Career Development

Judy Muir, Director

Kinkaid's Career Development Program focuses on creating meaningful three-week internships for seniors during January's Interim Term. Embedded in this program is -- where possible and appropriate -- training in professionalism, resume crafting, and career counseling: professionalism - how to interact, to be appropriate, to make a good impression; resume crafting - the written form of these three concepts; career counseling - training in perspective on the process of organizing a student's life to make the most significant contribution, both personally and professionally.

Internships span a very broad spectrum of industry. In some cases, a senior will need to prepare a resume and interview for an internship; others may be required to attend special training programs pertinent to their fields or to pursue background reading to maximize the January experience. Though the majority of students remain in Houston, some assume interesting national or international responsibilities. Housing and transportation for out of town placements are the student's and his family's responsibilities.

Each student's work assignments, research, related readings and schedule are under the supervision of his individual sponsor. Student's schedules coincide with the work hours of the company; sports' participants must, however, leave in time for practices. Kinkaid does not permit a career intern to receive any remuneration. At the completion of an internship, each student writes a paper that describes the experience and helps to assimilate what was gained that might be carried into later career decision-making. Future students use these papers as guidelines to opportunities for their internships.

Sponsors fill out an evaluation form for their students at the end of the internship. Grades are based on a combination of this evaluation, the quality of the student paper describing the internship, plus other manifestations of student responsibility.

Internships offer a student an easy entry and exit into multiple opportunities. Internships develop more interesting and focused students and carry positive implications for personal and professional development, as well as for college admission and choice of college programs of study. Internships help students make informed choices grounded in active experience.

In addition, an internship provides a forum for developing a sense of a professional environment in a short time; therefore, a decision about prospective match between student and profession, and student and particular place takes shape. Relationships developed in internships provide a network for future opportunities -- for additional internships, for summer jobs, for specific jobs after college graduation, for recommendations along the way. Also of major significance is the comfort level developed for students by working around senior people in a business environment.

As a result of this internship program, Kinkaid seniors can graduate with experiences which help focus their academic training. Finally, the relationships with and exposure to senior management in the business world give Kinkaid seniors a head start. The power of relationships remains a constant in the business world, and the power of internships as a vehicle for creating relationships is substantial. The Kinkaid internship program offers immense opportunity for the focused and dedicated seniors who participate.