Work Experience / Internships

THE WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM is designed to be an extension of the classroom where participants will gain “real world” experience and an understanding of their chosen career field by working in an off-campus internship site.  Employers and supervisors will mentor their interns by providing additional skills training, establish learning goals, and conduct on-going performance evaluations. This course will apply active learning and on-the-job training methods to allow students to practice their new skills in a ‘real world’ setting, gain valuable work experience, and gain exposure in a work environment before entering a career.  Together, course instructors and workplace supervisors will provide resources, feedback, and support that prepare students for future workplace and career success.  Internships may be paid or unpaid. Participants completing the program  will earn a Certificate of Professional Development from Windward Community College’s Employment Training Center (ETC).  Participants are required to complete 160 hours at their worksite and submit weekly timesheets to the ETC faculty. 

What is expected of the Site Supervisor? Potential supervisors must first complete a "worksite request" form, providing the contact information of the supervisor and a brief description of what a participant may learn at your location.  We ask that each worksite supervisor provide a safe and meaningful learning/ training experience for their participant  to better prepare them for entry into the workforce.  Supervisors will also need to sign the participant’s weekly time sheet and provide them with some helpful feedback for improvement.  At the end of the training we will be seeking the supervisor’s input and opinions about how to better prepare Hawaii’s Workforce.

How are participants placed with supervisors? Participants begin working with the ETC faculty and staff in interviewing skills, worksite expectations, workplace values inventory, work interest assessments, resume writing, and more.  Supervisors are asked to interview a potential participant.  Supervisors determine the participant’s start date and schedule. Participants will need to work at least 20 hours per week and may take up to 9 weeks to complete their 160 hour requirement.  View the "participant timeline" for summary of the participant intake process.

Are Employers obligated to hire the participants at the end of the training? No, our primary purpose is to provide entry-level worplace learning for our participants.

EMPLOYER / SUPERVISOR FORMS ( Application packet,      Timesheets / Evals,   Student Process)

STUDENT / AGENCY FORMS  (Information packet,    Timesheets,     Timeline to Placement)

 
NOTE: Interns must be referred and complete a separate application. See Application Process
                                                                  

a – Paid interns will receive a $600 stipend upon completion of 160 hrs of work experience.  Smaller stipends will be pro-rated for fewer hrs.

1) Interns must complete 160 work hours within a 9 week period.
2) Complete and submit all intern forms before starting the internship work (by appointment with staff)

• work readiness survey
• liability release form
• medical information & consent for treatment
• records release authorization
• assumption of risk agreement
• WH-1 citizenship statement
• registration form
• additional university forms
  

3) Submit signed weekly time sheets - due to program staff each Friday.
4) Submit weekly evaluations and learning goals to program staff each Friday. Evaluations and goals must be signed by supervisors and reviewed by interns before submission.

1) Intern candidates must be recommended by an instructor, counselor, or staff who can attest to your skills and readiness to work. Recommendation form for Intern nominee    (to be submitted by instructor / counselor / staff).  
2) Your agency or school counselor must submit the ETC authorization form
3) Candidate submits Internship Intake Form
4) Candidate submits Work Readiness Evaluation
5) TABE test recommended  (Math / Reading assessments)
6) Final decision is based on recommendations, test scores, evaluations, program attendance, transcripts, performance AND availability of a work site.

Note: locating a suitable work site could take 3-4 weeks.