Internship
An internship is an experience in which a high school student learns by taking on a responsible role as a worker in a company or organization and then reflects on what happened while in the workplace. The Internship Program is a supplement to formal classroom instruction. Its intent is to significantly add to the vitality of the instructional program and to impact the courses that a student has taken or will take. Internships are for juniors and seniors and must be at least 135 hours. Students will earn a credit (1) for the internship.
Internship Requirements:
Pre-Internship
**Internship Coordinator: Career Academy Coordinator, Career Development Coordinator or Teacher of Record
PREREQUISITES FOR AN INTERNSHIP
1. Excellent attendance and punctuality during your junior year – no more than five absences per term
2. Students applying for an internship should a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 If you do not have an overall GPA of 2.5, you must submit:
4. Submission of an acceptable résumé
5. Availability for a minimum of 135 hours either full time in the summer or part time in the junior/senior year
6. Declare academic or honors internship credit before starting internship.
7. Personal possession of requisite documents (social security card, green card, working papers, etc.)
8. Proper business attire and careful grooming for all interviews
9. On time for internship interview, meetings, etc. (Failure to follow through or keep appointments will result in removal from internship pool)
10. Attendance at the pre-internship meeting
11. Any problem related to placement must be brought to the immediate attention of the Internship Coordinator
12. Abide by any regulations, practices, and procedures of the Wake County Public School System and the Wake County Public School System Internship Program.
13. Ability to provide own transportation
Traits of a Successful Worker
Responsible
Work hard for excellence, even if a task is unpleasant.
What do Employers Expect of Me as an Intern?
Employers expect me to:
Skills for Success in the 21st Century:
What skills are employers looking for?
1, THE ABILITY TO LEARN With technology changing so rapidly, more than ever, employers are searching for employees who can acquire, process, and apply new information.
2, THE BASICS: STRONG READING, WRITING, AND MATH SKILLS Companies are increasingly demanding that their new employees have these basic skills.
3. GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS – ESPECIALLY LISTENING AND SPEAKING SKILLS Good communication skills are the single most important factor in workplace success after having an understanding of one’s job.
4, GOOD INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS – ESPECIALLY GOOD ATTITUDE A good attitude about one’s job and motivation to take initiative on important issues and ideas are key to being successful in any job.
5. CREATIVE THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS People who can recognize and define problems, come up with new approaches and solutions and put them into action help a company stay competitive. This is a very important skill employers are looking for in this tight economy.
WCPSS School to Career Internship Program
STUDENT INTERN CODE OF CONDUCT
GUIDELINES FOR INTERVIEWS
1. Practice interviews are recommended and will be held at school prior to internship interviews if at all possible. Evaluations will be given directly to student if a practice interview is given.
2. The Internship Coordinator will provide job leads when possible. However, the interview and the secured internship are the ultimate responsibility of the student.
3. Students can see the Internship Coordinator about potential positions. Student resumes will be sent to the internship provider. The provider determines who to interview based on resumes.
4. The internship provider's contact information will be provided to selected students. It is the student's responsibility to contact the organization and schedule the interview.
Potential Interview Questions1, Tell me something about yourself.
2. What do you think are your personal and academic strengths in school? Other areas?
3, Weaknesses in school? Other areas? (Explain how you are working to improve)
4,. What would you consider to be the highlight(s) of your life thus far?
5, What hours are you available for the internship?
6. What part of (insert specific course) do you enjoy the most?
7. Why are you interested in this position?
8. If you were working in an organization and a client came to you expressing unhappiness with a service she/he received, how would you handle the situation?
9. If your internship supervisor asked you to make copies, file, or fax letters to a client, would you have any problem performing these tasks?
10. If you are scheduled to start work at 9:00 am and you arrive at 9:03 am, are you late?
11, What would you do if you find that after two weeks your internship is not what you had expected and you are very unhappy?
An internship is an experience in which a high school student learns by taking on a responsible role as a worker in a company or organization and then reflects on what happened while in the workplace. The Internship Program is a supplement to formal classroom instruction. Its intent is to significantly add to the vitality of the instructional program and to impact the courses that a student has taken or will take. Internships are for juniors and seniors and must be at least 135 hours. Students will earn a credit (1) for the internship.
Internship Requirements:
Pre-Internship
- Conference with Internship Coordinator **
- (Transportation, scheduling, counselor approval, expectations, and possible placements – must be off campus)
- Complete internship application
- Complete Code of Conduct
- Complete Internship Agreement
- Complete workplace orientation
- Complete learning objectives
- Track and complete a minimum of 135 contact hours
- Complete at least 10 journal entries
- Complete two (2) of the four (4) enhanced internship lessons (honors credit)
- Maintain communication with your Internship Coordinator
- Internship Coordinator will complete a minimum of two site visits **
- Complete electronic summary of experience
- Participate in final presentation
- Complete student evaluation
- Completed internship supervisor’s evaluation
- Complete thank you cards
- Internship Coordinator will award final credit
**Internship Coordinator: Career Academy Coordinator, Career Development Coordinator or Teacher of Record
PREREQUISITES FOR AN INTERNSHIP
1. Excellent attendance and punctuality during your junior year – no more than five absences per term
2. Students applying for an internship should a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 If you do not have an overall GPA of 2.5, you must submit:
- A written request for an internship, including bulleted reasons why you should be awarded an internship
- Two (2) teacher recommendation letters
4. Submission of an acceptable résumé
5. Availability for a minimum of 135 hours either full time in the summer or part time in the junior/senior year
6. Declare academic or honors internship credit before starting internship.
7. Personal possession of requisite documents (social security card, green card, working papers, etc.)
8. Proper business attire and careful grooming for all interviews
9. On time for internship interview, meetings, etc. (Failure to follow through or keep appointments will result in removal from internship pool)
10. Attendance at the pre-internship meeting
11. Any problem related to placement must be brought to the immediate attention of the Internship Coordinator
12. Abide by any regulations, practices, and procedures of the Wake County Public School System and the Wake County Public School System Internship Program.
13. Ability to provide own transportation
Traits of a Successful Worker
Responsible
Work hard for excellence, even if a task is unpleasant.
- Pay attention to detail.
- Work toward high standards of attendance, punctuality, and attitude.
- Believe in your own self-worth, skills, and abilities.
- Be aware of how your emotions, behavior, and attitude can affect others.
- Take responsibility for your actions.
- Be friendly, sensitive, and polite to others.
- Be interested in what other say to you.
- Be flexible so you can interact with people from different backgrounds.
- Know your own abilities, skills, and knowledge.
- Set realistic personal goals and be self-motivated to achieve them.
- Use others’ criticism and feedback to improve yourself.
- Know your community’s and organization’s code of ethics.
- Know how behavior that violates these codes hurts individuals and the organization.
- Be committed to ethical behavior in the workplace.
What do Employers Expect of Me as an Intern?
Employers expect me to:
- Come to work on time, notify employer when you cannot make it to work (i.e., illness, car trouble)
- Make smart decisions.
- Follow directions.
- Concentrate on my work and care about the quality of my work.
- Read, write, and calculate well.
- Recognize problems and find solutions, research independently and ask for assistance.
- Finish a job when I’m supposed to without sacrificing quality.
- Be honest and dependable.
- Take the lead and work hard.
- Communicate well and get along with other people, especially customers.
- Dress properly and practice good grooming.
- Be cooperative.
- Have a positive attitude.
- Treat internal company information as confidential unless directed otherwise
- Always keep the best interest of the business in mind.
Skills for Success in the 21st Century:
What skills are employers looking for?
1, THE ABILITY TO LEARN With technology changing so rapidly, more than ever, employers are searching for employees who can acquire, process, and apply new information.
2, THE BASICS: STRONG READING, WRITING, AND MATH SKILLS Companies are increasingly demanding that their new employees have these basic skills.
3. GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS – ESPECIALLY LISTENING AND SPEAKING SKILLS Good communication skills are the single most important factor in workplace success after having an understanding of one’s job.
4, GOOD INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS – ESPECIALLY GOOD ATTITUDE A good attitude about one’s job and motivation to take initiative on important issues and ideas are key to being successful in any job.
5. CREATIVE THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS People who can recognize and define problems, come up with new approaches and solutions and put them into action help a company stay competitive. This is a very important skill employers are looking for in this tight economy.
WCPSS School to Career Internship Program
STUDENT INTERN CODE OF CONDUCT
- I will be punctual and conscientious in the fulfillment of my commitment and duties.
- I will accept supervision graciously.
- I will conduct myself in a dignified, courteous, and considerate manner.
- I will take any problems, criticisms, or suggestions to my supervisor.
- I will follow all company policies and procedures (dress code, safety, training, etc.).
- I will always knock on closed doors.
- I will not discuss or ask about the amount of money employees earn.
- I will not chew gum or eat food while working.
- I will not take friends to the worksite.
- I will not solicit the organization or employees for donations, fundraisers, etc.
- I will always notify my supervisor if I am not able to report for work.
- I will work only when and where assigned.
- I will refrain from loud talking and inappropriate laughing.
- I will not use company phones or email for personal use.
- I will not use my cell phone for personal use while on the job, including texting.
- I will not surf the Internet, use personal email, or play games while on the job.
- I will keep company information confidential unless directed otherwise.
GUIDELINES FOR INTERVIEWS
1. Practice interviews are recommended and will be held at school prior to internship interviews if at all possible. Evaluations will be given directly to student if a practice interview is given.
2. The Internship Coordinator will provide job leads when possible. However, the interview and the secured internship are the ultimate responsibility of the student.
3. Students can see the Internship Coordinator about potential positions. Student resumes will be sent to the internship provider. The provider determines who to interview based on resumes.
4. The internship provider's contact information will be provided to selected students. It is the student's responsibility to contact the organization and schedule the interview.
Potential Interview Questions1, Tell me something about yourself.
2. What do you think are your personal and academic strengths in school? Other areas?
3, Weaknesses in school? Other areas? (Explain how you are working to improve)
4,. What would you consider to be the highlight(s) of your life thus far?
5, What hours are you available for the internship?
6. What part of (insert specific course) do you enjoy the most?
7. Why are you interested in this position?
8. If you were working in an organization and a client came to you expressing unhappiness with a service she/he received, how would you handle the situation?
9. If your internship supervisor asked you to make copies, file, or fax letters to a client, would you have any problem performing these tasks?
10. If you are scheduled to start work at 9:00 am and you arrive at 9:03 am, are you late?
11, What would you do if you find that after two weeks your internship is not what you had expected and you are very unhappy?