An internship with the Center for Digital Engagement (CDE) is much more than just a summer job. It is the beginning of a network that can jumpstart your career and, let’s face it, that’s what most students are looking for.
Connecting with business professionals is the whole reason Abe Joo, CDE Clinic alumni 2019, joined the clinic community. As a Dartmouth College student, Abe is already getting an education that set him apart. It is the network of business professionals that you meet in the clinic that drew him in. “So many things about this internship had value for me,” Abe expressed. “Meeting other professionals that I can learn from was one of the most helpful things.”The network that Abe built during the CDE Clinic has been instrumental in his career development, so much that he is continuing to work full time with his clinic company PassiveBolt on business to business development. “It’s all about the sweet spot. Once you find what works best for you, the opportunities will come. You can set your own standards.” Abe shared. PassiveBolt has even mentioned their interest in Abe after he graduates.
The New Jersey native has been around the block a few times, from Pennsylvania to New Mexico to Tennessee, then finally landing in Ann Arbor. He attends Dartmouth College in New Hampshire as an economics and mathematics double major. Abe’s father researched for theoretical physics, which resulted in moving often.
Abe’s professional background started out just like some of us. From the age of 15, Abe worked in restaurants and did miscellaneous jobs while he finished high school. After his freshman year of college, Abe took a year off to figure out his career path and ended up working with BestFoodFeed, an Ann Arbor SPARK company, doing marketing and ad campaigns. SPARK is a company that assists start-ups and entrepreneurs in the Ann Arbor area, and the incubator for all of these wonderful internship opportunities. Omeid, the CEO of BestFoodFeed, connected Abe with Bud and the CDE Clinic…and the rest is history.
Abe’s words of advice are simple but powerful. “Focus on one thing, and do it well,” he said. While working multiple jobs to get through college is the norm these days, dedicating at least 10 hours per week to developing your career in the field you’d like to grow in is essential. With Abe’s willingness to learn, he was able to follow his passion for business and entrepreneurship and ultimately land a job.
Want to learn more about how to be a part of the CDE Summer Clinic? Visit our website or email sliebig@emich.edu with any questions!