An inside look at Internships AND ON THE JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

On the Job Training (OJT)                                                  

The CareersNow Internship Program, sponsored by the First Jobs First Wages Council, serves as a bridge connecting youth to the business community in Southwest Florida.

Interested youth can contact youth services at the Career and Service Centers of Southwest Florida. Find a location near you by visiting the website at www.CareerAndServiceCenter.org

	What is the purpose of the program?
	How are youth and employers matched?
	How do youth and employers benefit?
	What about compensation or paychecks?
	What is the hiring obligation?
	What about Worker's Compensation?
	What is the role of the sponsoring employer, youth, school, interested parties?
	How do employers become part of the program?
	Are there Occupations Limitations?

What is the purpose of the Program?

Interns learn new skills, apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, develop employability behaviors which will better prepare them for the work place, and gain insight that will help them make a more informed career choice.

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How are youth and employers matched?

Area employers are invited to participate in the Internship Program by the Program Contact Person. Participating employers write a job description for available internship positions. These job descriptions are distributed to participating high schools. Interested students apply for available positions. Selected students are matched with sponsoring employers based on student interests and abilities and employer needs.

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How do youth and employers benefit?

Youth Benefits:

The Internship Program is an active learning application of classroom academics in the "real world." Internships tie curriculum to actual business practices. All subject areas can be applied during the internship experience.

• The Internship Program also:
• Offers a new way to teach and to learn.
• Provides a smooth transition from classroom to career.
• Prepares a more mature student for the post-secondary level.
• Helps students identify which careers they may or may not have an interest.
• Meets the needs of ALL students, helping each to realize maximum potential.

Employer Benefits:

The Internship Program will create a future workforce for the area. Employers can recruit students before graduation and college, and based on their internship experience, many students will either remain in the area or will return after college to seek full time employment.

Also:

• Student interns become ambassadors for the sponsoring employer.
• The Internship Program is structured: Students follow a job description and must meet the attendance and performance requirements of the sponsoring employer.
• Participating employers invest in the education system.
• The program improves the quality of employees being recruited by employers.
• Interns provide a means to tackle temporary work projects.
• Potential full-time employees can be previewed through the program.
• The program helps prepare young people for the future.
• Strengthens the community as a whole

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What about compensation or paychecks?

Compensation is not required. Interns recognize that they gain valuable experience whether they are paid or not.

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What is the hiring obligation?

There is no obligation for either the employer or intern to extend the period of employment when the internship ends. Businesses are encouraged to provide workplace opportunities for other student interns.

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What about Worker's Compensation?

Students injured while participating in the Internship Program can recover Workers' Compensation claims from that private employer just like any other employee when they are being paid by the employer. Workers' Compensation is covered under the school's policy when the student is not being paid.

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What is the role of the sponsoring employer, youth, school, interested parties?

Employer:

• To provide a written job description for each internship position.
• To provide a business contact to the Program Coordinator.
• To identify a work supervisor(s) for the intern who will:
• Supervise the intern throughout the program.
• Develop a work schedule that will meet the needs of both the
  employer and the intern
• Introduce the intern to the organization's structure and people.
• Explain the work expectations, including work hours and duties.
• Meet with the intern as needed to review progress, plan work, and
  discuss potential or actual problems.
• Communicate concerns with the Program Coordinator as needed.
• Complete a written evaluation of the Internship Program, provided by
  the Program Contact Person, at the end of the internship. This
  evaluation will serve as a review of the student's overall
  performance and contributions to the work place, and will be used to
  assist the student in identifying his/her strengths and weaknesses.
  The evaluation will also help the Program Coordinator and Program
  developers continue to improve the Internship Program.

Youth:

To apply, students must:

• Complete an employment application.
• Provide three personal reference contacts, including one written reference.
• Write a personal profile describing their interests and goals.

Selected student interns will:

• Maintain a journal detailing their internship experiences. Entries will be made at least twice each week.
• Participate in three internship meetings to discuss career development.
• Meet the work expectations of the sponsoring employer.
• Provide his/her own transportation to and from the work site.
• Complete an evaluation of the Internship Program.

School:

Each participating school must designate a contact person who is an accredited teacher or, Counselor/Career Specialist able to serve as a role model and guide for the student intern(s).

Specific responsibilities include:

• Posting available internship positions at the school.
• Distributing internship information, as provided by the Program Contact Person, to all students eligible for the program.
• Helping interested students complete the Internship Program application, including the identification of references. (At least one letter of recommendation must be submitted.)
• Reviewing student records to verify academic eligibility of interested students for the program.
• Reviewing student records to determine scheduling conflicts with course work required for graduation.
• Delivering completed student applications to the Program Contact Person by the deadline.
• Serving on the Internship Review Committee to help match interns and employers.
• Serving as a liaison between the student intern(s) and the Program Contact Person throughout the Internship Experience.
• Collecting student journals at the conclusion of the Internship and delivering to the Program Contact Person.
• Returning journals to students after review by the Program Contact Person.
• Distributing student evaluations at the end of the Internship; delivering completed evaluations to the Program Contact Person.

Interested Parties (e.g. Program Coordinator):

The Program Coordinator serves as the primary contact for the Internship Program.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Serving as a representative to prospective organizations / employers for the Internship Program.
• Providing information to interested schools.
• Helping employers develop and plan position descriptions.
• Matching students intern with sponsoring employers based on job descriptions and student applications.
• Coordinating student career meetings.
• Providing guidance and assistance to school and employer contacts.
• Evaluating the program.

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How do employers become part of the program?

Call 941-334-8848. The Internship Program Contact Person will discuss the goals of the program and help you plan internship position descriptions, detailing your workplace needs.

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Are there Occupations Limitations?

Some occupations and work place situations are considered too hazardous for youth under the age of 18. Please refer to the Occupation Limitations noted on Florida Standards for youth ages 16 to15 and 16 to 17. Exceptions to the Occupation Limitation for Hazardous Occupations can be made for students enrolled in youth vocational education programs under a recognized state or local education authority. As exemption can be made for a student learner if the student is employed under a written agreement that outlines Section 450.061 (2) of the Florida Child Labor Law.
Exhibit 1 • Exhibit 1a • Exhibit 2