Q & As for Internship Employers for Northern Virginia High School Students

These questions and answers further explain our Pathways Internship Program for underserved Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) students.

The program, described on this page, is offered to members of our Pathways communities in collaboration with our partners Communities in Schools of Northern Virginia and Fairfax County Public Schools’ MentorWorks and Work-Based Learning Programs.

Harraseeket’s role involves:

1. Offering stipends to students to allow them to take unpaid internships. Studies show that financial support levels the playing field for students who cannot afford to take unpaid internships.

2. Recruiting members of local worship communities and secular communities to act as “intern coaches” to mentor the students as they look for, apply to, and prepare for internships.

3. Seeking employers near the high schools we support to offer internships. We currently are looking to offer internships to students at Herndon High School, South Lakes High School, Wakefield High School and Alexandria City High School.

After you review this,  tell us if you’re interested and would like to learn more.

What kind of internships are contemplated?

The internships are intended to offer students windows into what different types of work experiences look like, and to experience a world they might not otherwise experience. For the most part, we see them as short term, part-time opportunities.  They might last 2–5 weeks, after school for a few days a week or on a weekend or during a vacation, perhaps for a few hours a day.

We sometimes refer to this kind of work experience as “shadowing heavy” or “internship light.”

Does the location of the employer matter?

Yes. Most students need employers close enough for students at Herndon High School, Wakefield High School or Alexandria City High School to allow them to easily commute by Metro, bus, bike or on foot. In some cases, an employer also could be near a students’ home.

What type of employer is Harraseeket looking for?

Internship employers can be large or small companies, non-profits or small businesses, including retail businesses.  Any organization that offers an interesting experience is a candidate, and almost anyone can do that. For example, a small business might offer the chance to show what an entrepreneur does. A nonprofit might be an opportunity to see how volunteers are organized or how a cause is pursued. 

We are not, however, looking for internship experiences that are substitutes for regular paid work, such as being a cashier, a waiter or a sales clerk. The focus should be on offering an experience that expands the horizons for the student.

Are employers expected to pay interns?

Harraseeket offers students a modest stipend to allow the students to take unpaid internships. In many cases, students already have part-time employment, so the stipend is intended to allow them to reduce their paid-work hours so they can broaden their experiences.

We welcome employers who are willing to pay interns! In one recent case where Harraseeket was paying the interns, the employer stepped in and offered to pay going forward

Are there other ways employers can help?

We need:

• ideas for other area employers who could host internships

• volunteers to help us manage the program

• donations to support the cost of the stipends and the paid staff required to manage the program. Harraseeket is a small 501(c)(3) nonprofit; donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. See harraseeketfoundation.org/donate-today

What kinds of experiences should employers offer?

Students are looking for a wide variety of experiences. In one recent survey at an Arlington high school where Harraseeket is supporting internships, students cited STEM/Computer Science, Healthcare/Nursing and Technical trades - Mechanics, HVAC, etc. We also hear about entrepreneurial experiences. 

We are not, however, necessarily looking for experiences that match student goals. After all, who in high school is sure of their career direction? Often an internship can show a student what they do or don’t like about different kinds of work experiences. The point is to open their eyes a bit.

One central part of the internship experience is to offer a student the ability to learn “soft skills.” That can be achieved in a wide variety of workplaces. The list at the bottom of this Q&A was created by Fairfax County Public Schools, and it does an excellent job of explaining “soft skill” goals for internships.

If you’re not sure if your workplace is right for an internship, talk to us!  We’ll brainstorm with you.

What kind of time commitment is involved for employers?

We ask that one person act as the workplace coordinator - someone who can invest enough time to expand a student’s imagination. That means scheduling time to explore the student's career interests and areas of growth, supervising and intentionally meeting with the intern regularly during the internship to guide performance, answer questions, and provide background information and resources related to the intern’s work.

Employers also should provide adequate training to make the internship a real learning experience. This should include an orientation session.

What is the workplace coordinator expected to do?

The job involves:

·       Reviewing a short internship manual

·       Coordinating with fellow employees to direct the intern’s work and interact with the student

·       Meeting with Harraseeket staff to discuss best practices

·       Communicating with the intern’s “intern coach,” who as explained below is a community volunteer who is mentoring the student

·       Reporting an assessment of the interns’ experience

·       Completing required paperwork

That doesn’t mean that one person needs to supervise the intern each day they are there. A workplace coordinator might arrange to have a different person work with the intern each day.

Is remote work possible?

We often find that a high school student needs to be physically present at the workplace, or physically with one or more employees. We do not, however, rule out virtual work as long as there are in-person meetings from time to time.

How are employers and interns matched?

Harraseeket is building a directory of employers near Herndon High school, Wakefield High School and Alexandria City High School who are willing to host internships. Interested students will be paired with “intern coaches,” who are community volunteers who will mentor them throughout the process, including by discussing what kinds of internship experiences they are looking for. Together they will look for opportunities, both in the internship directory and, if they wish, outside the directory.  The intern coach then will support the student as they apply for internship, prepare for it and go through it.

The application and interviewing process are a key part of the student experience. The employers will have the opportunity in the interview process to decide if they are willing to offer an internship.

We plan over time to have a regular roster of employers willing to offer internships. The more diverse the directory, the richer the experience for students looking for a wide variety of experiences.

Who should we contact if we have questions and we’re interested in learning more?

Use the button below to tell us you have questions and/or you’re interested in learning more. We ‘re delighted to chat. 

Fairfax County Public Schools
“Soft Skill” Goals for Internships

 Internships should offer exposure to “soft skills” of the workplace.  Communication – oral speaking capability, written, presenting, listening.  Soft skills include:

a.     Courtesy – manners, etiquette, business etiquette, gracious, says please and thank you, respectful.

b.     Flexibility – adaptability, willing to change, lifelong learner, accepts new things, adjusts, teachable.

c.      Integrity – honest, ethical, high morals, has personal values, does what’s right.

d.     Interpersonal skills – nice, personable, sense of humor, friendly, nurturing, empathetic, has self-control, patient, sociability, warmth, and social skills.

e.     Positive attitude – optimistic, enthusiastic, encouraging, happy, confident.

f.      Professionalism – businesslike, well-dressed, appearance, poised.

g.     Responsibility – accountable, reliable, gets the job done, resourceful, self-disciplined, wants to do well, conscientious, common sense.

h.     Teamwork – cooperative, gets along with others, agreeable, supportive, helpful, and collaborative.

i.       Work ethic – hard working, willing to work, loyal, initiative, self-motivated, on time, good attendance.