WORK, LIVE, AND PLAY IN THE MOUNTAIN STATE.
*New* WV Internship Program
Building Talent Pipelines Between Students and Careers in WV.
New This Fall!
The WV Internship Program will partner with public and private sector employers to create new internships and strategically market existing opportunities to create viable pathways for students to launch their full-time careers in WV upon graduation. The program will aim to increase post-graduation retention in WV, enhance workforce development, strengthen university-employer partnerships, and provide students with valuable career experiences.
A full-time WV Internship Program Director, funded through the generosity of an anonymous donor, will work closely with WVU leadership, state agencies, and private sector partners to ensure the program's success and continuous improvement. While the program will be housed in the Chambers College of Business and Economics, this position will provide support to a cross-section of students and employers.
Program Highlights
- Creation of high-impact internship opportunities across public and private sectors
- Free consultative services for employers to develop and improve internship programs
- Strategic alignment with state workforce development initiatives, such as Ascend WV
- Career coaching and professional development for students
Employer Programming
The WV Internship Program will offer complimentary comprehensive consultative services tailored to meet diverse organizational needs. The Program Director will engage with businesses virtually or in person, facilitating discovery meetings and providing support throughout the internship lifecycle. Whether refining existing programs through strategic campus recruitment, enhancing internship structures, or building new programs with our Internship Playbook, we will ensure businesses maximize their internships' impact while nurturing future talent in West Virginia. The Internship Playbook includes resources such as discovery and planning worksheets, sample position descriptions, recruitment strategies, interviewing guides, offer and rejection letter templates, onboarding plans, engagement strategies, program evaluations, and management tips for supervisors.
Creating a prepared, professional, and engaged student pipeline is crucial for meeting employers' workforce needs. The Program Director will partner with Career Development Coordinators to ensure students have strong resumes, interviewing skills, and a thorough understanding of internship success factors. Marketing efforts will focus on promoting the value of working in West Virginia through Handshake, email, LinkedIn, social media, and more. Students can apply for the Internship Access Fund to help offset internship costs. During internships, students will receive tailored coaching and mentorship, and intern meet-ups will be organized in cities with a high number of interns.
How to Get Involved
For more information, please contact Kelsie Kittle, WV Internship Program Director, at kkittle@mail.wvu.edu.