We are the career services resource center for The School of Hospitality Business.
The Student and Industry Resource Center (SIRC) in The School of Hospitality Business serves as the liaison between employers and hospitality business students. We engage with employers across the entire hospitality industry. We coordinate CAREER EXPO and provide career advising to students. Students in The School also complete their two required internships under SIRC’s guidance and supervision. For all hospitality industry jobs and internships, start at SIRC!
Internship Guidelines
A core part of the Hospitality Business degree requirements is the internship component. Students are required to complete two internships: a Level 1 internship and a Level 2 internship. They must be in the hospitality industry. Both internships require working a minimum of 400 hours during a 10-week period with one company. Internships can be completed full time during the summer or part time during the school year. If a student works part time, there is no time limit for completing 400 hours.
Internships must be documented and approved prior to beginning by using the SIRC web application and approval process. At the end of the internship, both student and employer must also complete evaluations through the SIRC web evaluation process. All three forms – approved application and both evaluations – must be completed by the end of the internship, or the internship will not be counted as complete. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure the employer completes the final evaluation and submits it to SIRC.
Professional Development
SIRC will help you with your:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Offer negotiations
- Professional dress
- Interviewing skills
CAREER EXPO
CAREER EXPO is The School’s longstanding annual hospitality industry career event. Each year, students in The School select the “Industry Partner of the Year,” and an executive from that company presents a keynote address — a highlight of CAREER EXPO. The career fair takes place in the evening, when 80 of the nation’s leading hospitality companies recruit 700+ talented students for internships and permanent positions and sign them up for interviews, which are held the following day.
2022/2023 Industry Partner of the Year
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Intern Experiences
Enjoy some highlights from our interns’ experiences working in the industry.
Haley Tran
LPL Financial
Virtual
"As a PR intern, I have learned so much beyond the capacity of my work. Aside from enhancing my business communications skills, I have gained a deeper understanding into the financial services and asset management industry — how broker-dealers and financial advisors operate."
Virtual
"As a PR intern, I have learned so much beyond the capacity of my work. Aside from enhancing my business communications skills, I have gained a deeper understanding into the financial services and asset management industry — how broker-dealers and financial advisors operate."
Foressia Hood
Country Club of Detroit
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (in person)
"My favorite experience was learning how to bartend and the importance beverages have in making an experience for people. I also gained experience in delegating and supervising staff in the restaurant, which will be useful as I advance in my career in the hospitality industry."
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (in person)
"My favorite experience was learning how to bartend and the importance beverages have in making an experience for people. I also gained experience in delegating and supervising staff in the restaurant, which will be useful as I advance in my career in the hospitality industry."
Sarah Lynch
Inn at Bay Harbor
Bay Harbor, MI (in person)
"I had an amazing time seeing how the whole wedding process works. I really enjoyed getting to see the joy on couples faces when everything came together on their special day. Throughout this internship I loved learning how to write event orders and cover sheets to ensure everything goes as planned."
Bay Harbor, MI (in person)
"I had an amazing time seeing how the whole wedding process works. I really enjoyed getting to see the joy on couples faces when everything came together on their special day. Throughout this internship I loved learning how to write event orders and cover sheets to ensure everything goes as planned."
Emma Vazana
Potter Park Zoo
Lansing, MI
"It was interesting to see how our events progressed with lifting restrictions, how every aspect of an event had to be rethought or adjusted. I worked with many other departments, learning how events are a collaborative process requiring clear communication beyond the event team itself."
Lansing, MI
"It was interesting to see how our events progressed with lifting restrictions, how every aspect of an event had to be rethought or adjusted. I worked with many other departments, learning how events are a collaborative process requiring clear communication beyond the event team itself."
Carrie Blair
Madison Mallards Baseball
Madison, WI (in person)
"Running nineteen suites and twenty hospitality areas overall was challenging, yet so rewarding. I learned what it takes to provide an outstanding game day experience for fans. On top of it all, I was a part of the company rebranding which allowed me to branch out and work in ballpark operations, marketing, and merchandise."
Madison, WI (in person)
"Running nineteen suites and twenty hospitality areas overall was challenging, yet so rewarding. I learned what it takes to provide an outstanding game day experience for fans. On top of it all, I was a part of the company rebranding which allowed me to branch out and work in ballpark operations, marketing, and merchandise."
Olivia Cannella
Omni Bedford Springs Resort
Bedford, PA (in person)
"I was empowered to do my job every step of the way. I learned from amazing mentors and managers and was encouraged to apply and expand on those lessons. I was immediately thrown into the action, from taking an event inquiry, to planning and booking, to running the event and billing the group."
Bedford, PA (in person)
"I was empowered to do my job every step of the way. I learned from amazing mentors and managers and was encouraged to apply and expand on those lessons. I was immediately thrown into the action, from taking an event inquiry, to planning and booking, to running the event and billing the group."
Linsey Nichols
Walt Disney World Resort
Lake Buena Vista, FL (in person)
"If there is anything I have learned from my time at Disney, it’s that guests drive the experience. If you have purpose and pride in what you do, providing an excellent guest experience will come naturally."
Lake Buena Vista, FL (in person)
"If there is anything I have learned from my time at Disney, it’s that guests drive the experience. If you have purpose and pride in what you do, providing an excellent guest experience will come naturally."
Annalise Shaw
University Club of MSU
Lansing, MI (in person)
"This summer I learned a lot about management within clubs and forming bonds with repeat guests. Building relationships with people in the local community has probably been my favorite part of the internship."
Lansing, MI (in person)
"This summer I learned a lot about management within clubs and forming bonds with repeat guests. Building relationships with people in the local community has probably been my favorite part of the internship."
Tyler Dahms
Whitetail Club
McCall, ID (in person)
"Working almost wholly outside in beautiful McCall, being able to experience working at a club, and even having the opportunities to preview other departments has made this venture all worth the while!"
McCall, ID (in person)
"Working almost wholly outside in beautiful McCall, being able to experience working at a club, and even having the opportunities to preview other departments has made this venture all worth the while!"
Caroline Waters
Highway West Vacations
Virtual/Remote
"It was so amazing working as a revenue management and acquisitions intern and getting to understand the different demand generators that drive revenue in each of the markets. I got to work through the entire acquisition process of a new resort to the Highway West portfolio and was given the opportunity to travel across the country to perform due diligence, site inspections, and internal audits."
Virtual/Remote
"It was so amazing working as a revenue management and acquisitions intern and getting to understand the different demand generators that drive revenue in each of the markets. I got to work through the entire acquisition process of a new resort to the Highway West portfolio and was given the opportunity to travel across the country to perform due diligence, site inspections, and internal audits."
Faith Chen
Restaurant Finance and Development Conference
Virtual/Remote
"I now understand what it is like being behind the scenes when trying to bring a restaurant concept to life. My favorite part of the internship was revamping a concept that failed in the late 1800s but just so happens to fit perfectly when trying to create a safe and innovative dining experience."
Virtual/Remote
"I now understand what it is like being behind the scenes when trying to bring a restaurant concept to life. My favorite part of the internship was revamping a concept that failed in the late 1800s but just so happens to fit perfectly when trying to create a safe and innovative dining experience."
Lily Payne
Greystar
Chicago, IL (in person)
"I learned what it takes to run a successful property and create value for the ownership group and residents as well as reinforce standards of a well-reputed management company. Each week I sat in on a call with someone in a different line of the business, providing great exposure to all of the career paths in the real estate industry."
Chicago, IL (in person)
"I learned what it takes to run a successful property and create value for the ownership group and residents as well as reinforce standards of a well-reputed management company. Each week I sat in on a call with someone in a different line of the business, providing great exposure to all of the career paths in the real estate industry."
SIRC Leadership
Authella Collins Hawks
- Director of Student and Industry Resource Center
The School of Hospitality Business
Authella Collins Hawks is the director of the Student and Industry Resource Center (SIRC) for The School of Hospitality Business. In this role, she provides leadership for the placement of all hospitality business students in internships and full-time positions upon graduation from The School. She also represents The School in developing and maintaining relationships with the industry, networking with hospitality business alumni, and participating in industry functions and special events.
Spartan Sponsors Mentor Program
The Spartan Sponsors Mentor Program pairs students and alumni with similar career interests with each other, both on campus at the annual Homecoming Spartan Sponsors Mentor Program meeting and throughout the year with phone calls and email. The connections made are a win-win, broadening the student’s perspectives and allowing practicing professionals to share insights and “give back” in a way that can help a young person start down a path to success.
Contact Information
- SIRC
- Eppley Center
- 667 N Shaw Lane, Room 416
- East Lansing, MI 48824
- Mondays-Thursdays: 9:00am-4:00pm
- Fridays: 1:00pm-4:00pm
- shbsirc@msu.edu
- Phone: (517) 353-9747
Explore
Get Connected with Broad:
- Business College Complex
- 632 Bogue St
- East Lansing, MI 48824