Employer Services

Recruiting Our Students

Step 1: Register as an employer on Handshake (Las Positas College Internship & Job Board). Services are FREE! See this helpful guide, Getting Started with Handshake: Employers.

Step 2: Once approved as an employer,  you can post job openings and/or internship opportunities.

Step 3: Find out about and register for upcoming Career Center hiring events.

Hiring Interns

What Is an Internship?

Internships are structured career preparation activities designed to enrich and expand classroom learning for students and to help meet an organization’s goals. Students work in an internship for a defined period of time to participate in and observe work first hand within a given industry.

Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP)

In partnership with the California Student Aid Commission's Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP), Las Positas College offers wage reimbursement to qualifying local employers who hire student interns to work in career-related capacities.

LAEP

An Internship Should Offer the Following:

• Supervision and ongoing feedback provided by a professional in the field
• Clearly defined learning objectives
• Orientation, training, and/or an onboarding process
• A safe environment with the necessary tools to perform the learning objectives
• Work that is not meant to replace an employee
• Compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and with EEOC laws

Duration and Hours

Internships require a commitment for a defined period of time, typically a semester or summer. If interns are enrolled in college, classes are a top priority for them. Typically, internships require about 8-15 hours per week during the fall, spring, or summer terms. Paid, full-time internships may be offered during the summer.

Compensation

Las Positas College encourages paid internships for students. Compensation can start at minimum wage; top earners can make $26 per hour and more, based on experience and type of industry. If for-profit employers consider unpaid internships, they must be in compliance with the FLSA Fact Sheet 71.

Posting Your Internship

Register as an employer on the Las Positas College Internship & Job Board. When approved, you can post the position.

Developing an Internship Program

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, employers find internship programs attractive because they bring in fresh perspectives, create a pipeline for new hires, and provide mentorship opportunities for existing employees. For best practices in developing an internship program, please consult the following resources provided by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE):

• 15 Best Practices for Internship Programs
• Key Items to Document for Your Internship Program
• Toolkits Provide Key Information to Interns, Managers

Academic Support

Students can earn credit for internships by enrolling in the course, WRKX 94 Occupational Work Experience/Internship—a win-win for employers and students. In WRKX 94, students work with their instructors and supervisors to develop learning objectives they will achieve during their internship. They also learn work skills important to all employers: communication, customer service, time management, honesty/integrity, interpersonal skills, motivation/initiative, teamwork, analytical skills, flexibility/adaptability, technology, job knowledge, and professionalism/work ethic.

Partner Through Other Work-Based Learning Activities

Work-based learning is an educational strategy that provides Las Positas College students with real-life work experiences. During these activities, they are able to apply their classroom learning and increase their employability. This link between the classroom and the work place cannot happen, however, without the partnership of the region’s employers. Work-based learning is a commitment by both the College and the employers to develop our students into a better, more successful employee.

Learn more about these opportunities by visiting our Work-based Learning pages.

Participating in Advisory Boards

Las Positas College’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs prepare students for skilled trades in a wide range of occupations. These programs offer students a career path that starts in a high-wage, middle-skilled job – the jobs that employers often find hard to fill. To learn more about the College’s CTE program, visit the program website.

Each of the CTE programs includes an advisory committee. In today’s rapidly changing work environment, the College uses these committees to keep a pulse on changes in the workplace, both in technologies and industry developments. Information that is brought forth in these committees is used to improve the program curriculum, making our students that much more employable.

In order for these advisory committees to work as they are proposed, each program needs to have participation from industry representatives. They meet only once or twice a year and are a great opportunity to both gain and impart insight for the betterment of the programs. For more information on these advisory committees, please contact the Program Manager, Vicki Shipman.