Student Internship Preparation Guide

Student Internship Preparation Guide

2016-2017

All Information Available at Pathways Website > Internship Program

Get Started at: Application

Internships are an honor and a privilege. Earning them will require effort, preparation and commitment. Student candidates in the process, as well as intern recipients, are a reflection on Pathways Academy of Technology and Design. As an intern candidate and ultimately as an intern, you are expected to maintain respect and professionalism (proper attire, punctuality, timely responsiveness and good attendance) while demonstrating a desire to learn and refine your skills.

To participate in the process, you must complete the Registration Process (Application, Cover Letter, Resume & Teacher Recommendation), meet all Eligibility Requirements, Sign the Intern Agreement and Code of Conduct and respond to emails about Internship Information.

Any questions should be directed to Internship and Work-Based Learning Coordinator, NiCole Schlagheck ().

RESUME BUILDER WORKSHEET

Resumes are the primary initial communication that an individual has with a company/organization. Creating an effective resume that conveys your experience and qualifications is critical to landing a position. Use this guide to assist you in creating a resume. Share your resume with many people to continue to refine. There are many ways to make a resume, just be sure, no matter what, it is clear and accurate!

Section 1: Personal Information

First and Last Name: ______

Address: ______

Phone Number: ______

Email (professional): ______

Section 2: Objective – State what you are looking to gain/what you desire in a role, in one sentence.

Example: To identify a challenging internship opportunity that will enable me to further develop my technical skills.

Objective: ______

Section 3: Education

High School Name:______

Expected Date of Graduation: ______

GPA (Include if greater than a 3.0): ______

Technology or Relevant Classes Taken: ______

Special Recognition/Awards or Certifications: ______

Section 4: Experience – Work/Internship or Volunteer – List any jobs you have held or volunteering you have done. List your experience from most recent to oldest. Use action verbs and bullet out your contributions.

Name of Company of Organization: ______

Dates when you Worked There (Month/Year – Month/Year is sufficient): ______

Your Title/Role: ______

Describe your accomplishments and contributions:

EXAMPLES:

Developed a manual to help on-board other Customer Service Representatives
Managed lawn business, increasing sales by 50%
Created a new organization system to reduce claim paperwork by 25%
______
______
______

Name of Company of Organization: ______

Dates when you Worked There (Month/Year – Month/Year is sufficient): ______

Your Title/Role: ______

Describe your accomplishments and contributions:

______
______
______

Name of Company of Organization: ______

Dates when you Worked There (Month/Year – Month/Year is sufficient): ______

Your Title/Role: ______

Describe your accomplishments and contributions:

______
______
______

Section 5: Special Skills and Relevant Activities and/or Interests – List all relevant skills/technologies you have/know. Be specific and include the level of knowledge(Example: Introductory Python Skills, Practiced Digital Photographer, Conversational Spanish, etc.). Use this section to differentiate yourself

Skill or Relevant Interest: ______

NEXT STEPS:

1)Type this information and format it into a Resume (many templates online)

2)READ, RE-READ and RE-READ it for Clarity, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation!!!

3)Share the finished product with your School Counselor, Parents, Teachers and Internship Coordinator for feedback.

4)Save your final copy to Naviance and email a copy to , Pathways Internship Coordinator!!

5)Be prepared to talk about your experience when you meet Employers

6)Keep it current!! Add to it as you acquire more skills and have more jobs

IMPORTANT TIPS:

EMPHASIZE THE SKILLS THAT DIFFERENTIATE YOU
Everyone must know the MS Office Suite – as a student at a Technology Focused High School it is expected that you know these tools, DO NOT LIST AS A SKILL
Share any programming languages that you know well
Share an example of how you have utilized and enhanced your knowledge of that skill in your LEADERSHIP or WORK EXPERIENCE
DEMONSTRATE EXPERIENCE
Class Projects, Volunteer Work, Jobs, Internships….all count as experience
Clearly articulate the value you added
Lead with strong verbs and share specific metrics
Trained 10 students on Python programming
Developed a user’s guide for students in Intro to Photography
Coordinated a group of 5 students to develop an app for a Microsoft competition
ALL INFORMATION SHOULD BE ON ONE PAGE
Include the email address you check regularly
Include your home address/town
Include your GPA if it is greater than a 3.0
Adjust the margins as necessary
USE YOUR OBJECTIVES STATEMENT TO SHARE YOUR INTERESTS
Be specific and be clear

ACTION VERBS – USE ON YOUR RESUME

Use present tense when describing tasks you are still doing and use past tense when describing tasks you are no longer doing.

Achieved

Acquired

Adapted

Addressed

Administered

Analyzed

Anticipated

Assembled

Assisted

Audited

Budgeted

Calculated

Centralized

Changed

Collaborated

Composed

Condensed

Conduscted

Constructed

Contracted

Converted

Coordinated

Created

Cultivated

Demonstrated

Designed

Developed

Devised

Discovered

Doubled

Drafted

Edited

Eliminated

Enforced

Established

Evaluated

Expanded

Explained

Forecasted

Formed

Founded

Generated

Guided

Hired

Implemented

Improved

Informed

Insured

Interpreted

Interviewed

Launched

Learned

Maintained

Managed

Marketed

Minimized

Negotiated

Obtained

Operated

Organized

Originated

Oversaw

Performed

Planned

Prevented

Produced

Programeed

Promoted

Provided

Publicized

Published

Recruited

Reorganized

Reported

Researched

Resolved

Reviewed

Selected

Separated

Set up

Simplified

Solved

Surveyed

Staffed

Supervise

Taught

Tested

Trained

Used

Student Name

12 Hickory Lane

Bloomfield, CT 06002

(860) 123-4567

OBJECTIVE:______

To obtain a summer internship position in which I can gain business experience as well as apply and develop my strong technical skills in a professional setting.

EDUCATION: ______

Pathways Academy of Technology & Design, Windsor, CT 2011-PresentAnticipated Graduation Date: June 2015

GPA: 3.1
Class Rank: 25 out of 69 students
Enrolled in Honors Level Courses - English, Algebra 2, Biology

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE:______

Pathways Job Shadow Day Participant, Hartford, CT 2013

Shadowed a Computer Programmer for the day at Cigna
Learned about the various career fields in IT

Bloomfield Town Hall Intern, Bloomfield, CT 2013

Worked in IT department
Wiped and installed Windows on new computers
Delivered and installed computers in Police Department and Senior Center

Global Youth Service Day Participant, Washington Park, Windsor, CT 2013

Painted benches and cleaned up the general area

Soup Kitchen Volunteer, Hartford, CT 2012

Served food to those in need

St. Gabriel’s School Volunteer, Windsor, CT 2011

Provided maintenance to the outside surroundings

RELEVENT STUDIES:______

Business Communications
Advanced Programming
Introduction to Computer Applications
Web Design

ACADEMIC AWARDS:___

Honor Roll Student2011-Present

Best Overall “Project Based Learning” in Programming Class 2012

TECHNICAL SKILLS:______

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and the Internet

Experience with: Alice, Python, iMovie, Flash CS6, Blue Jay

Knowledge: Troubleshooting PCs, Windows Server Operating Systems

COVER LETTER TEMPLATE

Being able to write and convey a clear message is an important part of the job search process. In a Cover Letter, more than in your resume, you can share more about why you believe you are qualified, why you want a particular type of role and what makes you believe that the hiring company would be a good fit for you. Through the Registration process you will answer questions that will help you to complete this Cover Letter template.

Month, Year
Re: Available Internship Position(s)

Dear Internship Manager:
I was excited to see your opening for an Internship Position, and I hope to be invited for an interview. I am working hard to obtain practical experience this summer.
My background includes experience with projects creating ……...

Most recently, I volunteered/worked on the xxxxxx for Company, where my responsibilities included ……..

Previously, I worked …..

In addition, I am a member of the xxxx club and serve as the xxxx officer handling the xxxx for the organization. ……..
I am eager to find an internship opportunity that will enable to expand my technical skills. I have experience with ………. and am proficient in the MS Office Suite as well as Photoshop and ……
Please see the accompanying resume for details of my experience and education.
I am confident that my skillset and drive will enable me to be successful at your organization. Please feel free to contact me at 555-555-5500 (cell) or via email at to arrange an interview. Thank you for your time -- I look forward to learning more about this opportunity!
Sincerely,
Student First Last Name

INTERNSHIP TEACHER RECOMMENDATION FORM

Thank you for taking the time to fill this out on behalf of your student. Please complete the recommendation below, and email it back to or place it on my desk in Jessica Fitzgerald’s office. Thank you, NiCole Schlagheck, Internship & Work-Based Learning Coordinator

Student Name______

Personal Qualities / Excellent / Above Average / Average / Below Average / Not Applicable
Academic achievement
Attendance and punctuality
Attitude
Communication Skills
Responsibility/Completion of tasks
Relationship with peers
Relationship with adults
Ability to work as part of a team
Problem solving skills
Motivation
Dress/Appearance
Overall character

Additional comments:______

______

Teacher Name (printed)______Teacher Signature______

12 KEYS TO A GREAT INTERVIEW

1)LOOK PROFESSIONAL! First impressions will last when you are meeting with potential employers.

2)Bring several copies of your resume with you in a manila folder.

3)Bring a notebook and pen to write down any information you may need.

4)Plan to arrive 10 minutes before the interview begins.

5)Be extra courteous- Say hello, smile, and be friendly to everyone you meet.

6)Offer a professional greeting-When you meet the interviewer, stand up straight, look him/her in the eye, smile, extend a firm handshake, and say “Thank you for taking the time to interview me for this internship position.”

7)Body language is important! Sit near the edge of the chair with both feet on the floor and maintain eye contact.

10) Have a reason for wanting to intern there. Visit the company’s

website and research who they are and what they do.

11) Show that you’re curious about the position and be prepared to ask

the interviewer questions at the end of the interview.

12)Ask the employer for a business card at the end of the interview, and

send a thankyou note.

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Listed below are a few sample interview questions. Be prepared to answer all of these questions should you be asked any of them. Think of examples in your life, both academically and personally that you can relate the questions to.

1)Tell us something about yourself.

2)What do you think are your personal and academic strengths in school?

3)Where do you have opportunity to improve your performance in school?

4)Are you available and interested in working for more than 6 weeks?

5)What part of (specific course) did you enjoy the most? Why?

6)If you are scheduled to begin work at 9:00 a.m. and you arrive at 9:03 a.m., are you late?

7)Tell me about a time when you found yourself in a situation that made you do something you really didn’t want to do or didn’t expect to be doing. How did you perform and act in that situation?

8)Tell me what you know about our company. Why is an internship with us, the right fit for you?

9)Why should I hire you over someone else?

10)Tell me about a problem you confronted and how you solved it.

11)What do you think are the most important abilities that lead to success on the job?

12)Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now?

13)What skills are you most interested in acquiring through an internship? How have you started to learn things in that area so far?

14)Tell me about a time you had to work with a team that was not engaged in a school project. How did you encourage them to complete a high quality deliverable?

15)Share with me how you completed a project on a topic or subject you knew nothing about. How did you go about acquiring the information and knowledge you needed to be successful?

INTERVIEW COMMUNICATIONS

Postings and opportunities will be posted on the Yellow Tack Board in the Cafeteria, on the 2nd Floor TV Screens and on the Pathways Website under Pathways Internship Program. Once your Registration Process is complete and you have signed off on the Intern Agreement and Code of Conduct, you can notify Internship Coordinator, NiCole Schlagheck, if there is an opportunity to which you want to apply. Email her your name and the company of interest and your information will be shared with the Employer.

If you are selected to interview, you will receive an email that looks like the notice below. This will provide all of the information you need to know about the time/location/etc., it will advise you on how to prepare and it will serve as your Pass from Class for the interview. You will not receive paper notices to homeroom – you must be alert to these email notifications!

Attention Student –

Thank you for applying to interview for Company XYZ summer internship opportunity. Your first screening interview will take place on Monday, April 6, 2017 in the 2nd Floor Conference Room. Please see the included schedule to confirm your exact interview time. You will be meeting with Recruiter Jane, a representative from HR who is interviewing candidates for the two roles being offered:

1)Role Title – high level description

All candidates will share their experience and interests to help determine the best placement.

To prepare for the interview, please review the following information and prepare accordingly:

1)Dress PROFESSIONALLY and shake hands

2)THANK the employer for the opportunity

3)Bring a notebook and pen with questions for the employer along with your RESUME

4)Research the company to know more about their financials, the names of their CEO and CIO, and any latest news affecting the company

5)Have concrete examples from school projects, volunteering and/or work experience to share when you answer interview questions

6)Arrive PROMPTLY for your interview slot. You will not be called for dismissal, you must use this note as your pass for getting out of class for your 15-20 minute timeframe.

Any questions, concerns or changes in availability, YOU MUST email .

SCHEDULE (15 minute interviews with some extra allowance for interviewer breaks):

Time / Student
8:30 / NAME BOY
8:50 / NAME GIRL
9:05 / NAME BOY
BREAK / BREAK
9:45 / NAME BOY
10:00 / NAME GIRL

Monday 4/6 PASS for Company XYZ Interviews

From: Mrs. NiCole Schlagheck

Report To: Conference Room 2 at your designated time.