InternPlus connects college students to local start-ups and small businesses for paid, professional positions during the 2024-2025 academic year. InternPlus students work up to 15 hours a week for $14 per hour. Students will also receive hands-on entrepreneurial education through working side-by-side with entrepreneurs on their company’s immediate needs. Additionally, the cohort of accepted students will take part in a series of career readiness workshops to prepare for future employment opportunities.

The InternPlus program seeks to minimize the barrier to entry for students from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in internship programs, by encouraging applications from college students who identify as one or more of the following: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), Female, Nonbinary (preferred umbrella term for all genders other than female or male).

Workshop Topics

• Myers Briggs Personality & Strong Interest Inventory Assessments
  
• Best Practices: What hiring managers look for when interviewing candidates
  
• LinkedIn & Elevator Pitch
  
• Job Search Skills & Resume Building
  
• Interview Skills + Mock Interview Activity
• Entrepreneur Panel Discussion
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  * Workshop topics and schedule subject to change*

Equal Employment Opportunities

All emloyers provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Commitment

• Must be willing to work 15 hours per week
  

• Willing to commit to the full program from October 2024 through May 2025
  

• Attend all Career Readiness Workshops

Eligibility

• Seeking an internship in graphic design, marketing, social media, web development and sales.
  
• Reliable transportation to and from work is required  (internships to be held at Innovation DuPage and/or businesses located in DuPage County.)
  
• Must be a college student that graduated from high school no more than 5 years ago.
  
• Must be a current college student enrolled in courses in the fall 2024 & spring 2025 terms.
  
• Must be in good academic standing with the College.
  
• All college students are welcome to apply. Women and students of color are highly encouraged to apply!

Schedule

Internships will begin mid October and will run through May of 2025 with breaks for Thanksgiving (11/ 27 - 11/29) and winter holidays (12/23- 1/1). Interns will work up to 15 hours per week. Each hired intern’s exact weekly schedule will be determined in concert with their employer. Career Readiness Workshops will take place approximately every third Thursday from 3:30-4:30 pm. Workshops are expected to be held in-person at Innovation DuPage (535 Duane Street, Glen Ellyn 60137).

Important Dates & Deadlines

• Applications are due by 11:59 pm on September 27th
  
• Applicants will be notified by October 11th if they have progressed to the next round.  Interviews with participating employers will be scheduled at this point.
  
• Interviews with startup employers will take place between October 14th - October 25th: (there may be multiple interviews)
  
• Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by October 25th
  
• The program begins October 28th and will run through May 2025

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