Here you can find an online version of the Junior Internship Programme Handbook.
If you have any questions about the programme please contact the team by emailing enquiries@wlep.co.uk
Timeline of the JIP Class of 2019-20
Your role and what you can expect from the Junior Internship Programme
Guide for Junior Interns
Your responsibilities as the Junior Intern
1. We recognise that this may be one of the first times that you will have engaged with an employer and we understand that you might feel nervous and that it may feel a bit daunting. Do not worry, most people feel like that at the start of something new. However, we are here to help you with this valuable introduction to the workplace.
2. This programme is intended to help you with the transition between college and the workplace by coaching and supporting you in becoming familiar with common working and communication practices. To help with this we may often send you a text message to remind you to check your emails when we have sent some important information that you need to respond to. In time you will find yourself checking (and responding to) your email more regularly, if you don’t already. Please try to respond in a timely manner to communications from the employer, college tutor and the JIP Project Manager.
3. We expect the Junior Interns to take responsibility for their attendance for their work experience placements and arriving promptly for their mentoring sessions. Your employer is here to help you, but they still have a business to run and it is paramount that the Junior Internship Programme does not impact negatively on their business.
4. After the Speed Interviewing and matching process is complete you will need to make contact with your employer to arrange the initial mentoring kick off meeting.
5. At your first kick off meeting you will:
a. meet with your mentor
b. discuss with your mentor and agree on the format and arrangements for your mentoring sessions (recommended to be once a month for the 2-year duration of the programme)
c. start to discuss when the 2 weeks of work experience (for each year) will take place. Ideally this will take place in school holidays as not to disrupt your college timetable, but you can agree what works best for you and employer. Alternatively, if you get a regular day a week off college, you and your employer may agree to meet on a regularly weekly arrangement of one day per week during term time over a longer period of time which would be equivalent to the 2 weeks of work experience.
6. The Project Manager for the Junior Internship Programme is Jacqui Morley-Brooker who will also be working on additional activities and events that she inform you about. You are recommended to take advantage of these opportunities wherever possible as they will give you additional information and experience about other employers and industry sectors.
7. You are encouraged to record all of JIP activity in the JIP Learning Logbook that will be provided to you and further copies are available from the JIP website. In this JIP Logbook you should record every mentoring session, work experience, event, site visit etc which you attend as part of the Junior Internship Programme. Each entry in your logbook should review what you have done and what you have learnt and any follow up actions.
8. Advice for the Speed Interviewing
a. Research the companies you wish to interview for
b. Prepare questions
c. Dress smartly
d. Have a copy of your CV ready to give your interviewer
e. make eye contact and shake hands confidently (practice shaking hands with your parents and friends – sounds daft, but practice makes you feel more confident!)
f. prepare answers to common interview questions such as:
i. your strengths and weakness
ii. examples of where you have used initiative or worked as a team
iii. where you see yourself in 5 years time
9. Advice for the mentoring sessions
As mentioned in the last section, the success of your Junior Internship Programme depends on you. How you engage, how you work with your employer sponsor and how you apply yourself. You have been chosen for this programme on a number of merits; one of which is your attitude to learning and commitment to self-development. This is a key component of the programme.
The JIP Contract in Appendix 2 is a document we will ask all Interns to sign, along with your employer sponsor and college tutor. This is to ensure that everyone involved in delivery of the internship understands their responsibilities from the beginning. In short, we ask that you:
• Be professional at all times – throughout the programme, you are representing yourself first but also the college and your employer sponsor.
• Be punctual and attend when you should – whether this is at college or your employer sponsor, turn up on time when agreed.
• Engage – work with the college and your employer sponsor and they will work with you
• Explore opportunities – never be afraid to try something new, ask questions, and consider different options available to you in the world of STEM.
• Complete your actions – whether this is completing your work experience log, finishing college work, or tackling an activity or task set by your employer sponsor – make sure you deliver.
• Ask for support – the Internship is focussed on supporting young people in to STEM careers. If you need any help or assistance with any aspect of your learning and development, just ask.
• Communicate well – talk to your peers (other Interns), communicate with your employer sponsor, and stay in touch with the college, tutor and JIP Project Manager throughout the programme.
Your employer sponsors are responsible for ensuring your work experience blocks are agreed and in place. Employer sponsors will also work with your college to co-ordinate the date and length of your work experience blocks. Employer sponsors are committed to providing a total of two weeks per year across the full Junior Internship Programme (four weeks in total).
You are required to obtain consent from your parents through completion of the Parental Consent form – See appendix 3 and also available as a download from the JIP website.
Whilst completing work experience, you remain the responsibility of the employer sponsor. This means you will need to adhere to their procedures and policies. Employer sponsors will provide you with all necessary information, training, and workwear required to perform your work experience. It is your responsibility to adhere to any policies in place and act in a professional and responsible manner. Just as you would do at college, we expect you to be respectful, punctual, and engaged. At the same time it is worth remembering that life at college can be very different from the workplace. Speak to college or friends and family for any advice about life in work and be fully prepared for the experience. You can always talk to your employer sponsor beforehand if you are worried in any way or
have any questions.
Employer sponsors will ensure your work experience is relevant to your college learning. However, it is important to remember that often you may be asked to work in areas that don’t have a direct link back to your course. There are many ways in which our learning can be applied to other skills and job roles. It is all part of ensuring we develop as rounded individuals, able to enter the workplace in a number of different capacities. This is a key element of work experience and something that will benefit you for years to come.