The exit interview is essential for the intern to be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses and is a good opportunity for them to ask questions in both directions, which will make future internships more successful and will allow the student to be more successful in employment.

It is essential for projects or tasks assigned to interns to be relevant, challenging and meaningful for students.  If projects given are "grunt work", students will no longer be engaged, and may opt to avoid the career path that ordinarily would have been a good fit for them.  Conversely. students who find the work to be "easy" may choose a career based on that when it is not appropriate for them.

The internship experience allows students (or young professionals) an opportunity to engage in the career in a hands-on setting to determine whether the careeer will be an appropriate fit for them, or whether their careers plans need to be altered in order for them to meet their goals.

Every student is different and requires different needs and interventions to be successful in a career educational program.  Without truly knowing our students' barriers, we will be ineffective at ensuring their success within their technical program.

Although we do not have any alumni on our advisory board currently, I think it would benefit our program to get feedback from these individuals regarding which items in the curricula were beneficial toward the goal of job acquisition and which parts of the curriculum need revision to be more effective tools in the workplace.

It truly takes a village to get students ready for gainful employment.  Many factors, both obvious and not obvious, are in play when considering whether a student will find success.  Many of our students work outside of school, provide childcare within their families, and have household responsibilities that affect their ability to learn and complete homework.  Although we cannot change many of these factors, we can encourage students to make school a priority and not to work more than what is required to pay bills in the household.  Informing students that their odds of graduating and gainful employment after graduation… >>>