One of Portland’s hottest technology firms has teamed up with Portland Workforce Alliance, Worksystems and Portland Public Schools to offer career days and paid summer internships to Portland high school students.
Elemental Technologies is hosting two PWA career days in 2015-16. Each career day gives about two dozen PPS students a behind-the-scenes look at software engineering, marketing and finance at Elemental, as well as a chance to try out some coding and talk with employees about their education and career paths.
NEXT ELEMENTAL CAREER DAY: THURSDAY, APRIL 21
Elemental also plans to offer up to six paid internships during the summer of 2016 to high-school-aged students. PPS students who attend this year’s Elemental career days may apply. (See below.) These internships will be administered through SummerWorks, Worksystems’ highly regarded employment program for youth ages 16-24. The internships will provide exposure to different aspects of the company, both technical and non-technical.
INTERNSHIP APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS MARCH 28
Below you’ll find more details and FAQs about who is eligible for these career-learning experiences and how to register or apply.
Elemental Career Days and Internships: FAQs
Who can register for Elemental Career Days? All juniors and seniors in Portland Public Schools are welcome! Space at the Thursday, April 21 career day is limited to about 22 seats, so students should contact their career coordinators right away for registration information.
Why is Elemental offering an internship program? The company aims to support education and diversify the tech community’s local pipeline of talent through many strategies, including by providing high school students with career-learning experiences. Elemental intends to reach under-represented communities and support a diversity of youth (gender, race and socioeconomic) from throughout the city through its community programs.
Who is eligible for Elemental’s internship program? This is a smaller, separate opportunity created by Elemental and run by SummerWorks. PPS students who attend an PWA Career Day at Elemental in 2015-16 are eligible to apply and be considered for a limited number of internships (students must be at least 16 years old and legal to work in the U.S.) Under guidelines set by SummerWorks and PPS, priority in the competitive application process will be given to students in SummerWorks’ target populations, such as students who are lower-income or under-represented in the tech workforce. SummerWorks’ Youth and Parent Information packet is here. Please direct further questions about student eligibility for internships to SummerWorks. Thank you!
How should PPS students apply for an internship? SummerWorks’ application period opens March 28. Here’s what students need to know:
- Students who attended the October PWA Career Day: Fill out SummerWorks’ simple online application by the regular program deadline on Monday, April 18. Be sure to list PWA as the community referral partner: This enables SummerWorks to “find” the applicants in their system for this particular opportunity.
- Students attending the April 21 PWA Career Day: We encourage you to apply promptly (see above). However, SummerWorks will briefly extend its regular deadline for students who attend this career day. More information will be available at the career day.
- To apply and learn more: www.worksystems.org/summerworks
What will students do during their internship? SummerWorks says the internships will last 180 hours, typically over 6-9 weeks. Interns will be exposed to different aspects of the company, both technical and non-technical. These internships will also incorporate career-exploration activities such as tech tours at local companies and brown-bag lunches with Elemental leadership, so that youth can explore where their career interests might lie.
Where can I get flyers or other promotional materials to share with students? Go to Elemental’s listing in our events calendar to get flyers and a student backgrounder.
How can I learn more about PWA career days? Visit our career day page or check out this flyer about PWA career days at Portland technology firms.
What about Rosemary Anderson High School? Elemental has a special relationship with Rosemary Anderson High School, a community-based alternative school. It may select a few RAHS students for summer internships through a separate referral process.
