Internship Programs at Ventura College

The Internship Program at Ventura College (IP at VC) is a semester-long program to which both students and employers apply to be matched (if possible). The internship may be paid or unpaid, for credit or non-credit. The Career Center will help place the student, monitor, and work with the employer. We will provide both students and employers with orientations, evaluations and surveys, in addition to helping each student with their professional development along the way.

*Keep in mind, students will be asked the three top industries/employers they would like to be placed with. The Career Center will try their best to match each student to an employer which meets their needs.

How To Apply:

Meet:  Schedule an appointment with the Career Center to receive application instructions and discuss internship options and procedures.

Network:  Let people know you are looking for an internship in your field.

Research:  Explore internship opportunities with Handshake (our online job board) and on the internet. Do research on the internship site that interests you.

Learn:  Find out as much as you can about the industry you are interested in including the top 3 organizations you would like to apply by contacting other students, alumni, or employees who have worked there.

Prepare:  Create or update your resume and cover letter, obtain feedback from Career Center and schedule a mock interview.

Apply:  Email your cover letter and resume along with a brief description about the industry you would like to find an internship in and why (include the top 3 companies you would like to intern for). The Career Center will help you connect with an employer to find placement.

Follow Through:  If necessary, follow up at an appropriate time via email or telephone call.

The Career Center can help facilitate both paid and unpaid internships for credit for all students. Internships for credit must align with the coursework associated with a student's program or major. Some internship courses may be built-in to your program of study. 

The number of credits earned will depend on the length of the internship. For example, a 1 unit credit internships will be 75 hours long, 2 units will be 150 hours, and 3 units will be 225 hours, over the length of one semester. 

*Please keep in mind, no matter which type of internship course a student registers for, they will be required to pay for the course. 

See below instructions on how to sign up for an internship course for credit. Please also view the section "Internship Enrollment Deadlines" for information on future terms.

Career Education Program Internships

• This program is for Ventura College students currently enrolled in a Career Education program

• Successful completion of a minimum number of units and/or prerequisites may be needed prior to enrolling in the appropriate internship course and receiving credit. Please check with your Course Professor or Program Chair to ensure you meet the requirements

• Internships must be registered prior to the student's start date. Internships cannot be registered retroactively

Career Education Program Internship Courses

How To Apply:

Meet:  Schedule an appointment with the Career Center to receive guidance and discuss internship options and procedures.

Network:  Let people know you are looking for an internship in your field.

Research:  Explore internship opportunities with Handshake (our online job board) and on the internet. Do research on the internship site that interests you.

Learn:  Find out as much as you can about the organization you would like to apply to by contacting other students, alumni, or employees who have worked there.

Prepare:  Create or update your resume and cover letter, obtain feedback from Career Center and schedule a mock interview.

Apply:  Complete the internship application then submit your resume and cover letter to the contact person for the position. If necessary, follow up at an appropriate time via email or telephone call.

Follow Through:  Once you have been selected, contact your Program Chair or Course Professor to register for the appropriate course so that you can receive academic credit.

Contact:  Contact the Career Center to complete the necessary paperwork. The Career Center will then connect with the employer and ensure that all paperwork including learning objectives and evaluation forms are submitted.

The LAEP allows a participating student placement in an educationally beneficial position that relates to the student’s area of study, career objective, or the exploration of career objectives. The program includes and emphasizes positions for students with employers that are capable of providing them with full-time employment opportunities after graduation, or opportunities to connect with other employers that are capable of providing them with full-time employment opportunities after graduation, within their areas of study.

Eligibility

Eligible students are from an underrepresented background and meet all of the following criteria:

• At least half-time enrollment at a participating public postsecondary educational institution
• California resident classification
• Satisfactory academic progress in a program leading to a degree or certificate
• Demonstrated financial need
• Eligibility to work in the U.S.

How To Apply:

Meet:  Schedule an appointment with the Career Center to receive application instructions and discuss internship options and procedures.

Network:  Let people know you are looking for an internship in your field.

Research:  Explore internship opportunities with Handshake (our online job board) and on the internet. Do research on the internship site that interests you.

Learn:  Find out as much as you can about the industry you are interested in including the top 3 organizations you would like to apply by contacting other students, alumni, or employees who have worked there.

Prepare:  Create or update your resume and cover letter, obtain feedback from Career Center and schedule a mock interview.

Apply:  Email your cover letter and resume along with a brief description about the industry you would like to find an internship in and why (include the top 3 companies you would like to intern for). The Career Center will help you connect with an employer to find placement.

Follow Through:  If necessary, follow up at an appropriate time via email or telephone call.

S:AIL in STEM's Student Internship Program expands internships and experiential work-based learning in collaboration with Ventura College's Career Services, STEM community advisory boards, and industry leaders to connect Latine/a/o and other historically marginalized students to real-world experiences that augment classroom learning.

*Student must meet certain requirements to be eligible for the S:AIL in STEM Program

For more details about the program, please visit here.

How To Apply:

Meet:  Schedule an appointment with the STEM Student Internships Contact, Adrienne Arguijo-Morgan to receive application instructions and discuss internship options and procedures.

Network:  Let people know you are looking for an internship in your field.

Research:  Explore internship opportunities with Handshake (our online job board) and on the internet. Do research on the internship site that interests you.

Learn:  Find out as much as you can about the organization you would like to apply to by contacting other students, alumni, or employees who have worked there.

Prepare:  Create or update your resume and cover letter, obtain feedback from Career Center and schedule a mock interview.

Apply:  Once you have been approved for the program, email a brief description about the type of internship you are interested along your cover letter and resume to the STEM Student Internships Contact. They will be able to help you find an internship placement.

Follow Through:  If necessary, follow up at an appropriate time via email or telephone call.

Employer facilitated Internships are internship programs in which the student applies directly through the employer and does not receive college credit. These internships may be paid or unpaid depending on the company which is facilitating the internship. Pay close attention to internship application deadlines as they are often far in advance.

Recommended Internship Search Platforms:

Start your internship search with the VCCCD Online Job Board:

    Handshake (Log-in using your VCCCD credentials)

Additional Websites:

    First Hand

    Idealist

    LinkedIn

    Parker Dewey

    Way Up

How To Apply:

Meet:  Schedule an appointment with the Career Center to receive guidance and discuss internship options and procedures.

Network:  Let people know you are looking for an internship in your field.

Research:  Explore internship opportunities with Handshake (our online job board) and on the internet. Do research on the internship site that interests you.

Learn:  Find out as much as you can about the organization you would like to apply to by contacting other students, alumni, or employees who have worked there.

Prepare:  Create or update your resume and cover letter, obtain feedback from Career Center and schedule a mock interview.

Apply:  Complete the internship application then submit your resume and cover letter to the contact person for the position.

Follow Through:  If necessary, follow up at an appropriate time via email or telephone call.

Here's two PDFs that outline the best practices you can use when searching for employment on our job board, handling job offers and when considering job search safety: