EXTERNSHIPS
Laurus Technical Institute has worked with over 350 externship sites in the Atlanta metro area within the last three years. Externships provide students with the opportunity to obtain real world practical experience working with an employer. Students often have a job opportunity upon completion of their externship.
What is an externship?
An externship is a portion of the program that requires students to work with an actual employer for 160 hours or four weeks. During the externship, students gain exposure to a real work environment related to their area of occupational training. The externship gives the student the opportunity to review their career goals while allowing the site to examine the student's potential interest, skills and competencies.
How does the externship help the students?
Externs are not paid, but the experience greatly benefits both the students and the extern site and often becomes an employment opportunity for the student once they have completed the externship. The externship is intended to help students improve their skills and knowledge in an actual work environment, and also helps students to clarify their career goals. The externship provides students with a professional contact and reference for a future employer.
What can the student expect to do during the externship?
Employers evaluate students on attendance, appearance, attitude, and aptitude. The student's professional conduct is essential. The school provides the student with a list of externship objectives to complete over the duration of the externship. The externship site may decide additional objectives or criteria are required for students to participate. In addition to the student's externship objectives, externship sites are encouraged to provide students with the following opportunities:
- Observe and ask questions
- Conduct informational interviews with owner and co-workers
- Attend meetings and other functions
- Work directly with or observe interactions with customers and clients
- Assist with projects
- Provide career guidance to students
