Internship Program at Sw Global

The SW Global Internship Program is designed to serve a dual purpose – enable interns to provide useful assistance to the organization while also gaining on-the-job training that will assist them with their future
career search and choice.

Interns at SW Global go through an orientation process similar to that for new full-time employees. Incoming interns are therefore provided with information on the desired time frame of internship, the qualifications and skills sought by SW Global, potential activities that the intern will be undertaking (e.g. project based or job shadowing), expectations of the interns by SW Global and possible career choices for the intern on the basis of his/her capabilities and area of study. Work learning goals for the intern are clearly established and discussed. The hours of work and intern responsibilities are also clarified to the satisfaction of both parties.

1.Long Range Planning
SW Global’s internship program is predicated on a number of key elements to ensure its success. SW Global plans in advance for its internship needs in order to ensure that both student and company derive the maximum benefit from the partnership. In planning and implementing its internship program, SW Global considers some of the following - workload and the availability of intern projects, staff support, office space and financial resources. The screening and selection of the appropriate candidate is carried out taking into consideration the needs of the company in order to find the best fit with applying candidates. Notices of openings for interns are posted one to six months in advance of the expected start date.

2. Effective Supervision
SW Global is fully cognizant of the fact that internships are of a training nature. In view of this, a considerable time investment is made in our interns. Seasoned staff are carefully identified and selected to supervise interns. Supervisors of interns are encouraged to plan ongoing weekly meetings to stay up-to-date with the intern's progress.

3. Meaningful Assignments
SW Global’s internship program assigns challenging projects and tasks to students. Effective assignments are coupled with adequate supervision so as to provide an information resource and to ensure that interns keep pace with the demands of their position. Interns are fully included in all organizational events and are provided with opportunities for networking and informational interviewing with key personnel of SW Global.

4. Compensation/Legal Compliance
All of SW Global’s interns are compensated during the period of their internship with the company. Interns are taken on with the understanding that there is no promise of a job following the training.

5. Appropriate Documentation
SW Global believes strongly in the learning opportunity that internships provide to students. Mutually agreed-upon learning objectives are established for incoming interns from the onset of the program. Well-documented learning objectives are set to provide clear direction and targeted goals for the intern. These learning objectives are concise and measurable in order to ensure that both parties envision the same experience whilst reducing the possibility of misunderstanding and disappointment.
Other aspects of SW Global’s internship program are documented for ease of reference. These include internship job descriptions, eligibility and application requirements, compensation structures, supervisory roles, and supervisor/intern evaluations.

6. Compensation
SW Global’s internship program compensation package is based on receiving experienced volunteers. Most volunteer programs require volunteers to actually pay for their internship but SW Global’s offers compensation on the basis of the experience and skills set of interns. The compensation and benefits package is as follows:

• Competitive Cash Stipend
  
  
• Provision of basic accommodation
  
  
• Provision of transportation to and from work
  
  
• Availability of sponsor to take interns around Accra for a limited period of time.
  This facility may not be available throughout the entire internship period.

7. Evaluation
At the end of the internship period, there is an evaluation process to elicit feedback from SW Global interns. The evaluation focuses on the learning objectives that were identified at the start of the internship. Supervisors evaluate both positive accomplishments and weaknesses of the intern in order to be as constructive as possible. If an intern was unable to meet their learning objectives, suggestions for improvement are given.

8. Basic Requirements
To qualify for an internship at SW Global, you must:

• Be 21 years of age or older
  
  
• Have a University or 4 year College Degree
  
  
• Have excellent communication skills (written and oral English)
  
  
• A minimum six months commitment is required.

To apply for an Internship at SW Global, please send a cover letter and CV to interns@swglobal.com.