Venturing out into the foreign world of real life jobs that have an entrepreneurial focus is a navigation nightmare for college students just looking for a chance to explore the vast amount of opportunities available to them, but it's not just the students that are having a difficult time, it's the businesses as well. While searching for the perfect candidates to take on internship positions integral to their success, companies more often than not find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place, incapable of procuring their ideal pairing. Luckily for both hiring organizations and potential interns alike, the newly revamped Internship Match Initiative spearheaded by Foster.ly, a collaborative, community-oriented platform for entrepreneurs in the D.C. area, is the answer to their connection woes.
In the name of hooking up future entrepreneurs who seek internship opportunities with startups and other entrepreneurial organizations in the areas surrounding D.C. who offer them, Foster.ly's Internship Match has expanded its scope this year. It is forging the way for a new innovative take on internship coordination that is easier and more accurate than ever before.
After talking with Adam Zuckerman, the man, the myth, the legend behind Foster.ly's success in cultivating the growth of entrepreneurship in and around the District, it has became clear that this Internship Match Initiative could prove to be the missing link between universities and the D.C. Tech community. It is the beginning of an effort "to help bring people outside of the region to come back here," said Zuckerman.
The Internship Match Initiative is made up of two primary components which include the transfer of information as facilitated by Foster.ly as well as an online internship expo built in cooperation with Brazen Careerist's virtual career fair platform.
Here's how it works as described on Foster.ly's website:
- Whether you're a potential intern or a hiring organization, fill out your respective application by following the "Apply Now" link below. Depending on how quickly you type, you should be able to complete the application process in ten or twenty minutes. If you're an internship applicant, we recommend that you have your Foster.ly profile URL handy before you begin the application.
- Foster.ly will conduct a manual review of the received information and will provide the participating organizations access to the full applicant data set as well as a list of potential matches via e-mail.
- Organizations and applicants connect on their own to schedule interviews and make offers on their own schedules. We recommend taking part in the Online Internship Expo to connect with hiring organizations.
In terms of qualifications for potential interns, you must be 18 years or older as of May 1, 2013, located or willing to move to the DMV area, and have completed a Foster.ly profile. For organizations, you must either be considered a startup or an established business with entrepreneurial aspects.
Costs are in accordance with the honor system (a huge plus for startups who can barely afford the space they are living in as is). For applicants it's free and for hiring organizations it is either free or $250 depending on your financial situation. The advantages here are key for businesses just getting their feet off the ground.
Currently Foster.ly has already partnered with a slew of D.C. area higher education facilities including: American University, Georgetown University, Startup Hoyas, George Mason Center For Social Entrepreneurship, The George Washington Office of Entrepreneurship, Howard University, Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Maryland, Dingman Center For Entrepreneurship, and Virginia Tech, National Capital Region. They are hoping to foster more collegiate connections in the near future.
So if you are looking for interns or are a student in search of the latest in greatest job experience opportunities, submit your application today. Application submissions close on Tuesday, March 5 at 5:00 pm, so the sooner you get yours in, the better. Also, don't forget to put Tuesday, March 19 on your calendar as the date for Foster.ly's online internship expo powered by Brazen Careerist. It will take place from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on that Tuesday.
Also, for your enjoyment, here are some people you probably don't want to end up working with:
