Employer Services

Below are some tips, information and links to help you get started and connected to our high quality candidates at BSU. If at any time you have questions contact our office.

• Review our Recruitment Policies and Procedures to ensure which programs are right for your organization.
• Create a free account on our Handshake job and internship database.
• Request a site visit or campus visit
• Get on campus and be active to gain and retain student attention.

Handshake

If you already have a Handshake account, please add Bridgewater State University to your list of schools you work with. You will then make your job and internship listings available to us and have access to registering for career fairs and on campus interview dates.

If you are not already using Handshake, create your company and profile. Once approved, you will be able to post your opportunities.

Bridgewater State University does not post or promote the following types of opportunities:

• Any part-time jobs or internships that occur in private residential homes are prohibited unless the residence is legally zoned for the purpose of conducting the business
• Employment/entrepreneurial opportunities with compensation packages requiring prospective employees to pay start-up fees, purchase a franchise, products or services upfront.
• Opportunities based on a “pyramid” or “multi-level” type networking structure requiring/encouraging the recruitment of others who recruit others to sell products and services.
• Babysitting or other In-Home jobs and/or internships where an employee would be working out of someone’s home or dwelling.
• Campus/Brand Ambassador Positions and similar roles that seek students to sell or market an organization or brand on campus are not considered full-time employment nor an academic internship.  They can be posted as a part-time job and must include an hourly wage (no payment by gift cards or merchandise)
• Placement Agencies/Organizations offering unspecified opportunities to teach abroad, teach abroad agencies based outside of the United States and those that charge for their services.
• Placement/Training Agencies or Organizations that provide training with no definitive or guaranteed job offer.

Alternatives for Posting These Roles

• www.care.com (Childcare/Home Care, etc.)
• BSU Guide to In-Home Learning Opportunities
• www.monster.com (General Job Board)
• www.snagajob.com (Hourly Work)
• www.upwork.com (Freelance Work)
• http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites (Local Jobs)

As the Employer, you are a partner in meeting the goals of an internship.

At Bridgewater State University, these goals are:

1. To bridge the classroom and the field
2. To provide opportunities for students to develop professional skill sets
3. To increase a student’s sense of civic responsibility, learning and engagement

To list your internship position with Bridgewater State University, please begin by creating a profile in our online recruiting system, Handshake.

The Role of the Internship Site Supervisor

Student interns are supervised by a staff person employed by the site organization. The site supervisor should have experience and expertise in the area in which the student is interning.

The employer should make available and/or act as a professional on-site supervisor in the work environment in the following ways:

1. Assign one designated on-site supervisor for each student intern. Assigning a specific employee as the intern's on-site supervisor provides the opportunity for efficient communication between all parties.
2. Provide the student intern(s), on company letterhead or via company email, a list of clearly defined responsibilities that complement the student's academic program. The student should have this list prior to registration for the internship course.
3. Set a work schedule with the intern that accommodates the number of hours needed to be fulfilled for the amount of credit being earned. In most cases the intern takes the responsibility of tracking their hours, but the internship site supervisor should review hours for the week.
4. Keep the number of clerical duties assigned to a minimum so that the student intern and the employer both benefit from this "trainer/trainee relationship." Duties should be hands-on, career-related responsibilities.
5. Inform the student about any and all company/organizational guidelines, policies and any safety issues prior to the student's start date. (An orientation program is highly recommended.)
6. Act as a mentor to the student intern(s), bridging the theoretical book knowledge with hands-on practical applications resulting in specific learning outcomes.
7. Provide the student intern(s) with daily or weekly feedback on their progress.
8. Complete a performance evaluation provided by the internship faculty advisor at the University. The standard timeframe for sending the evaluation form to the employer is mid-semester and two weeks prior to the end of the internship.

Site Supervisor's Evaluation of the Student

1. Site supervisors should evaluate students objectively and in accordance with established student assignments and responsibilities as agreed upon in the learning contract.
2. At the conclusion of the internship, the site supervisor should submit a written evaluation of the student's progress to the faculty advisor. This evaluation should reflect:
   • the intern's progress toward the goals and learning objectives stated in their learning contract;
   • the intern's ability to function as a contributing member of the host organization; and
   • the intern's personal and professional growth during the internship.

The internship site supervisor's final evaluation should be one to two pages in length and printed on the organization's letterhead. The original should be mailed to the faculty advisor and a copy should be given to the student.

Characteristics of a Legitimate Internship Site

Bridgewater State University defines an appropriate internship site as follows:

1. The internship site must be a legitimate business or professional site. The site cannot be in a private residence unless the residence is legally zoned for the purpose of conducting that specific business in which the student will be involved.
2. The internship site must be an established organization of business for a minimum of one year.
3. The participating employer must abide by BSU’s policy on discrimination and sexual harassment.
4. All internships must fulfill real company needs at the internship site. Likewise, the work assigned to students should be academically resonant and give students the opportunity to aptly apply concepts learned in the classroom.  Routine photocopying and envelope stuffing will not be considered a viable internship opportunity.
5. The intern’s responsibility should result in a measurable project or academic outcome by the end of the internship period.
6. The organization should be prepared to reasonably modify the internship according to the student abilities.

Legal Issues Involved with Internships

Employers/Organizations must be aware of and ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), before classifying a student intern as an unpaid "trainee." If a student intern is considered an "employee" for purposes of the FLSA, then the employer must pay its student interns at least the minimum wage. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division developed a six-factor test for determining whether workers are considered "trainees" under the FLSA:

1. The training is similar to that which would be given in a vocation school
2. The training is for the benefit of the trainee
3. The trainees do not displace regular employees, but work under close observation/supervision
4. The employer derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainee
5. The trainees are not necessarily entitled to a job at the completion of the training period
6. The employer and the trainee understand that the trainees are not entitled to wages for the time spent in training

For more information, please visit the Department of Labor.

On Campus Interviews

On-Campus Interviews connect top-notch candidates with employers interested in enhancing their campus visibility. We manage all aspects of your visit from coordinating an interview date, collecting resumes for your review and scheduling your on-campus interviews. Interviews are conducted on-campus during the fall and spring semesters each year. We encourage you to visit Bridgewater State University and meet with students first hand.

Internship & Job Fair

The Internship & Job Fair is a great way for employers to meet a large number of candidates looking for full-time professional positions and/or internships. Held each fall, this event is open to all Bridgewater State University students, alumni and community members.

Stem Career Expo

The Stem Career Expo is an opportunity for employers recruiting for a wide variety of opportunities in science, technology, environment and mathematics to meet with students from the College of Science and Mathematics to discuss available openings.

Education Career Fair

The Education Career Fair provides a unique opportunity for hiring personnel from public school districts and education employers across eastern Massachusetts to meet and network with top teacher candidates from Bridgewater State University and other area colleges and universities. This event traditionally brings together hiring personnel from over 40 schools and organizations with more than 200 students and alumni in attendance.

The Job & Internship Fair

The Job & Internship Fair, held each spring, is a great way for employers to meet a large number of potential candidates looking for full-time, professional-level positions and internships. Career Services provides a comprehensive marketing effort for the Job & Internship Fair so that employers can expect to see hundreds of candidates. This event is open to all Bridgewater State University students, alumni and the community.

Employer In Residence

Employers volunteer time and expertise to educate Bridgewater State University students regarding the world of professional employment and career management through individual resume critiques and career focused workshops.

Employer of the Month

Improve your campus visibility with students and faculty when your company or organization is highlighted on the Career Services website including company profile, logo, career opportunities and contact information.

Employer Advisory Board

This group brings regional recruiters on campus to discuss issues such as hiring trends, marketing strategies when working with students and faculty and ethical and legal issues regarding employment among other topics. This is a great way to stay connected to BSU. Contact our office to participate.

Practice Interview Program

The Practice Interview Program is a great way for employers to connect with students and volunteer. Students are given the opportunity to practice their interview skills and to obtain advice from the people who actually do the hiring in organizations and businesses.

Collaborative University Business Experiences (CUBEs)

The CUBEs program allows employers to partner with faculty in a variety of majors to sponsor a student project to help solve a business problem or need for your company.  Learn more about the program by clicking here.