Parents
Do you want your son or daughter to stay in the Rockford Area or move back after college graduation? Do they come back home for the summer and would like to do an internship?
Have your son or daughter log-in to the Rockford Area Career Clearinghouse’s WIRE (Work & Intern in Rockford E-recruiting) site to search professional jobs and internship opportunities in the Rockford Area. They may also post their resume for employers to search for them and Career Clearinghouse staff to make matches with other employers.
Encourage them to visit www.rockfordareacareers.com and click on the student link to access WIRE. They will need to obtain an access token to enter the site to ensure they are a current college student or a recent graduate seeking their first professional job after graduation. This can be obtained by emailing their resume to us.
Getting your son or daughter to stay in the region after obtaining their Bachelors’ degree can help Rockford’s economy. In the Rockford Area, 20% of people over the age of 25 have at least a Bachelor’s degree, which is significantly less than the national average of 27%. Studies show if we can increase by one percent and move up to 21%, which equates to approximately $230 million in wealth created annually for our region.
There are a lot of exciting things happening in the Rockford Area. Let them know about the new young professionals group, Ignite and get them involved and engaged in the community. They may decide Rockford is a cool place to return to live!
Can’t get your son or daughter to listen to you? Email us their contact info and we will send an invitation to them directly from the Rockford Area Career Clearinghouse.
Why internships?
College courses are only one part of preparing for your future and a career. Gaining valuable experience by completing at least one internship can help put you ahead of the competition after graduation.
What is an internship?
Internships can be offered by any employer. An internship is a period of supervised practical training at company or organization by a student. Typically students do internships to gain real world experience, test possible interest within an industry, and to enhance their education. Many times students are extended a job offer at the completion of the internship.
Internships have learning and performance goals, expectations, supervision, and evaluations. Many times, students participate in projects or work alongside professionals as they work on day to day challenges.
Benefits to students
- In this competitive economy, internships give you a chance to get your foot in the door with companies
- Gain experience to become more competitive when searching for a career after graduation
- Develop new skills in a different type of learning environment
- Ability to apply the knowledge you learn from your courses to the real world
- Try out various fields and determine your interest level in that field
- Connect to the community and network with business leaders
- Gain contacts for references and advice or information about new job opportunities
- Many instances internships turn into full time jobs
What can you do?
Encourage your son or daughter to look for an internship. Part-time during the semester or full-time during the summer are both good options. Unpaid internships provide valuable experience and are typically flexible allowing for another part-time job. To get the best internship possible, students must write a good resume, have good interviewing skills, and begin their search early. Make sure they work closely with their college’s career services department to refine these skills.