Participating in youth work-based learning experiences offers businesses an immeasurable return on investment. Some of these are:

• • Meet staffing needs by utilizing student interns

  • Recruit, develop, and evaluate potential employees

  • Gain insight and fresh perspective from highly-motivated students

  • Promote your company as a community partner

  • Provide leadership opportunities for your employees serving as mentors

  • Increase awareness about the skills needed within your industry

Process

• • School officials identify student interns to participate in the program and work with students on professional skills.

  • Employers identify positions suitable for student interns and provide Business Engagement Coordinator with job descriptions and rate of pay. We ask employers to consider paying our students $10 per hour. 

  • Employers interview and select their interns. Employers sometimes require pre-employment screening, including drug screening and background checks, after internship offers are accepted by students. All students complete confidentiality agreements during their pre-employment training at their high school. 

  • Students participate in Signing Day to celebrate the upcoming internship commitment. Students begin work after Signing Day. 

  • Employers identify a mentor who will work with the intern, providing safety and procedural guidance. 

  • Students report their working hours to the Business Engagement Coordinator weekly. 

  • Mentors and business representatives evaluate interns at the end of the internship period that typically lasts 12 weeks.

  • At the end of the internship period, employers and interns gain valuable information and experiences to assist in future workforce decisions. If the employer is in a position to do so, job offers for available positions may be made at this time.