Internships
What is an internship?
At Flathead Valley Community College, internships offer unique learning experiences that earn college credit. Like classroom work, internships are an integral part of a student’s educational preparation. An internship gives the student the opportunity to enhance their academic learning through hands on application while learning about the workplace and their chosen field of study.
According to academic guidelines, interns spend 140 hours at their worksites usually working about 15-30 hours per week. Internship courses generally take place after the student has completed at least two semesters of classroom learning, so they have skills needed for the workplace. To register for an internship, students must complete the pre-requisites noted for their major and have the consent of their advisor and the internship coordinator. Prior to placement at a worksite, students attend an orientation session to learn the application and internship process. Work schedules vary dependent upon the needs of the business and the student’s schedule.
Benefits
Internship Site
- Opportunity to try out trained, potential employees who have demonstrated dedication and interest in an occupation
- Assists in recruitment, selection and retention of employees
- Establishes relationship with the college
- Gives opportunity to give input to college about the quality and relevance of college’s curriculum to fit your workforce needs
- Enhances employee motivation and can reduce hiring and training costs
- Gain a fresh perspective and learn from interns
Students
- Integrate classroom theory with workplace practice
- Learn new skills, use industry specific equipment and technology
- Clarify academic and career goals and learn more about local business and industry
- Gain confidence, knowing applicability of skills and knowledge
- Explore the workplace and learn more about job opportunities
- Opportunity to get a “foot in the door” and network with potential employers or references
- May lead to job, letter of reference or recommendation to an employer.
College & Community
- Demonstrated relevance of education to “real world” increases student motivation, retention and future employment potential
- Helps fulfill college’s mission of preparing our students for the workforce
- Provides college/faculty with information on employment trends
- Establishes partnerships between business/industry/organizations and academia
- Helps meet the training needs of the community while providing a larger range of learning opportunities for students