Short-time offer makes big difference - Philadelphia Business Journal:

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But smaller numbers add up to a painfu l loss for hundreds of high schook studentswho won’t get to participatr in a potentially life-changingg experience this year. There’s still time for companies to step up and make a Improving economic opportunity is the best cure for so much of what ails and internships crack open a door that would otherwise be closed tomany inner-citg youth with potential. While not every business can offefan internship, particularly in this economy, thosd who don’t lose out on a rewardinfg opportunity to make a big difference in someone’sz life while playing a part in helpinfg the region.
At this writing, the chamber expectds to offer less than half of thenearlyh 1,500 internships created last summer. It’s partner, the , alreadyh has prescreened 1,400 interns and expects to have more readyt by the deadlinenext week. Many will be turnedd away. The value of internships is most apparent in the livese theyhave changed. A year ago, Aquimn Houston, a George Washington High Schoolo junior withgood grades, was working at McDonald’ws on a track to become a supervisor. He thought he migh t attend community collegeafter graduation, but he had no particuladr direction. An internship at changed that.
Last summer, Houstojn worked with the insurer’s manager of work force He has continued to work part helping to facilitate the work of theBlue IBC’s volunteer corps. His exposure to an officd environment, which included learning abourt appropriate attire and working ina cubicle, openedc up a new “When I first came there, I wasn’t sure what I was goingb to do,” he said of IBC. Houston, 18, has been acceptexd to , where he expectsz to major in businesws management inthe fall. “I had never been in a I didn’t know how to tie a he said.
“The experience, it really helped out with my My résumé really looks good For many interns, including the program provides a first-time office It opens young eyes to standards that have to be met and goals worth workinv toward. The cost of the six-week program is $1,6090 for an intern who typically works 20 hourd per week and attends professional development sessions offsitwon Fridays. In the past, companiesw have trained interns to help fill in for employeesx on vacation or carved out special projects that would benefitgthe company. Often mid-level employees get the opportunith to supervise or mentoran intern, making it a learninv experience for both.
Chamber President and CEO Mark Schweikert described internsas “genuinelu productive.” He added that the structure of the programm was popular with employers and the dropoff this year isn’tf for lack of willingess, but for lack of New companies to the program this year include Deloitte, Parentre Randolph, and Cephalon. Some participants put up the $1,600 to pay for the interna to work atnonprofit groups. With a deadline at the end of next there are still more companies in the region that coulcd offeran internship. Thoswe who can step up can call 215-790-373w or go to www.greaterphilachamber.com to get the ball rolling.