The Importance of Employer and Student Connections with Andre Tan, Michael Lathan Jr., and Shohina Sultonova
About this episode
The episode discusses the importance of internships and connections between students and employers in the tech industry.
Most people think internships are just about gaining experience. But in this conversation, we get into what actually helps students move from school into real opportunities, especially in tech pathways. Guest host Shohina Sultonova, intern at the Aksarben Foundation and senior at the University of Nebraska Omaha, sits down with Andre Tan, Career Experiences Coordinator at Metropolitan Community College, and Michael Lathan Jr., a tech student, mentor, and student ambassador. Together, they talk through what students are learning in real time and where stronger alignment between students, educators, and employers is making a difference. We cover: • Why internships are meant to be learning environments, not perfect matches • How many students miss opportunities simply because they don’t understand recruiting timelines • The reality that some internships expect longer-term commitment (not just summer) • Why hands-on experience, even outside formal internships, still builds valuable skills • How coaching, mentoring, and career services help students prepare beyond the classroom • The importance of being open to adjacent roles like cloud, IT, and business tech to build broader skill…
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