Interested in Hosting a Summer Intern with Your Business?
Contact:
Becca Rolufs - Work-Based Learning Specialist
(530) 749-6917
MJUSD CTE Internship Information For Employers
Thank you for considering becoming an Internship Partner! Not only is your support beneficial to MJUSD students, it can be beneficial to your business as well. To find out how to become a partner, please contact Becca Rolufs, Work-Based Learning Specialist (brolufs@mjusd.com).
Employer Benefits
An internship is an excellent way to facilitate success in your business!
Employers have the ability to develop a pipeline of quality candidates to fill entry-level needs.
Train your future workforce.
Built-in community service program that supports public relations strategies.
Provides training and development opportunities for managers and mentors.
Business Partner Requirements
Provide a structured experience similar to an employee training program.
Work with the internship instructor or Work-Based Learning Specialist to develop a job description.
Expected performance behaviors will be created by the business partner, internship instructor and Work-Based Learning Specialist
Business Partner will provide a variety of work-based learning experiences that are related to the CTE program and student's interests.
A Cooperative Vocational Agreement must be on file with MJUSD.
Evaluate students once per summer session and twice per semester.
What is a training site?
A training site is a business or location headed by a supervisor who agrees to provide work site training to interns.
Who is responsible for Workers Compensation coverage?
The Marysville Joint Unified School District covers students participating in unpaid internships with Worker’s Compensation Insurance at no cost to the employer. California State law requires that paid interns must have Workers Compensation coverage from the employer.
Do I have to host both unpaid and paid interns?
While many employers sign up for both, some choose to participate as a training site for only one or the other. It is also possible to have your student begin as an unpaid intern, and convert to paid at a later point in time.
What authority do I have over my student(s) while they are at my training site?
Students are subject to all rules, regulations, and dress codes of the business, as well as the MJUSD Guidelines for Internships and Job Shadows.
Who will evaluate the student’s performance?
The internship instructor or work-based learning specialist will solicit input from the training site supervisor and will be responsible for all progress and evaluation reports for individual students.
How many students can I accept?
The number of students depends on the nature and size of the training site. The training site supervisor and instructor will determine the appropriate number of students. Some businesses take only one student per term, while others may choose to take more.
When may the student leave the training site?
Students are required to be at their training sites during designated training times; however students may leave the training site only with approval from the instructor and advanced notice to the training site supervisor.
May I choose my intern?
Yes! Some businesses prefer to screen and/or interview students before training begins. Others may choose to have the instructor place a capable student. Businesses may not screen students based on race, sex, religion, national origin, color, age, or disability.
Can interns replace a regular employee?
No. A student cannot replace a regular employee. Interns may not work in lieu of a paid employee.
1. Plan ahead and prepare. Before your interns start, make sure you have a plan in place. Who will your interns be interacting with on a day-to-day basis? What kinds of projects will they be working on? You do not want to be scrambling to come up with projects for your intern after the program has already started. Otherwise, it will be very challenging to find time to create meaningful projects and tasks for your intern to do.
2. Make your intern feel welcome. The first day of an internship can be overwhelming. Maybe it’s their first job ever, or it’s their third internship and they’re nervous because they’re joining a new company. Make your intern feel like they’re a part of the team from day one. Hank Ostholthoff, CEO of Mabbly, says, “From day one, senior leadership needs to make young talent feel welcome, by being accessible, dedicating specific time and making it clear that they are an important part of your organization.” Invite them out to lunch and make sure to introduce them to everyone around the office. One great idea that we have seen is giving a nice welcome letter to your intern.
3. Be a resource. Part of making your intern feel welcomed is making yourself available when they have questions. Your intern does not know everything, and you are their guide to success. Remember, an internship is oftentimes a practice shot at a real career. Your intern will most likely have numerous questions for you. HR Development Consultant Melinda McCorkle Brunell shares that “interns often hesitate to ask questions, believing they should already know the answers or can figure them out. Let them know that you welcome questions because they can save time in the long run.”
4. Be willing to train and teach. Along with being a resource, you must also be ready to have training and teaching sessions for your interns. An internship is a learning program in an applied career field. Your intern should learn many new things during their time with you. For more information on how to best train your interns, check out Huffington Post’s 6 Ways to Train Interns Quickly and Efficiently.
5. Set goals. It is important to set clear expectations and goals from the beginning. This will not only provide a roadmap for your intern but also help you organize yourself. Eleanor Rose, an intern and author at Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH) shares, “Goals have to be clear, intentional and aspirational to have a chance at succeeding. Interns have a lot to get done in a short time, so it’s a must to get there fast.” Goals are also important for measuring the success of your internship program. For more help on how to set great goals for your intern, check out Eleanor’s post, 7 Goal Setting Tips for Interns.
6. Have regular check-ins. Check-ins are essential for your intern to stay engaged during the course of the internship. It provides an opportunity for two-way communication and dialogue, and enables the intern to express any concerns. It also ensures you have some time in your schedule to interact with your intern beyond just handing them assignments.
7. Give quality feedback. During the check-ins mentioned above, take some time to give feedback to your intern. Feedback is instrumental to successful internship experiences. Regular and quality feedback is especially important for interns, who usually don’t stay long enough for annual reviews. This will help them improve their work and allow them to contribute and learn more effectively.
8. Be a mentor. Internship programs are opportunities for you to serve as a mentor and mold an intern’s future career path. Mentorship is incredibly valuable for interns. It gives them the opportunity to be open with and learn from someone more experienced. “Making sure your interns have a great experience is crucial for their careers. But remember that it’s important for yours, too! Working with interns provides you with the opportunity to develop resume-building management skills.
9. Inspire them. This is a great opportunity for you to get the next generation of the workforce excited about your career. You have the platform to motivate them and leave a lasting impact in your field. Show them how the projects they are contributing to affect the department or business as a whole. Discuss the future career paths ahead of them and how internships like yours will help them achieve their goals.
10. Have fun! Lastly, an internship should be a fun learning experience. We encourage intern managers to host social events and outings for their interns. When interns are happy at work, overall performance truly improves.