business backgrounder | education & workforce internships , apprenticeships , job shadowing and mentorships .
Erika Borg , senior advisor to AWB Institute , worked on the project and says , “ The portal is the only state-wide employer-led workforce solution that looks to pair Washington businesses with Washington students . So many students don ’ t know the wide range of possibilities out there , and an internship through the portal can help young people start to make their way in the world .”
Any Washington state business can use the portal to post opportunities , and in several counties — Clark , Pierce , Spokane , Thurston , Benton and Franklin — the Workforce Portal is already successfully underway . Brooke Myrland , from the Tri-Cities Regional Chamber of Commerce , has been working through the portal to directly connect employers to students at Columbia Basin College and WSU-Tri- Cities , a strategy that is paying dividends and expanding opportunities .
“ The portal is an amazing — and free — platform for employers to use , even those who don ’ t have an existing internship program . We provide a work-based learning toolkit , social media toolkit and sample forms to follow . We walk alongside employers to get set up ,” says Myrland . “ The portal is a one-stop shop to find great candidates without an employer needing the resources to attend job fairs or other timeintensive forms of outreach . You don ’ t even have to leave your desk .”
For employers , the Workforce Portal also offers a cost-effective way to evaluate potential future employees and find students with special skills or knowledge to assist on current projects . “ Interns offer tech savviness and younger , fresher perspectives ,” Myrland says . They ’ re eager to solve problems , fulfill a purpose , and serve as company ambassadors .”
Borg also notes , “ An effective internship program gives businesses the opportunity to be proactive in building their own potential employee pipeline while supporting young people in envisioning the type of careers they might want .”
This is particularly true for first-generation college students ; students who are Black , Indigenous or from other communities of color ; or students from rural areas for whom an internship may be their first time learning about a particular career path .
Students who use the portal have the chance to network with professionals in their chosen field , gain hands-on experience , explore career options , and develop transferable skills . The AWB Institute has also partnered with higher education institutions throughout Washington , and with the State Board of Technical and Community Colleges , so
career counselors and teachers know about the portal and can help students use it to transition to the world of work .
“ All of us have memories of our first job or internship . Those are transformative moments in a young person ’ s life . Internships make it possible to learn quickly about what you do or don ’ t want to do ,” Borg says .
Much of the portal ’ s ongoing success will hinge on employers , students and educators across the state using it to connect with one another . The sign-up process is free and simple . A registration page prompts new users for personal information as well as basic details on their company or educational institution . From there , the matchmaking begins .
Already , hundreds of students and educators have registered , and hundreds of businesses have posted opportunities . Borg says , “ As employers , the portal is our chance to give back and help the next generation get their start in the workforce through a meaningful internship experience .”
Are you an employer interested in learning more about the Workforce Portal ? Visit www . washingtonworkforceportal . org today for more information and to post your company ’ s internship opportunities .
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