1. Internship Opportunities Presented by Mary Poulton University of Arizona in partnership with the Arizona Rock Products Association

2. Providing an internship opportunity within your company is a great opportunity for both you as an employer and for students who are pursuing a career in the aggregate industry. Employers are looking for qualified career minded employees and university programming directors are looking for ways to better fulfill the needs of that market.

3. Company Benefits Companies Gain: Provides companies with a great worker recruitment advantage Provides companies with a great worker recruitment advantage Students likely to seek employment from company they interned with upon graduation. Students likely to seek employment from company they interned with upon graduation. It is also a terrific way for the company to evaluate the student’s abilities and fit within the company before committing to hire the individual as a full-time employee. It is also a terrific way for the company to evaluate the student’s abilities and fit within the company before committing to hire the individual as a full-time employee. Provides an inexpensive supplement to your existing workforce, especially during the busy construction season. Provides an inexpensive supplement to your existing workforce, especially during the busy construction season.

4. Student Benefits Students gain: Valuable experience in the industry Valuable experience in the industry Help making decisions about their future career Help making decisions about their future career Provides an advantage over their peers Provides an advantage over their peers Potential employment upon graduation Potential employment upon graduation Many educational programs encourage at least one internship experience prior to graduation. Many educational programs encourage at least one internship experience prior to graduation.

5. Types of Internships Companies have flexibility in terms of the length and time of year Companies have flexibility in terms of the length and time of year Most students will be interested in a summer internship (mid-May to mid-August) Most students will be interested in a summer internship (mid-May to mid-August) Some students may take a semester off of school to intern – year-round potential. Some students may take a semester off of school to intern – year-round potential. During the school year the internship will need to be formalized to ensure continuous enrollment. During the school year the internship will need to be formalized to ensure continuous enrollment. Local students may be interested in a part-time internship Local students may be interested in a part-time internship Students should work a minimum of 270 hours to fulfill graduation requirements. Students should work a minimum of 270 hours to fulfill graduation requirements.

6. Compensation Most students are unwilling to take an unpaid internship Most students are unwilling to take an unpaid internship Unpaid internships can certainly become attractive if you pay for housing and commuting costs. Unpaid internships can certainly become attractive if you pay for housing and commuting costs. Paid internships that provide housing lure the most experienced and marketable intern candidates. Paid internships that provide housing lure the most experienced and marketable intern candidates. Most companies offer a pay range average of $12 to $17 per hour. Most companies offer a pay range average of $12 to $17 per hour. Academic tenure in the program may be a consideration Academic tenure in the program may be a consideration

7. Compensation Some companies have chosen to offer a stipend to interns Some companies have chosen to offer a stipend to interns Offering a scholarship to an intern at the end of a successful internship is an excellent way to secure their investment. $500 to $1000 scholarship, is common Offering a scholarship to an intern at the end of a successful internship is an excellent way to secure their investment. $500 to $1000 scholarship, is common Consider your company’s typical recruitment costs and what you would have to pay full-time employee Consider your company’s typical recruitment costs and what you would have to pay full-time employee It may be that the internship effectively pays for itself by reducing your costs in other areas. It may be that the internship effectively pays for itself by reducing your costs in other areas.

8. Housing Most important facet of an internship arrangement. Most important facet of an internship arrangement. If student is not a local, he or she will likely need some help finding housing. If student is not a local, he or she will likely need some help finding housing. If you are responsible for finding your intern(s) housing, consider If you are responsible for finding your intern(s) housing, consider area crime rates, area crime rates, accessibility to goods and services, accessibility to goods and services, commuting times to and from work commuting times to and from work if your intern will have a car or if mass transit is available if your intern will have a car or if mass transit is available

9. Housing Continued Potential Sources of Housing Include: Colleges and university dormitory rooms Colleges and university dormitory rooms Some apartment buildings offer short-term leases. Some apartment buildings offer short-term leases. Many hotel chains now offer suite accommodations that can be rented weekly. Many hotel chains now offer suite accommodations that can be rented weekly. You may be able to rent a house or multi-room apartment. You may be able to rent a house or multi-room apartment. Residencies set up to serve this purpose can be found on a housing website. Residencies set up to serve this purpose can be found on a housing website. Request a city housing guide from chamber of commerce. Request a city housing guide from chamber of commerce.

10. Professional Conduct Provide your intern with a copy of an employee handbook. Provide your intern with a copy of an employee handbook. Communicating expectations will help the intern prepare for daily life on the job, including: Communicating expectations will help the intern prepare for daily life on the job, including: dress code, dress code, hours of company operation, and hours of company operation, and other requirements or expectations of employment. other requirements or expectations of employment. Make yourself available to answer any questions the intern might have. Make yourself available to answer any questions the intern might have.

11. Entrance Interviewing Arrange with the University to come in and do a presentation regarding operations Arrange with the University to come in and do a presentation regarding operations Follow up the next day with interviews. Follow up the next day with interviews. Companies may want to consider a formal screening interview process. Companies may want to consider a formal screening interview process. Have a representative conduct an interview. Have a representative conduct an interview. The interview gives participating companies a sense of the applicant’s compatibility level. The interview gives participating companies a sense of the applicant’s compatibility level. Students should provide a resume and a portfolio. Students should provide a resume and a portfolio. University officials encourage a reference check prior to hiring. University officials encourage a reference check prior to hiring. University contact information can be made available upon request. University contact information can be made available upon request.

12. An Intern on the Job Communicate with your intern in advance to be clear about expectations and specific job related criteria. Communicate with your intern in advance to be clear about expectations and specific job related criteria. Ask your intern what they would like to focus on. Ask your intern what they would like to focus on. Consider circulating the intern throughout your various departments Consider circulating the intern throughout your various departments Be clear with your intern about what they will, and will not, be doing. Be clear with your intern about what they will, and will not, be doing.

13. An Intern on the Job Remember that your student is seeking to learn and gain substantive experience in the industry. Remember that your student is seeking to learn and gain substantive experience in the industry. Make sure that the supervisor is willing to mentor your intern and understands your and the intern’s expectations Make sure that the supervisor is willing to mentor your intern and understands your and the intern’s expectations Consider scheduling a mid-term review Consider scheduling a mid-term review provide a formal opportunity for feedback provide a formal opportunity for feedback

14. After the Internship Perform an exit interview with your intern Perform an exit interview with your intern Encourage honest feedback about improving future internship opportunities. Encourage honest feedback about improving future internship opportunities. Ask your intern to share any reports or journals they have prepared. Ask your intern to share any reports or journals they have prepared. Have your intern do a formal presentation to the board or administrative staff on their experience. Have your intern do a formal presentation to the board or administrative staff on their experience. Also share your constructive feedback with the intern related to their job performance. Also share your constructive feedback with the intern related to their job performance. Mentor him or her and serve as a resource for industry information. Mentor him or her and serve as a resource for industry information. Offer to provide letters of recommendation and job leads Offer to provide letters of recommendation and job leads

15. Finally Don’t forget that when an internship is structured correctly and provides a satisfying experience for both employer and intern Don’t forget that when an internship is structured correctly and provides a satisfying experience for both employer and intern

16. Questions Contacts: Mary Poulton - University of Arizona (520) 621-8391 Steve Trussell – Arizona Rock Products (602) 271-0346