In an effort to attract and retain young talent in Greater Pensacola, the Pensacola Young Professionals (PYP), the Greater Pensacola Chamber and the University of West Florida College of Business (UWF) are linking local companies with talented and highly qualified young people.
Through Internship Pensacola, students will receive invaluable, real-world work experience and the chance for subsequent full-time employment. And businesses can tackle a large-scale project or initiative that they have not previously been able to accomplish, due to overworked staff or too many other pressing needs. They will also get a chance to evaluate the young academics on a limited-time basis with the option of permanently hiring their interns if desired.
“Out of our more than 65 IP graduates, nearly 40 percent have retained full-time employment with their original internship companies,†said Jonathan Thompson, PYP’s Administrative Coordinator. “Clearly, our partner companies are finding great talent, and IP is successfully helping to curb the exodus of young talent from our area.â€
Internship Pensacola seeks out local businesses that agree to create full- or part-time summer internships that are then offered to upper-level students who are entering their particular sector from UWF and other regional colleges and universities. Like many other internship opportunities offered by UWF, there will be a professional development course that is tied to this internship program.
Internship Pensacola is accepting position submissions from employers between now and the end of February. Student applications must be received by March 7, which will be followed by candidate interviews. The official 13-week summer internship period will run from May 12 to August 8, 2014. For more, visit www.InternshipPensacola.com or email Administration@InternshipPensacola.com