|
|
By Alyson Getty Cole, Consultant The Hill Group, Inc. is proud to announce the Community Corner, a new newsletter feature. This section has been designed to feature community organizations and activities, which The Hill Group supports in our region. NEED INTERNS? THE ANSWER: THE REGIONAL INTERNSHIP CENTER OF SWPA The Regional Internship Center of Southwestern PA (RIC), www.ric-swpa.org, has been created through a partnership of the Coro Center for Civic Leadership and the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board to create a more effective connection between college students and employers throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Their goal is to attract and retain young talent by increasing the number of internships offered in our region. The RIC actively works with employers, assists them in developing internship programs, and connects them to potential interns and regional colleges and universities. All services provided by the RIC are FREE to students and employers, which include but are not limited to the following:
Why Internships? In a region where there is a potential pool of over 100,000 students, current efforts result in the placement of less than one percent in internships. Internships are an opportunity for us to create a competitive advantage for the region by leveraging the number of students that we have. By connecting students with area employers and providing them with work experience, students will be more inclined to stay in the region after graduation. Internships are also a great way to meet the needs of the region's businesses. Given that 94 percent of businesses in the region have 50 employees or less, they lack the staff and resources required to recruit talented workers. Internships have proven to be an efficient and cost-effective way to test-drive potential employees. They are a way to determine a potential employee's fit with the company at relatively low cost and risk. Several companies recruit new hires from the ranks of interns. The goal of the RIC is to increase the number of employers in our region who are committed to offering internships, managing the risk they face when accepting interns, and simplifying and centralizing the internship matching process. By introducing students to regional employers and providing them with work experience, they will have increased awareness of job opportunities and will be more likely to remain in the region after graduation. The region will thereby retain a trained workforce to fill the expected employee shortage predicted for the near future. How Does It Work? Step 1: Who Does RIC Serve? The RIC serves employers in the Pennsylvania counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington, and Westmoreland, as well as the Panhandle of West Virginia. Through the support of the 33 colleges and universities in this region, RIC operates as a central point for students and organizations to connect. If you would like to learn more about the Regional Internship Center, please contact McCrae Holliday, Director, at 412-258-2685 or mholliday@coro.org. These materials have been prepared for educational and information purposes only. They are not consulting advice or opinions on any specific matters. Transmission of the information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, a consultant-client relationship between The Hill Group, Inc. and any recipient of this material. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional advice. 
|
