Have you considered a summer internship?

The Georgia Caribbean American Heritage Coalition Mentoring program is now offering internship opportunities to high school juniors and seniors in various industries and businesses owned primarily by Caribbean Americans.

What is an Internship?

Like a semester in school, an internship is a job that lasts for a limited length of time. It is often set up with specified responsibilities in a company or organization. An internship is a great opportunity to get experience in a profession, see if you like it, learn and perfect some skills for the future. Internships can be an interesting, challenging, and very rewarding way to learn about a particular business or industry. Consider it a "test drive" of a particular career to determine if you will like it. By spending time in an office, you'll see first-hand how business works and you'll learn from professionals who have the experience you're looking to gain.

There is nothing more valuable than experience when starting out. No matter how good your academic or extracurricular performance in school, employers will ask what "real" work experience you have had. An internship will show that you are the kind of person who is willing to do what it takes to go after the job or career you want. Good grades, strong character, and an impressive list of extracurricular activities are great, but internships launch you into the work force.

Why consider an internship?

It is the best way to gain valuable work experience at a respected company or organization; identify if a particular field is right for you; explore potential careers and courses of study for college; strengthen your college application; and discover fields and positions you hadn't considered before.  Internships will also provide a successful transition from high school into the business world; motivate you to go on to college or trade schools; while helping to build your confidence and self-esteem.

Do you qualify?

·      Are you a high school Junior or Senior?

·      Are you a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident?

·      Are you at least 17 years old?

·      Are you available to work 40 hours a week for 4-8 consecutive weeks from June to August?

How to apply?

·      Deadline to apply is May 1, 2008

·      Submit a personal statement about your field of interest and why you want an internship;

·      Include a resume highlighting any past employment, volunteer, religious work experience or involvement;

·      Submit a copy of your most recent academic transcript; and

·      Submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or school counselor

·      Mail your documents immediately to Dr. Princess Beckford; Georgia Caribbean American Heritage Coalition; Post Office Box 392; Atlanta, Georgia  30301

·      For more information, call 404.752.6080  

While we can not guarantee an internship in your specific area of interest, or the work you will be doing, we will do our best to match you up with your preferred area of interest so you can obtain valuable experience and exposure. So, whether you’re interested in art, business, fashion, finance, journalism, law, media, real estate, restaurant management, or veterinary medicine, an internship can help you figure out what career you might want to pursue and what to study in high school or college.