TheEdisonAcademy

Career Experience

Students have a variety of options for gaining work and career experience as a part of their Academy education.   The following list details some of the career experience opportunities available to Academy students which serve to enhance their learning and preparation for the workplace. 
Individual Career Counseling - Students receive assistance in determining career direction through assessments of interest and aptitudes. They may also receive individual help to learn  job search skills, resume preparation,  interview skills,  and career etiquette.
Classroom Speaker Series - Area business and post secondary education representatives may visit Academy classes to present information on various career fields and to provide information on the employment outlook for those careers to help students make career decisions and to better understand the  “next steps” towards attaining their career goals.
Career Shadow Program- Shadow Day events occurs in the spring of each year.  Students are offered the opportunity to spend the day with a business representative, receive information about a specific career of interest, and get an inside look and overview of the company or organization. Interested students should complete a “I want to Job Shadow” interest form and prepare a resume to be considered for Job Shadow experiences.
Resume Writing/Critiquing & Interview Preparation - Students participate in a resume workshop in the Fall in their classes and develop a generic resume which they may customize throughout the school year as they attain new skills and experiences. Workshops focused on refining the resume and developing other Workplace Readiness Skills are also offered throughout the year.  A Mock Interview event is held in the spring with volunteers from business and industry who provide coaching for improvement of interview skills.
Internship Program - Internships are often offered by the business community.  The purpose of the internship program is to offer qualified students the opportunity to apply and build upon Academy course skills and knowledge in a live work place setting. Students build a resume of experience and gain additional knowledge to better prepare them for careers.  Internships are typically unpaid but occasionally do provide compensation for student learners.
Internship Application Steps
1. Discuss your interest in the program with your Academy teacher. Your teacher will have to recommend you to the Internship program.
2. Meet all eligibility requirements as stated below.
3. Download and complete the application forms in the Academy Internship Program - Student Packet. You may also obtain a Student Packet from the Academy Career Experience Specialist, Ms. Williford. Her office can be found in the Academy main office.
4. Distribute the teacher and counselor recommendation forms to your Academy Instructor and Counselor to be completed and returned to Ms. Williford.
5. It is also recommended that you prepare a resume and attach it to the Internship Application.
6. Submit Application and all required completed forms to Ms. Williford.
7. Schedule a meeting with Ms. Williford to discuss specific program requirements, expectations, your interests and goals and potential internship placements.
8. Prepare for your interview and internship experience.
Internship Eligibility Requirements
Maintain good academic standing in your academy classes; a grade of B is the recommended minimum average for the Academy class.
Maintain a good professional business attitude in the classroom, with the teachers, students and all adults.
Maintain a good record with little to no discipline action taken against you.
Demonstrate excellent school attendance; a 95% attendance rate is recommended.
Be recommended by your Academy instructor and base school counselor.
Provide your own transportation to and from the internship site.
Summer Work Experience Expo - Students looking for part-time employment or volunteer work experiences and internships in the Alexandria-Springfield area are invited to attend this expo which is held in the spring.  Retail, home improvement specialists, restaurants, and parks and recreation organizations are among the numerous organizations represented.