Ivy Tech Community College Human Services Program Internship Orientation Program Ivy Tech Community College Human Services Program

Internships are a Proven Way to: Clarify career choices Network with professionals in your field Develop confidence and skills in your field Improve your communication skills

What Will This Orientation Do For You? Provide a good overview of how the internship program works Explain academic credit possibilities Answer your questions

What is an Internship? An internship is any career-related work experience of limited duration that provides students an opportunity to gain experience before they graduate while earning credit hours. The student works in a professional setting under the supervision of at least one practicing professional. Positions will not be paid. Students who do internships may work during the fall, spring or summer terms. Internship Eligibility Requirements Must have approval of your HUMS advisor HUMS 201: Must have passed HUMS 101, 102, and 103 HUMS 202: Must have passed HUMS 201 and 206 HUMS 200: Must have passed HUMS 113, 208, 209 and 210 (Beginning Fall of 2013, prerequisites will be HUMS 101, 102 and 103)

What is a Good Internship? Internships are work-learning arrangements and must be supervised, career-related work experiences combined with reflective, academic study that helps you “learn by doing” Here are what we consider characteristics of a good internship: Supervised Goals set each semester Relevant to your major Progressive

Why Pursue an Internship? Personally Boost your maturity and self-confidence; improve your human relations skills; prepare for life after graduation; enjoy a greater clarity about career decisions Academically Integrate classroom theory with real-life experiences; understand the relevance of your course work; increase your motivation to learn; use resources that are not available on campus; earn academic credit

Professionally Explore a potential career field; develop career-related skills and abilities, including effective job search, résumé writing and interviewing techniques; establish a work history; observe professional people and behavior; build a network of professional contacts, develop mentoring relationships; gain a competitive edge for employment or university admission

Why Do Employers Value Internships? Internship placements are proven, cost-effective methods to meet immediate and long-range human resource needs Internship placements are excellent ways to find new, energetic and skilled employees…The internship is a test period for both the employer and the student Intern students can perform well on some entry-level assignments, thus freeing career employees for more advanced responsibilities

Participation in internships helps decrease the turnover of graduates employed in career positions Internships provide an excellent avenue for diversifying the workforce Internship programs foster ongoing, productive relationships between the college and local agencies

Developing Your Résumé & Interviewing Skills Employers want to see résumés of potential interns, so your first step is to develop your resume, or polish the one you already have. Students are not assigned an internship; they competitively interview for them. To be competitive, you need to develop your interviewing skills.

Where to Get Help… Contact Career Services for assistance with your resume and for interviewing tips. Michigan City Mandy Chalk Associate Director (219) 879-9137 ext. 6266 mchalk1@ivytech.edu Valparaiso Mandy Chalk Associate Director (219) 464-8514 ext. 3042 mchalk1@ivytech.edu East Chicago Ina Dillon Associate Director (219) 392-3600 ext. 317 idillon@ivytech.edu Gary Ina Dillon Associate Director (219) 981-4457 idillon@ivytech.edu

Know what you want to do The first step in any job or internship search is to know what you want to do. One reason for doing an internship is to get a better idea of what you want to do; however, you need to at least have a general idea of the type of work you want to do. If you don’t know what you want to do with your major, we recommend making an appointment with your Human Services academic advisor

Finding An Internship In addition to developing your resume, you need to complete an internship application. On the application you will list agencies or client populations of interest to you Your faculty advisor will make initial contact with agencies and forward your resume to those that are interested and have vacancies

Finding An Internship There is no guarantee that you will be placed in an agency of your choice…we are competing with several universities and your preferences may not be available You need to accept a placement that is offered to you and understand that there are valuable lessons to be learned at all placements.

Reviewing Job Listings Finding an internship can be challenging! Here are some job search strategies that might help Review the Internship Agency Catalog, available in your advisor’s office If you see a listing you are interested in, list that agency on your application Remember, your advisor will make initial contact with all potential internship agencies…do not directly contact agencies yourself!

Using the Internet The internet can be a valuable tool for finding an internship; however, it shouldn’t be all you do to find an internship. Remember, networking is the single most effective job search technique. The internet should supplement your internship search, not be your internship search.

Talk to Us! We can’t know of every opportunity; working together we can find more possibilities If you have an idea of an agency you want to intern with or hear of an opening, let us know…If we don’t have a contact with that agency, we’ll try to develop one

Internship Ethical Considerations Provide accurate information about academic and work experience, as well as any potential problems with a background check Interview genuinely You may be asked by your agency to submit a valid criminal background check. Be honest and share any relevant information about your past before the background check is conducted. Don’t keep agencies hanging Accept positions in good faith Withdraw from other potential internships when you have accepted another position

Academic Credit Once you have obtained your internship (and before you start), you should have your site supervisor and administrator sign the college’s Affiliation Agreement Return the signed Affiliation Agreement to your advisor to be processed by college administration You cannot begin your internship until the signed Affiliation Agreement is turned in to your advisor!

Internship Requirements 160 hours over the duration of the semester Weekly journal entries Reading blog / writing responses Time logs Topical discussion boards Two classroom meetings Reflection Paper Internship I Textbook Internship II Textbook

Proper Internship Behavior Ask questions to help you understand the detail of a task. Take notes. Dress appropriately for your agency. Ask your supervisor about appropriate attire before you start. Pay attention to details…check and double-check your work. Be open and receptive to constructive criticism. Feedback is a way to enhance your skills. Don’t be defensive!

Proper Internship Behavior Show maturity and professionalism. Don’t engage in office gossip, and maintain professional boundaries with clients at all times. When you find yourself with extra time, ask your supervisor for additional assignments…do not spend time texting, doing homework, or talking with agency staff Keep confidential information confidential! Be proactive. If you have free time, ask for projects or tasks that will help you make a difference. Adhere to schedules!

Proper Internship Behavior Consider the “big picture” of what your agency does. How do the tasks you are completing fit in with the mission of the agency? Complete all projects that are assigned to you in a timely manner, and always do your best. Ask for help when you need it. Remember that you are an intern, and know your limitations.

Internship Learning Objectives Recognize the operational and organizational structure of the agency Demonstrate professionalism by reporting for work on time, keeping appointments, and following the rules and regulations of the agency Develop purposeful helping relationships, assess problems, and develop appropriate courses of action at the beginning level Demonstrate awareness of appropriate boundaries and ethical standards of conduct

Internship Learning Objectives Provide accurate documentation as appropriate Recognize problem areas and identify appropriate problem-solving strategies Demonstrate appreciation for self-awareness and self-care Create a professional resume Demonstrate effective job interviewing skills

After You Finish Your Internship Ask for a letter of recommendation Update your resume to reflect your new experience Send your site supervisor a thank you note. They may be a good reference…or a potential future employer!

I agree to comply with all procedures and ethical guidelines presented in this orientation. I understand that not acting in accordance with these expectations may result in my dismissal from the agency and failure of the course. Printed name:____________________________ Signature:________________________________ Date:__________________