January 17, 2019 3 min read

Missouri Chamber and partners launch free statewide internship matching service

A new service will help build a bridge between employers and tomorrow’s workforce. Missouri Intern Connect — www.mointernconnect.com — is a free online platform that will link young Missourians with internship opportunities.

The goal of Missouri Intern Connect is to give young people a connection to employers. These connections will then lead to job opportunities and provide a powerful incentive for workers to stay in Missouri.

“Unfortunately, too many of our talented young workers are choosing to seek employment outside of Missouri. We need to change this trend,” said Daniel P. Mehan, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Missouri Intern Connect will give our emerging workforce more access to career experience and provide a platform to network with Missouri employers. This will go a long way toward influencing more of these young people to stay in Missouri and help address our state’s workforce needs.”

The service was created by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the University of Missouri System and with support from the University of Missouri Extension Business Development Program.

“We are very excited about the Missouri Chamber’s Missouri Intern Connect program,” UM System President Mun Choi said. “We support the strong emphasis on education and workforce development to fuel economic growth in Missouri.”

The Missouri Department of Higher Education was instrumental in supporting the site and making it a reality.

“Providing more opportunities for students to gain real-world work experience through meaningful internships is a game changer,” Commissioner Zora Mulligan said. “Missouri Intern Connect will help make the process easier for both students and employers to connect.”

The service is also supported by Union Pacific Railroad.

“Union Pacific is proud to support Missouri Intern Connect, helping students find internship opportunities that will open doors for their future,” said Scott Moore, senior vice president and chief administrative officer, and Union Pacific Foundation President. “Putting youth on the path toward success brings economic prosperity and wellbeing into the communities where our employees live and work.”

In addition, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America organization is supporting Missouri Intern Connect.

The service is now live at mointernconnect.com. Businesses and non-profits are encouraged to register their internship opportunities. Organizations can list internship openings directly on Missouri Intern Connect. If an organization needs help setting up an internship program, Missouri Intern Connect offers a step-by-step guide covering all the steps. A full-time staff member, Kelly Dyer, is the service’s Intern and Business Engagement Director and is available to assist employers in this process as well.

College students interested in finding an internship in Missouri should visit mointernconnect.com to create a profile and begin searching for opportunities. Internships are searchable by interests and abilities. Students can also search by region if they want to stay close to home or try working in a new region of Missouri. Even if the right internship isn’t listed yet, students should still create a profile as employers will be encouraged to search student profiles to find a match for their opportunities.

The service is based on IndianaIntern.net, a successful program run by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The decision to bring this program to Missouri was driven by the goals of Missouri 2030, the Missouri Chamber’s strategic initiative. One of Missouri 2030’s four core drivers is “Preparing the Workforce,” which reflects a growing concern from Missouri employers about workforce readiness and availability in our state.

“When we launched Missouri 2030, we knew immediately that workforce was one of the biggest issues facing our state,” said Mehan. “Missouri Intern Connect is a direct result of Missouri 2030. We are thankful for the support of businesses across the state which allows us to bring this solution to Missouri. We now encourage all employers to use Missouri Intern Connect and help make this service a success.”


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