The document discusses strategies for strengthening internship programs, focusing on MassMutual's IT Academy program. It provides background on MassMutual and its partnership with a local high school. It then details best practices for the IT Academy program, including recruitment, preparing interns, ensuring work and learning experiences, community building, and profiles of former interns discussing the program's impact. The goal is to take the internship program to the next level by engaging interns in real work, learning opportunities, mentorship, and networking to attract diverse talent and support career development.

1. Pam Mathison | Shane Robitaille | MassMutual
Mary Kay Brown | High School of Science & Technology
1
Taking Your Internship
Program to the Next Level!

2. Goals for Today
• Background Information
• Strategy
• Best Practices
• Q&A
2

3. Check-in
• Who is with us today?
• What would you like to take away from this session?
• What are you currently doing in this space? (internships)
3

4. MassMutual Financial Group
• Fortune 100 Company & Fortune’s Global Most Admired
• 162 year old mutually-owned insurance company
• Headquarters in Springfield, MA
• Operations in Enfield, CT, Memphis, TN & Phoenix, AZ
Our products:
• Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Retirement
Services, Long Term Care Insurance
4

5. High School of Science & Technology
• A Magnet high school with 1,400 students
• High drop out rate and low graduation rate
• 85% free and reduced lunch
• 9th Grade Academy (transition support to high school)
• Four career academies
– AOIT
– AOF
– AOE
– Allied Healthcare
5

6. MassMutual & High School of Science & Technology
6
MassMutual HSST

7. IT Academy Video
Produced by 2012
IT Academy interns
7

8. Community Responsibility Education Strategy
8
1985
1992
2008
2013

9. Education Strategy & Career Pathways
9Education Grants (6-12)
JA-in-a-Day (all 9th graders @ Central, HSST & Commerce)
PSAT Exam free ~ 10th grade
Academic Achiever Awards & Clubs (10-12)
Building Your Future Conference (10-12)
JA Stock Competition (10-12)
Career Pathways Mentoring (10-12)
Internships (10-16)
Scholarships
Springfield Business Leaders for Education
High School of Science & Technology
Advisory Councils
Advanced Placement (AP) Strategy
FTE
JA Job Shadow Day (10-12)

10. History of IT Academy
• For over a decade, MassMutual’s IT Academy has provided summer
internships in information technology for select Springfield high school
and local college students who are MassMutual Scholars or Academic
Achievers.
• In 2010 the IT Academy program underwent a major overhaul,
designed to establish a strong pipeline of diverse, entry-level talent.
• In 2012 we saw the number of applicants increase by over 150%.
Additional internship positions (44 total) were added.
• In 2013 we have over 60 interns working in the IT career field.
10

11. Today’s IT Academy
• Today’s IT Academy is a series of integrated, collaborative and
progressively more challenging experiences that can take place over
the course of up to six summers.
• While younger students focus on exploration of IT as a potential career,
more experienced college interns work on honing their professional and
technical skills in preparation for entering the workforce.
11

12. IT Academy Recruitment & Preparation
• MassMutual Academic Achievers, 10th-12th grade
• Achiever Club Promotion & In-School invitation letter
distribution
• Positions posted on REB website
• Apply for 5 positions
• Student preparation
• IT Academy Fair (pic here)
• Interview Selection & Offers
12

13. IT Academy Fair 2013
13

14. Funding and Positions
• 25 positions (12 high school, 13 college) that are centrally funded this
year; 35 positions are funded via department or project funding
• Positions run at $4 - $6k per position - $11 per hour for high school;
$15 per hour for college
• Of the 25 centrally funded positions, 7 are reserved for preselected,
high-caliber interns from last year, who have demonstrated an
aptitude and interest in information technology.
• Manager Recruitment, Training, & Ongoing Support…
The “who” matters
14

15. DILO at MassMutual
Day In a Life Of……..
Internship Program Coordinator
• Wear many hats
• Time
• Passion
• My other job
15

16. Beyond a Work Experience
• Work
– Imbedded in real jobs, in all types of roles, across the
enterprise
• Learn
– Provided with a variety of learning opportunities via
classroom and project-based experiences
• Grow
– High school interns are mentored by college interns; all
interns are provided with advisors (MassMutual
employees)
– Help make connections to areas of interest 16

17. Work Experience
• Work
– Interns are imbedded in real jobs, in every type of role,
across the enterprise, doing real work
– Exploration: High school interns usually work in a
supporting roles
– Skill Building: College freshman and sophomores work
in more advanced roles
– Skill Refinement: College juniors and seniors will often
drive specific work efforts
17

18. Learning
• Power Lunches
– Industry-related topics; subject matter experts provide
overviews on a variety of technology and business
topics
• Public Speaking Lunch & Learn Jams
– Interns participate in a Toastmasters public speaking
workshop
• Technology Training
– Free access to online classes and books; classroom
learning for Microsoft SharePoint and other software
18

19. Learning
• TEDTalks
– Interns hone their presentation skills by watching
selected TEDTalk videos and discuss presentation
techniques
• 20-Day Challenge
– College interns work as a team to develop and publish
learning content for high school inters
– Themes with specific learning goals
– Each challenge requires action
– Online and physical discussion
19

20. Learning
• High School Project
– Work together to
develop a cohesive
presentation for the end
of the summer
– Very collaborative and
empowering
– Specific roles are
defined (e.g., project
manager, content
writers, digital media
production, etc.) 20

21. Learning
• College Freshman
and Sophomore
Project
– Specific roles are
defined (e.g.,
project manager,
content writers,
digital media
production, etc.)
• Research and report
21
Theme Content
Leadership What contemporary leaders do you admire and why?
How can we develop new leaders for the company?
What about leadership energizes you? Scares you?
Social Media How does Generation Y use social media to make purchasing
decision? What companies do you follow on social media?
Why?
Big Data, Privacy, and
Generation Y
What are Generation Y’s expectations around privacy in a
digital world?
Innovation How to develop an innovative culture?
How can leaders grow innovation?
Gen Y and Career
Planning
What kinds of companies attract you? What kinds of
opportunities are you striving for in your first five years of your
career?
Getting Ready for the
Workforce
How can companies help prepare today’s youth for tomorrow’s
careers?
Social Media,
Gamification, MOOCs and
Learning: Using
Technology for Learning
How can technology assist in educating a workforce?
Schools, Companies and
Learning
How can businesses work with high schools and colleges to
better prepare students for the workforce?

22. Learning
• College Junior and
Senior Project
• Specific roles are
defined (e.g., project
manager, content
writers, digital media
production, etc.)
• Engage company and
industry experts
• Development
solution(s) for business
22

23. Grow
• High school interns are
mentored by college interns
• Interns are provided with
advisors (MassMutual
employees)
• Advisors help make
connections to areas of
interest
• Stretch goals are emphasized
• Ninjas
23

24. IT Academy Community
24
One calendar for
all activities and
meetings

25. IT Academy Community
25
Announcements
Nominate peers for ninjas!

26. IT Academy Community
26
20-day Challenge
Open Discussion

27. 20-Day Challenge
27
Informational
Collaborative
Social

28. HSST Best Practices
• Career Development Focus & Priority
– Workplace Readiness Certificate Program
– The 6 R’s
• Career Development/Internship Teacher
• Student Assessment & Screening
• Student Outreach & Preparation
• Guidance Intervention & Advising
• Mentor Worksite Support & Intervention
• Case Management
28

29. Working with our business partners
Do as the Romans Do…
•Build Trust & Rapport
•Timely Responses
•Open Communication & Follow Through
•Anticipate Needs of the Company Partner
•Consistency
29

30. Profile – Bhuwan
High School of Science & Technology, Class of
2013.
Clark University, Freshman year
Years of IT Academy Internships: 2013
“My internship experience has a profound effect on
me.”
“It is helping me to solidify my career choice, build a
network with peers and possible future employers,
and develop skills.”
“It’s amazing to see the work that I’m doing being
used and impacting millions of customers.”
31

31. Profile – Raul
High School of Science &Technology, Class of 2012
Wentworth Institute of Technology – Sophomore Year
Years of IT Academy internships: 2011-2013
“My intern experience has impacted me a greatly.”
“It has given me a chance to develop as an individual and
truly see what being a part of workforce is.”
“I believe that the workshops, advisor meetings, and
projects that we do throughout the internship have
prepared me for the future. For example, the advisors are
always there to support you and encourage you in your
life goals.”
34

32. Profile – Raul
35

33. Profile – Annie
37
High School of Commerce, Class of 2010
Babson College, Senior Year
Years of IT Academy Internships: 2010 – 2013
“ Out of the numerous achievements and programs
that MassMutual Financial Group has to offer, the IT
Academy is by far one of MassMutual’s greatest call to
glory, and a great source of pride for the company and
the interns who are given the honor to participate.”
“The IT Academy has and continues to impact the
professional lives of dozens of young adults in the
Western Massachusetts community.”

34. Profile – Julia
High School of Science & Technology, Class of
2013
Westfield State University, Freshman
Years of IT Academy: 2012 – 2013
“My past internship helped me understand that no
matter where you work, visual organization, and
design in general helps the team.”
“This year’s internship is giving me a direct view of
how it will be like later on in my life with the major I
am going for.”
“This internship helped me determine that this
career field is something I would like to do.”
40

35. IT Academy
QUESTIONS???
41

36. © 2012 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Springfield, MA 01111-0001. All rights reserved.
www.massmutual.com. MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance
Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives.
X000 000
CRN000000-000000
42