What is PIP?
Piedmont Internship Possibilities (PIP) serves as an information resource for:

• area high schools looking for student career training opportunities,
• high school students seeking potential internships in particular fields of interest, and
• local businesses who wish to offer career training and experience to community youth.

What is an Internship?
Internships are opportunities for high school students [grades 9-12] to explore first-hand the work requirements, training needs, challenges and environment of particular jobs, careers and professions. Internships are modeled on an employment position and require the same levels of skill, commitment and willingness to learn.

An internship may be paid or unpaid. If unpaid, special class project credit or course credit may be earned during the academic year. Each school system and high school determines whether the internship meets its class project or course credit requirements. Your school internship advisor (counselor/teacher) will tell you if the internship can be done for project or course credit. The student may also work an internship for career experience alone. For paid internships, U.S. and/or state government age restrictions regarding employment may apply. The internship description will tell you if it is a paid or unpaid position.

Where Do I Find Internship Opportunities?
Listings of internship opportunities alphabetically by name and type (paid or unpaid; academic term, vacation break, or summer) are available on-line at Jobs & Internships.

These internship listings include the:

• internship title and full description of intern responsibilities and duties,
• name and type of business sponsoring the internship,
• contact name, job title, e-mail and (optional) phone number of the internship supervisor,
• internship details about location, work hours, age minimum, required training or skills, and
• type of internship: possible wage range and time period (academic term, vacation break, or summer)

What is the Time Period of an Internship?
Exact hours of internship work depend on the needs of the business offering the internship. Some internships may be weekly for after school or weekend hours, daily over a week-long vacation break, or over the summer months for varying hours.

How are Internships Tracked and Evaluated (Academic Credit)?
Tracking of internship progress for academic credit will be accomplished through:

• an orientation with the internship supervisor to introduce and explain responsibilities and duties to the student intern
• regular check-ins by the school internship advisor with the student intern to discuss any questions, problems, challenges, or successes, and
• a conference midway through the internship (for those of more than a week in duration) between the school internship advisor and the internship supervisor to discuss progress, problems and possible amendments to the internship plan to meet student needs.

Evaluation of the student intern will be done through:

• An objective rating by the internship supervisor of whether
• specified internship learning objectives and goals were met
• duties and responsibilities of the internship were fulfilled, and
• overall progress was made by the student intern in defined work readiness skills
• A self-evaluation and critique by the student intern about whether
• learning objectives and goals were met by the internship
• duties and responsibilities were well explained and reasonable
• work environment supported internship efforts and learning, and
• student intern must write a 1000 word essay (1 to 2 pages) on the type of business, his/her internship experiences there and if they would recommend the internship; a daily journal may substitute for the essay.
• The school internship advisor will ultimately award the final grade on a student internship for a project or course taking into account the student intern's essay, internship self-evaluation and critique and evaluation by the internship supervisor on internship performance.

Who Can Apply?
Any high school student [grade 9-12] may apply for an internship with the:

• written permission of a parent or guardian if under 18 (esp. summer),
• skills and prior training required in the internship description (esp. summer),
• signed approval of the school advisor (counselor/teacher) (if during the academic school year and for academic credit), and
• signed agreement of the business internship supervisor who will direct and evaluate the student's work (if during the academic school year and for academic credit).

How Do I Apply?

1. Fill out an internship application. An internship application is available as part of a specific internship listing (see Jobs & Internships). If the internship is for academic credit, your high school may have a required application form and that form should be used to apply for an internship. Check with your guidance counselor before applying to get the correct forms and the specific application process.

2. Get written parental or guardian permission as required.
3. Contact the business internship supervisor listed for the internship to discuss internship participation and to discuss application process. If for academic credit, you must also arrange to get the internship supervisor's approval signature (this may be done through the mail).
4. Submit the application to the business. If for academic credit, submit the application to your school internship advisor (school counselor/teacher) for approval of possible credit, permission signature and tracking of your internship, prior to submitting to the business.
5. Application for an internship position does not guarantee an interview or award of the internship. Internships are competitive and operate on the same principles as employment opportunities.