June 23, 2026
According to the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2025 survey, employers are placing an increasing emphasis on certain key skills when reviewing job applications. The skills that consistently rank as the most essential are problem-solving, the ability to work on a team and communication skills (particularly written communication).
Some of this can be taught in the classroom, but not all of it. GRCC’s FutureTech Careers program offers hands-on learning, career readiness workshops, industry mentorship and personalized career coaching — all designed to help students build the skills employers need today in the fields of advanced manufacturing, information technology and computer science.
Internships are an important work-based learning experience. They provide a valuable way for employers to vet potential employees and build a talent pipeline. They also help hone and reinforce the skills that employers are seeking in new hires.
GRCC just completed its second year of partnering with local companies to provide internship experiences through FutureTech Careers. John Rumery, program manager, notes that partnering with GRCC provides exceptional return on investment.
“Our sweet spot is small- to mid-size companies that don’t have the resources to create their own in-house talent development program,” Rumery said. “We can help the company develop a job description, set expectations, and then promote the opportunity to our FutureTech program participants.”
The company providing the internship opportunity can screen candidates and choose the best fit. If a FutureTech candidate earns the opportunity, GRCC can also provide financial reimbursement to the employer.
“We realize that taking on an intern requires extra investment in onboarding, managing and coaching,” Rumery said. “To help offset that investment, we are able to reimburse an employer for the cost of an intern. We can cover up to 20 hours per week, for up to 16 weeks, at a salary of $20 per hour.”
That financial incentive, coupled with the other supports of FutureTech, allow employers to use internships as a way to further their own objectives.
Opportunities Designed for Students and Employers
Tech Collaborative has discovered synergy with the FutureTech Careers internship program.
“Tech Collaborative exists to break down barriers — so nonprofits can harness technology to advance social good, and individuals with non-traditional backgrounds can access meaningful tech careers,” said Kim Carnevale, curriculum director. “We intentionally hire interns and give them opportunities they might not otherwise have.”
Tech Collaborative runs three, 16-week internship cohorts each year. Two students from GRCC just finished a cohort, and three are starting with a new cohort in June.
“We think the internship program improves the health of the ecosystem by building better tech candidates,” Carnevale said. “It’s good for the nonprofit organizations we serve because they receive a high-quality product at a reduced cost. It’s also good for the students because they gain hands-on experience working on real projects with actual clients. We see them mature in their skills as they move from observation, to putting skills into practice, and finally taking charge.”
Mike Vranian, intern program lead, says that it was fun to watch the students grow.
“Working on actual projects opened the students’ eyes to what they can do,” Vranian said. “It was cool to see their confidence build as they pushed through the tough stuff and succeeded. Now they can point to the website they built for Code on Wheels and say, ‘I did that.’”
The Ripple Effect
Carnevale says that Tech Collaborative is intentional about their internship hiring criteria.
"We are seeking young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 who are excited and curious about the technology field, but may not be able to access traditional avenues of education to explore more," Carnevale said. "We want to hire people who will grow as a result of professional skill training, essential skill guidance and hands-on work with local non-profit clients.”
Tech Collaborative is completely transparent with their clients about the role that interns play in delivering services. To their delight, the client response has been nothing short of amazing.
“We tell clients about our program,” Carnevale said. “We let them know that professionals are guiding the interns and reviewing their work. But they’re not in the background. The interns attend client meetings, work on projects and interact as team members. What’s incredible is seeing how clients respond. They have not only welcomed the interns, but some have also taken on interns of their own!”
Explore Internship Opportunities With FutureTech
Rumery welcomes any employer in advanced manufacturing, information technology and computer science. to contact FutureTech Careers if they would like to explore internship opportunities.
“We are always ready to engage in a conversation and see if there’s a fit,” Rumery said. “We connected 15 interns with employers this year, and we would love to do more. We can start internships at any point in the year, and the length of the internship is flexible. We look forward to exploring potential opportunities with interested business partners.”
Learn more about internship opportunities on the FutureTech Careers employer web page.
This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.