In The Know Internship Program Overview & Guidelines

Quicks Links to Downloadable Resources

Overview and Guidelines

Learning Agreement

Employer Evaluation of Intern Form

Intern Evaluation of Experience

Program Overview

In The Know Resources provides a venue for connecting businesses with interns from area high schools, community colleges and universities. We do not coordinate internships, but provide an opportunity for employers and interns to connect.

Interns from High Schools

High school internships provide the student with exposure to real life experience to help guide them in choosing their career path. Employers benefit from free or inexpensive labor in exchange for guidance and mentoring. High school interns work up to 30 hours for a semester. Internships provide a possibility to pre-screen potential employees. Students who are motivated to become involved in internships, can make excellent part-time employees beyond the internship period.  High school students work closely with faculty advisors and teachers. Many are minors requiring guidance and mentoring.

If you are interested in mentoring a high school student, choose the high school nearest your business:

• El Camino High School at Ventura College
• Moorpark High School
• Newbury Park High School
• Oak Park High School
• Royal High School, Simi Valley
• Santa Susana High School, Simi Valley
• Simi Valley High School
• The High School at Moorpark College
• Thousand Oaks High School
• Westlake High School
• Adolfo Camarillo High School

Interns from Community Colleges

Our local community colleges have established work experience and internship programs for college credit encompassing many varied careers from accounting to culinary arts to administrative assistants.

Students work up to 60 hours unpaid or 75 hours of paid work for every unit earned. Students are matched to appropriate jobs through coordination with faculty supervisors.

Contact the Ventura County Community College District to learn more:

• Moorpark College
• Ventura College
• Oxnard College

Interns from Universities

Interns at the university level work an average of 10-15 hours per week for a semester or quarter, or up to 40 hours per week in the summer months. Most interns are paid an hourly wage. Employers will attract more candidates and have a stronger commitment of time from the intern selected if positions are paid. Employers are encouraged to offer an hourly wage.

• Non-technical positions generally pay $8-12/hour.
• Technical interns average hourly rates between $14-16/hour

Graduate Students and MBA Advisory Board

• Graduate Students earn $20-22/hour depending upon discipline and prior experience.

University level internships provide the employer with an opportunity to pre-recruit future employees.

Recruit university level interns

• California Lutheran University
• California State Channel Islands
• University of California Santa Barbara

By supporting students in their efforts to integrate their educational objectives with a part-time or summer internship experience in business and industry, employers help students get real life experience, providing them with insights and improved opportunities.

Maximize the Benefit to Your Company and Your Intern with Planning and Communication

• Write a clear job description with specific objectives
• Identify specific qualities, characteristics and skills you are seeking in your internship hire
• Once hired, have a meeting with your intern to discuss expectations. Both a representative from the hiring organization and the intern should sign an agreement at the commencement of the internship, outlining expectations. (Sample Learning Agreement)
• Provide feedback throughout the process. (Sample Employer Evaluation of Intern)
• Balance the amount of clerical work with pre-professional tasks and projects that enrich the intern's knowledge. Duties should include no more than 50% data entry or filing.
• Provide the intern with appropriate office space; computer; phone; and resources to carry out responsibilities in a professional manner.
• Fill out a brief written evaluation of the intern's performance and discuss with the intern before departure. (Sample Employer Evaluation of Intern)
• Upon completion of internship, provide Letters of Recommendation
• Gather information from the Intern upon completion of internship (Sample Intern Evaluation)
• Contact the Internship Program Coordinator at the school the student attends should a problem arise so that it may be resolved to all parties satisfaction.
• Abide by a nondiscrimination policy in accordance with applicable Federal and State law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or special disabled veteran.
• Abide by generally accepted guidelines against sexual harassment that follows Federal and State Laws to insure a professional work environment that fosters mutual respect between interns, coworkers and supervisors.
• If your interns are working for free, show them extra appreciation. Contact the school at least a month before you wish to interview students. The various learning institutions have differing schedules with various program deadlines. Check with the school where you are recruiting your interns for specific program dates and recruiting opportunities.

Compensation & Liabilities

As a general rule, intern sponsors are not subject to the U.S. Department of Labor's minimum wage laws if their internship description meets the department's guidelines. The position must primarily be for the educational benefit of the student and not involve more than 50% clerical work. There must be supervision, training and feedback.