Worcester County Economic Development, Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, and Mid Atlantic Institute for Space and Technology (MIST) Initiative have developed a Career Internship Program (CIP) to help employers find energetic, highly motivated employees; satisfy their short term staffing needs; and build positive relationships within the community.
For interns, the CIP offers them the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience in a field of interest to help them make determinations regarding future career choices, while also connecting with professionals currently working in those fields.
The foundation of the CIP rests upon the premise that investing in human capital is the crux of continued economic growth. And, developing a strong workforce is paramount to building a competent workforce that is able to meet the demands of the 21st century. Participating employers will have the opportunity to evaluate each individual’s performance without making any permanent hiring decision. Using interns can help reduce salary costs and time.
The hiring process is comparable to that of hiring a new employee, with employees looking for individuals who are hard-working, willing to learn, goal oriented, resourceful and trustworthy. Successful internship programs are well planned and should clearly outline the following:
Length of internship
Intern duties/responsibilities
Compensation
Developing a letter of agreement
Setting expectations
Establishing policies and procedures
Setting goals
Tracking progress
Feedback progress
Of importance to both employers and interns is that the CIP provides each with a point of contact. The Internship Coordinator will recruit employers and match them with interns with similar knowledge and interests. Periodic site visits will be made to the place of employment to confer with the sponsor and the intern and monthly status reports will be provided to the partnership. Interns will be provided with opportunities to experience the world of work within 10 career clusters that represent core business functions across our region. Multiple career pathways exist within each career cluster as follows:
Arts media and communication
Business management and finance
Consumer service, hospitality and tourism
Construction and development
Environmental, agricultural and natural resources
Health and biosciences
Human resource services
Information technology
Manufacturing, engineering and technology
Transportation technologies
Prospective interns will be recruited from contacts within the partnership. The application process consists of providing both an application and a recommendation form. Transcripts will be required if the sponsor so desires.
The employer (sponsor) will pay the intern’s hourly wages, provide workman’s compensation insurance, comply with all laws regarding withholding and payment of payroll taxes, and complete I-9 forms. Employers are required to cover income, social security and Medicare taxes on stipends.
