these people. i’ve tried craigslist, with some success, but for the most part, it’s a challenge even finding these people, let alone matching interests and needs.

a wiki would be a great start, facebook, perhaps, especially given it’s prominence among the youts. and personally, i’d love to see a social network application that actually provides value to the participants, other than a voyeuristic thrill - this would be a great step towards providing tangible value to a social networking platform.

ship it!
bob

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