Q: How does the EPIC Internship process work?
A: An your invitation, an Epic Job Developer will visit your business to observe your employees and
what they do at work. As the Business Partner, you may have an idea of what tasks you think an
EPIC Intern could do. The Epic Job Developer may also look to identify additional tasks.
Q: What type of tasks can EPIC School students do?
A: EPIC student interns can bring a variety of skills to your business but, as a general rule, jobs that
are clear in their outcomes, somewhat repetitive in nature, and are essential to your business
typically work the best
- Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Scanning, filing, shredding, or collating documents
• Data entry for inventory or billing
• Assembly /Packaging
• Mailings, both large and small mailings
• Inter-office delivery
• Stocking/restocking inventory
• Food service including restaurant prep and bussing
• Others jobs that you need done correctly and done on time
Our collective goal is to find the tasks that could provide great benefit to your business.
Q: Who provides support and training to the student?
A: A trained EPIC staff member, the Job Coach, accompanies Student Interns to their internship.
The role of the Job Coach is to provide the hands-on-training necessary for the student intern to
learn the necessary job skills. As the student intern gains independence, the Job Coach is trained to
gradually remove his or her supervision. Over time, the goal is for the student intern to be as
independent as possible and, to the extent possible, interact directly with his or her Worksite
Mentor. Student Interns will be supervised 100% of the time when they are on your premise by
the Job Coach.
Q: Who is the Job Coach?
A: Our Job Coaches are trained staff members that not only aid in the hands-on-training
necessary for the Student Intern to learn the job task, but also to ensure the student intern’ s
safety and “well-being at all times.
Q: Would the business be obligated to hire the student at the end of the internship?
A: No. However, if the EPIC student intern met, or exceeded, your expectations, hiring is possible
but solely at your discretion.
Q: What is the Business Partner’s responsibility?
A: As noted, the EPIC Job Developer and the Business Partner collaborate to identify the
responsibilities of the EPIC Student Intern while at your business. EPIC then uses this information
to develop clearly defined instructional goals for the student intern. To ensure a successful
internship experience, it is important that work is available for the student on a regular basis
during his or her designated shifts.
Q: What is the business partner’s time commitment?
A: An on-site contact “Worksite Mentor” needs to be designated by the Business Partner to provide
feedback and act a resource for the student intern and their job coach. Although hands-on-training
is provided by the EPIC job coach, the Worksite Mentor serves as a model for appropriate work
place skills and provides direction and assistance to the student and job coach when necessary.
Q: What is the business partner’s financial responsibility?
A: None. Internships are generally unpaid training opportunities whereby student interns receive
school credit toward graduation requirements. The internships focus on experiential learning and
are expected to develop a set of desirable and/or marketable skills in the student intern.
Q: What is the school’s responsibility?
A: EPIC is responsible for ensuring that the student is successfully meeting the identified job
responsibilities. In addition, the job coach often acts as “translator” between the Student Intern and
his or her co-works and supervisor. EPIC is also responsible to ensure that the Student Internship
follows all regulatory requirements consistent with the New Jersey Department of Education, New
Jersey Department of Labor, Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Workforce
Development Child Labor Regulations, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Q: How are the students insured?
A: Student Intern’s and their Job Coaches are covered by EPIC’s insurance during all internships.
We are happy to provide a certificate of liability to our business partners for your records.
Q: What is the students’ availability during the week?
A: The internships take place during school hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:45am and
2:45pm .. EPIC will provide a school calendar to the Worksite Mentor and provide advanced notice
of any changes to the student’s schedule.
Q: How long and how often are the student’s shifts?
A: The length of the shift depends on the Student In tern’s prior experience and the business
partner’s requirements. In some cases, Student Internships may begin with one-hour shifts once or
twice per week In other cases, a more frequent schedule of internship will be most appropriate. As
a Student Intern gains experience, the frequency and duration of shifts may gradually increase to 3-
4 hours/day for 4-5 days/week The duration of each internship ranges from 4 months to 1 year as
a function of student progress and Business Partner’s satisfaction. At the start of the internship, all
parties will agree upon a schedule designed to meet both the needs of the business partner and
those of the student intern.
For more information, or to speak with a current Business Partner please contact Stephanie Sylvester, EPIC’s Transition Coordinator, at [email protected] or at 201-576-0600.