ATC is in the early stages of planning our 2017 St. Edward’s University Internship Program, and we are so excited to get started! Earlier this year, we sent out a member survey that was centered around our members’ knowledge of and interest in the program, and through this learned that nearly 70% of the respondents were completely unfamiliar with it. With that, I’d like to provide a high level overview of the program, as well as opportunities for you to be involved.
In 2015, ATC, in partnership with Civic Analytics, released its Tech Talent Labor Market study. In short, this study proved what we already knew: tech companies are struggling to fulfill their talent needs. There is a significant gap between the supply and demand of qualified candidates, and as more companies move to Austin, the gap continues to grow. One of ATC’s main initiatives is to discover ways and create programs that are focused on closing this gap. Hence the formation of St. Edward’s University Internship Program!
The concept is simple – think of it as an intern / company matching program. ATC member companies let us know what summer internship positions they have available and what kind of candidates they’re looking for. ATC then provides this list to St. Ed’s, and they forward along the resumes of candidates who match what our companies are looking for. Prior to this, these students attend courses and events where they’re prepared to effectively fulfill intern roles. They hear from hiring managers, professors, and employees about the positions, the companies, what to expect, and how to succeed. Long story short, we take the leg work out of hiring interns for our companies, and provide an opportunity for students to get their foot in the door at local, reputable companies. It’s a win-win for everyone!
The first step in kicking off this program is to identify companies who want to participate. There are a few ways to do so. First, let us know what internships you’re looking to fill in 2017. All types are welcome, and any details you have to share are appreciated (role, start/end date, pay, etc.). Next, if you want to speak at an event, we’d love to have you. As mentioned, there will be a handful of teaching/learning gatherings where the students hear from company representatives about the role, the company, etc. This also provides an opportunity for these budding minds to ask their questions and get honest, experienced feedback.
If you’d like to know more or are interested in participating, please let us know by filling out this quick survey. We hope you’ll take advantage of this unique opportunity to help grow both your company and Austin’s future workforce.