The Career Intern Program in Livonia offers an exclusive, invitation-only opportunity for high-achieving, college-bound senior high school students to gain invaluable real-world experience. This competitive program, requiring a minimum GPA of 3.0 and successful completion of an interview with the program coordinator, is designed to provide a strong foundation for future academic and professional success.
What is the Career Intern Program?
The Career Intern Program (CIP) is a unique work-based career exploration initiative specifically tailored for motivated and academically strong high school seniors planning to attend college. It provides non-paid internship placements across a diverse range of professional fields, allowing students to explore potential career paths firsthand. The program is meticulously structured to match student interests with available opportunities, ensuring a relevant and enriching experience. Students in Livonia and surrounding areas have benefited from placements in various sectors, including prominent hospitals and medical centers, within the City of Livonia government itself, district courthouses, respected law firms, and veterinary hospitals, among many others. This breadth of options underscores the program’s commitment to accommodating a wide spectrum of career aspirations.
The Career Intern Program is divided into two sequential courses, Career Intern Program 1 and Career Intern Program 2, each offering distinct credit and hour requirements, allowing for progressive engagement and learning.
Course Offerings:
Career Intern Program 1
- 1859 (1 Credit)
- 1857 (1.5 Credits)
- 2857 (1.5 Credits)
- 2859 (1 Credit)
Career Intern Program 2 (Prerequisite: Completion of CIP 1 and coordinator approval)
- 2858 (1.5 Credits)
- 2860 (1 Credit)
Immersive Internship Experience
Students accepted into the Career Intern Program typically embark on their internship journey during their senior year, earning between 1.0 and 1.5 credits per semester. This academic recognition is coupled with practical work experience, requiring approximately 12-16 hours of engagement per week at their assigned internship site. A typical week involves four days dedicated to on-site work, providing a truly immersive professional environment. The fifth day is uniquely structured as a seminar day, where interns convene with the program coordinator. These seminars are crucial for project work and focused development in essential professional skills, including effective communication, collaborative teambuilding, and articulating clear career goals. Furthermore, a key component of the program is the development of professional portfolios. These portfolios serve as tangible evidence of the skills and experiences gained, proving to be invaluable assets for college applications and scholarship opportunities.
Skill Development and Program Focus
Beyond the specific skills acquired within their chosen internship field, all participants in the Career Intern Program benefit from a curriculum intentionally designed to cultivate crucial transferable skills. The program directly addresses and enhances communication proficiency, fosters effective teambuilding capabilities, and builds resilience in overcoming adversity. Interpersonal skills are also a core focus, ensuring interns develop the emotional intelligence and social adeptness necessary for professional success. The program encourages students to be receptive to new ideas and adaptable to change, preparing them for the dynamic nature of the modern workplace.
Eligibility, Application, and Student Responsibilities
Juniors demonstrating a strong academic record and a clear drive for higher education are invited to apply for the Career Intern Program. Selection is based on a holistic review process that considers GPA, educator recommendations, and performance during a personal interview with the program coordinator. This multi-faceted approach ensures that students who are not only academically capable but also possess the maturity and motivation to thrive in a professional internship setting are selected.
The application process is initiated during the junior year, with application packets distributed at a dedicated school assembly typically scheduled in February. Interested students are required to complete and submit this application packet to be considered for the program.
Participating interns are responsible for maintaining a daily journal documenting their internship activities, providing their own transportation to and from their internship sites, and adhering to the dress code established by their respective internship placements. To assist with transportation, interns will receive a parking permit for their internship locations.
By participating in the Career Intern Program in Livonia, high school seniors gain a significant advantage, stepping into their college years and future careers with practical experience, refined skills, and a clearer vision for their professional paths.
