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    Overview:

    All Academy of Finance students are required to complete an internship typically performed in the summer following the junior year. This provides students with the opportunities to demonstrate public relations, communications, and technical skills necessary for employment in the financial services industry.

    A paid internship is not just a summer job. It is an extension of the Academy classroom instruction and curriculum, further developed and challenged in a business environment, supervised by business leaders in a real-world setting. This results in a broad, relevant, enriching educational experience for the student. Done correctly, paid internships provide the context in which a student's classroom learning is applied.

    But the paid internship doesn't stop at just applying classroom skills in a work environment. It also exposes the student to a broad view of work experiences and situations, which could be expected if the student were to pursue a career in that field. And, the student is also exposed to a broad array of soft, workplace skills: critical thinking, teamwork, decorum, ethics, creativity, time management, ingenuity, honesty, problem-solving, comportment, and a solid understanding of the importance of excellent written and oral communications skills. This combination of benefits provides a valuable foundation for any career the student chooses to pursue in the future.

    Students may search for internship opportunities that fulfill their career interests, but if need be students will be provided an internship by the Academy of Finance. Students will be evaluated by their employers at the midpoint and conclusion of their internship.

    The Internship Experience:

    The paid internship is perhaps the most memorable and critical component in the Academy experience for high school students. It is also one of the most rewarding, as it is the opportunity for students to apply, in a real-world setting, what they've learned in their Academy classes in the preceding years. To ensure that the students' paid internship lives up to expectations, all stakeholders must invest an appropriate amount of time and resources.

    The paid internship is an extension of the classroom instruction and curriculum, but the paid internship doesn't stop at just applying classroom skills in a work environment. It also exposes the student to a broad view of work experiences and situations, which could be expected if the student were to pursue a career in that field. The student is also exposed to a broad array of soft, workplace skills: critical thinking, teamwork, decorum, ethics, creativity, time management, ingenuity, honesty, problem-solving, comportment, and a solid understanding of the importance of excellent written and oral communications skills. This combination of benefits provides a valuable foundation for any career the student chooses to pursue in the future.

    While all internships are not the same, a typical Academy internship at MHS should include the following:

    1. It should last about six to ten weeks and should be at least 100-125 hours. The internship is generally completed during the summer between junior and senior year.
    2. The internship paperwork (time sheet, employee evaluation and reflection essay) must be completed by the end of September.
    3. Pay at least the current national minimum wage (pay will vary depending on industry and location).
    4. Provide the intern with a workplace supervisor who will guide the student through the work experience.
    5. Offer the intern opportunities to learn about many aspects of the business.
    6. Challenge the intern to think and solve problems.
    7. Enhance the work experience with professional development seminars or meetings
    8. Utilize skills learned in special Academy courses, as well as specific knowledge of the industry and its components.
    9. Include pre-internship preparation activities and post-internship instruction connected to student work experiences.

    The above is meant to serve as a guideline for the intern and internship provider, but every situation is different. If you would like to participate in the AOF by offering an internship to a student or if you have any questions about the internship experience, please contact John Driscoll (AOF Coordinator) at jdriscoll@manasquan.k12.nj.us.  He may also be reached at 732-528-8820 (x1832).

    The link for the internship description and evaluation paperwork is below:

     

    AOF Internship Experience

     

    AOF Internship Evaluation Form