News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Highlands Economic Partnership is recruiting employers to join its Highlands Paid Internship Program.
Workforce Development and Education Director Kaitlin Salyer said participants get the opportunity to interview local high school students and possibly find full-time workers for the future.
“They might not be looking to go to college after school, but we want to make sure they are set up for success after high school,” Salyer said. “Gaining that experience. Getting their foot in the door with a local employer, who will stick by them and help build their career.”
Salyer said each year, about 50 high school students from Putnam or Jackson Counties are selected. Salyer said each intern’s $10 per hour wage is split evenly between the employer and a private donor to Highlands.
“We do set up an interview fair at the beginning of the school year,” Salyer said. “The schools will identify students who are interested in participating in the program. We do the recruitment on the beginning and then organize what we call a student job fair where we bring in the students and the employers and they have an opportunity to meet each other and have short interviews.”
Salyer said Highlands ask employers to provide quality, hands on experiences for the students. Salyer said the program offers positions in multiple trades, health care and business.
“We have seen some incredible success stories from this program,” Salyer said. “One of which a student who gained a really strong mentor from this program and connected really well with the employer. After they graduated high school, they were hire on full-time.”
