Did you know that a major international software company is headquartered just down the street from campus, in Okemos? Well, you do now. It’s called TechSmith, and it was founded in 1987 by MSU alum William Hamilton, who is still the company’s president. According to their website, TechSmith is “the world’s #1 provider of screen capture and screen recording software for the individual and professional user.”

TechSmith

You may have heard of their products (Camtasia Studio and Snagit are their flagships) and you really ought to check them out because they can be super useful—for example, a girl in one of my classes said that she uses Camtasia to take a screen video recording of her paying her credit card bill and then saves it into a bills folder, rather than printing out a receipt.

When most people think of cutting edge software companies, their thoughts immediately turn to Silicon Valley. So, why did TechSmith decide to build a company in mid-Michigan, and why do they stay? Here’s what a representative from Techsmith’s PR department has to say:

“TechSmith launched in mid-Michigan because the company founders are from here. Both had backgrounds at other entrepreneurial start-ups in this area and considered it a great place to launch a software company. Believe it or not, there was a lot of high tech innovation going on in the region. Michigan also had a great pipeline for top-notch software developers from our great universities.

“Those things haven’t changed—we are one of many thriving technology companies here in Michigan, and there remains an abundant supply of really talented people coming out of Michigan State University and our other universities. Our close proximity to MSU has afforded other advantages for us as well—a big one is the university’s global community. We have customers all over the world, so having the connection to the resources and knowledge provided by MSU’s international student body and faculty is essential for implementing our global strategy.

“Michigan is experiencing a difficult period, but that hasn’t caused us to reexamine where TechSmith should be located. Michigan’s transition to a 21st century economy doesn’t have the impact on us as it does for businesses that are directly linked to the vitality of the local employment picture. We also believe keeping TechSmith in mid-Michigan gives our employees access to a better quality of life than they would have if we moved elsewhere. The cost of living here is reasonable and there are great resources in the community and throughout the state that make Michigan a really nice place for TechSmith employees to raise their families. The rise of the Internet has been another relative boon for this region; we are as well-connected to the world as any location on the planet. Considering all of these factors, why wouldn’t a technology company choose mid-Michigan?”

The company is looking to expand internationally, as well, with current campaigns in Germany, France, and the UK. TechSmith’s website is localized into German, French, Japanese, and Korean, and they even produce newsletters in those first two languages. The company has partners in over 50 countries and has channel marketing plans in place with many of them. Stacey Hansen, international marketing manager, says, “As we are able to increase our sales in each of these markets, the opportunity to add employees in those geographies as well as in the TSC [Okemos] office will open up.”

I took a tour of TechSmith (as mentioned in the article about education evangelist Dave McCollom), where I saw areas with comfy leather couches, HD TV’s, and Wii’s that were being used for brainstorming sessions—formal conference rooms are being phased out. I also met a lot of people, and almost all of them were wearing jeans.

I joined Dave McCollom, marketing writer intern Nikki Wickham, and senior marketing writer Daniel Foster for the weekly, TechSmith-sponsored Friday lunch: Potbelly’s was catered in that day. Wickham mentioned that her internship at TechSmith has been her best internship experience to date (she has had at least two others) because she has been given “real” work to do. She said she has a big stack of materials that she has written that will be perfect portfolio pieces for when she looks for a full-time job. Foster agreed that personal responsibility is highly valued at TechSmith. He was asked to take over the company newsletter—an extremely important marketing tool—on his second day. He didn’t have to run it by anybody; it was his responsibility only.

Sounds like a place you’d want to work? We talked to the HR department for an insider’s look on what makes a job/internship candidate stand out, and this is the list they gave us:

“•    strong work ethic
•    intelligent and able to think on your feet
•    dependable and responsible
•    possessing an optimistic attitude
•    adaptability
•    honesty and integrity
•    self-motivated
•    eager to grow and learn
•    strong sense of self-confidence
•    professionalism
•    loyalty and dedication
•    ability to contribute in a teamwork environment
•    possessing leadership skills
•    courteous and respectful”

They also offered tips on what you can do to prepare for an internship with any organization (hint: these tips will be especially important if you’re considering a job with TechSmith):

“•    Talk with professors/counselors/advisors for potential opportunities—many organizations turn to professors and advisors to locate potential interns.
•    Use your career center’s resources, such as mock interviews and career fairs where you can meet potential employers. Be prepared to make a good impression—opportunities are all around you. Make sure to dress to impress, ask questions, and take notes.
•    Network with friends and classmates that have held internships for pointers.
•    Go straight to the source—it’s helpful to talk with a company’s human resources department to learn about internship possibilities
•    Write a great résumé, and update it—ask your career services department for resources on writing a great cover letter and résumé. [Sign up for one of our workshops.]
•    Join different academic clubs and groups in your major. Join LinkedIn—a professional networking website. [Check out this article on digital networking for more information.]
•    Keep an eye on www.myspartancareer.com for available internships—they can pop up frequently
•    Take initiative and keep your grades up!”

Apparently TechSmith likes hiring Spartans—they had over 100 Spartans on staff at last count! Click here to find out about career opportunities available at TechSmith right now.