The Internship Program Application

Welcome to the Internship Program Application!

Please read everything carefully. If you have any questions about the Internship Program application, please email Shakina Kirton, Program Operations Manager, at skirton@futuresandoptions.org for help.

What is The Internship Program?

The Futures and Options Internship Program provides New York City high school students with critical work-readiness training and the opportunity to gain firsthand work experience as interns with a dynamic range of business partners. Futures and Options interns work in paid, mentored internships that best match their skills and interests.

Who is eligible to participate in The Internship Program?

Students must be enrolled in high school in New York City and be at least 16 years old; have a valid working card; and be eligible to lawfully work in the United States. If you are not able to work in the United States, please reach out to us to learn about alternative programming at skirton@futuresandoptions.org

The School Year Internship Program Details

The School Year Internship Program takes place after school, between September and June. During the school year, students work 5 to 10 hours per week. Most school year internships are a total of 75 - 100 hours.

School-Year interns are required to attend the following activities BEFORE they can start working:

• 2 Orientations
• 1 Financial Literacy Workshop

School-Year interns are also required to attend:

• One Reflection and Future Planning Workshop that will be scheduled towards the end of your internship

In addition to the required workshops, School-Year interns must also complete a post-Internship survey at the end of the program.

School-Year interns will have the opportunity to attend 2 Career Exploration field trips, where they will learn about specific industries and network with professionals.

The Summer Internship Program Details

The Summer Internship Application will close February 9th, 2024. The Summer Internship Program takes place over 6 weeks in July and August. During the summer, students work between 20 to 30 hours per week. Most summer internships are a total of 120 - 150 hours.

Summer interns are required to attend 2 Orientations BEFORE they can start working.

Summer interns are also required to attend 6 Career Development Workshops that take place weekly in July and August. If you are not able to attend workshops, you cannot apply to The Internship Program.

Summer interns are also required to complete a post-Internship survey at the end of the program.

Where does The Internship Program take place?

Internship opportunities are in-person, hybrid, and remote. The number of virtual opportunities we have each season depends on the needs of our business partners and students.

Program workshops will be in-person at the Futures and Options office at 111 Broadway in Manhattan.

What are the expectations for students in The Internship Program?

1. Demonstrate Professionalism:

• Attend all scheduled activities on-time including all work hours, meetings, interviews, and workshops
• Respond promptly to internship supervisor and colleague communication - including responding to emails and texts, and answering/returning calls
• Keep camera on when working virtually
• Submit all timesheets on due date

2. Meet all Program Expectations

• Meaningfully engage in all workshops, meetings, and interviews - including participating in activities and discussions
• Work all scheduled internship hours
• Respond promptly to all Futures and Options communication, including responding to emails and texts, and answering/returning calls
• Submit the post-program survey upon completion of the program

3. Support Futures and Options’ Core Values

• Set high expectations for yourself and others. Strive for excellence, and make a positive impact
• Create an environment where all feel welcome. Foster a culture of equity and inclusion
• Show utmost respect for yourself and others at all times
• Demonstrate a high level of integrity both on a personal and professional level

What are Futures and Options Responsibilities to Interns?

• The Futures and Options team will work to make sure that you are placed in a professional environment, where you are welcomed and will gain professional skills
• We will do everything we can to match you to an internship that is in line with your interests and skills
• Every intern will be matched with a Futures and Options Coordinator who will answer any questions you have, help you address any challenges that arise, and will support you throughout your internship experience
• Our Business Engagement team will work with our internship sites to prepare them to work with you effectively
• We will treat you with respect, listen to you, and give you tools to be successful in your internship!

What do I need to apply?

• Complete the online application, including all essay questions
• Upload your most recent transcript or report card
• Upload your resume
• Provide one reference from a teacher or other professional at school, or from a supervisor you have worked with at a job, volunteer work, extracurricular activity, or internship.
• A working card if you are under the age of 18. If you already have a working card, you can upload it on the following page. If you do not have a working card and are under the age of 18, please review information below about how to get one. You must upload your working card before you can be interviewed for The Internship Program.

What can I expect after I submit my application?

• After your application is reviewed, you will be notified about whether or not you will be moving forward to interview with a Futures and Options team member.
• If you are selected to interview, it is important that you sign up for an interview slot as soon as possible after receiving the email invitation. Interview spots fill up quickly and we cannot guarantee that additional interview times will be added once they are full.
• After your interview, you will be notified if you are accepted or not into The Internship Program. If you are accepted, you will be added to a pool of students who are eligible to be matched to an internship. You will be contacted if an internship placement matching your experience and interests becomes available. An internship placement is not guaranteed, because we have more eligible students than positions.
• If you are matched to an internship, you will interview with the site supervisor. In some cases, applicants may interview at several internship sites before they are hired.

All applicants under 18 years of age, must submit a working card before they can schedule an interview

If you do not have your working card and are under 18, you should begin the process to obtain this document as soon as possible. Please read the steps below or visit the NYC DOE website.

1. Fill out the working card application with section 1 completed and signed by a parent. You will also need:
   • Birth Certificate
   • Certificate of physical fitness completed by a NY State physician
2. Submit all materials to the designated person in your high school. You can also speak with a guidance counselor or a school administrator for further assistance on obtaining your working card.

We look forward to reviewing your application and helping you gain paid work experience!

This application is for the Summer Internship Program

The following questions about skill levels in specific areas help us create programming and later will help us match each student to a suitable internship. The experience levels that you select does not impact your eligibility to be accepted to The Internship Program.

Please indicate your skill level for the questions below with 0 indicating no experience and 5 indicating a lot of experience.

If you are accepted to the internship program, but not matched to an internship this season, your application will be kept on file for future opportunities, including internships in upcoming seasons (summer or school year).