Workplace Learning Connection at Kirkwood offers high school students free opportunities to apply for job shadows and internships. Help your child navigate this process and discover their dream career before starting college.
Workplace Learning Connection was established in 1998 and became a department of Kirkwood in 2011. Now, the program serves high school juniors and seniors in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington counties.
Learn more about Workplace Learning Connection's student job shadowing and internships opportunities and how to apply.
Students apply through their school and may receive high school credit. Panel interviews are used to vet students and not all move forward - it's competitive and the opportunity must be available.
Internships occur during the school year, in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. they typically last between 45 and 90 hours (5 - 10 hours per week), though schedules can be more flexible in the summer and are frequently completed in a shorter amount of time.
Keep in mind, some internships have prerequisites such as certain classes or programs the student has to complete. There can also be an age requirement.
Internships offer students a wealth of benefits for participation, even beyond the applicable skills they'll gain in the internship situation. We've found that internships help increase motivation and improve student retention as well as helping students develop responsibility, maturity, problem solving, self-confidence, and self-discipline.
Students can look forward to getting:
Businesses that take part in our internship programs find a wide variety of benefits from the internship experience. Some of the most common things we hear include: