Ways to Gain Experience | HCC

Student Life

Ways to Gain Experience

Ask yourself - What am I doing today that will get me where I want to be tomorrow?

Goal of Experiential Activities:

  • Earn valuable experience needed for today's competitive workplace.
  • Confirm choice of major and clarify career goals.
  • Develop self-confidence and enhance your employability upon graduation.

Experiential Activities may include:

  • Cooperative Education and Academic internships (paid and unpaid).  HCC's eligible AAS programs are Business Administration and Computer & Information Technology.  Contact your academic advisor and see details below.
  • Non-credit Internships - Working for the benefit of experience gained. Check with Career Services on any known internships locally in addition to checking sites such as www.internships.com.  Check your HCC Handshake account for opportunities as well as job and internship alerts on www.indeed.com and www.linkedin.com.  For questions, contact HCC Career Services.  
  • Volunteering - Ways to make worthwhile contributions to an organization while at the same time gaining workplace experience. Volunteering pays much more than you think!  Check out some local volunteer opportunities
  • Part-time employment - gain transferable skills for future employment. Check your HCC Handshake account and update your profile to receive postings geared toward your interests.  
  • On-campus work through the Federal Work Study Program - Check with Whitney Laird, HCC's Financial Aid Coordinator for eligibility information. 
  • Job Shadowing - Observe professionals in the work environment and learn about their chose career field
  • Ready-to-Work Program - If receiving K-tap, contact the Ready-To-Work Coordinator for eligibility information. 270-831-9631.
  • Service Learning - teaching and learning process in which students use academic knowledge and skills to address genuine community needs. Listing of local community service agencies

Contact Career Services with any questions or how to get started! Angie Watson

Cooperative Education is offered by Henderson Community College to prepare an HCC student in Computer Information Technology and Business Administration for entry and advancement in the occupational area of your choice. Through co-op you can earn college credit and gain valuable work experience at the same time. Co-op is a partnership involving you, the college, and an employer.

The benefits to you for participating in the co-op program are:

  • Gain valuable work experience.
  • Earn both income and academic credit.
  • Confirm choices of major and clarify career goals.
  • Develop self-confidence and enhance your employability upon graduation.

To be eligible for the Co-op Program you must:

  • Be enrolled in an Associate in Applied Science Degree program or certificate with co-op as part of the approved curriculum. (See your academic advisor or contact the Career Services office for current information.)
  • Have completed at least 12 hours in an applied science degree program.
  • Have the approval of the academic program coordinator and your advisor.
  • Have a composite GPA of 2.0 or better.

In order to apply for the Co-op Program you will need to meet with your advisor to determine if and when a co-op work experience would be best for you. Following that meeting you will need to schedule an appointment with Angie Watson, Career Services Coordinator, and complete the necessary application form. The Career Services office is located in the Start Center, Sullivan Technology Center, Room 225.

You will work with the Career Services office and your advisor to identify appropriate employment opportunities. Potential employers will then conduct interviews. If hired, you may accept an approved position and complete the necessary forms in the Career Services office.

Registration for co-op can be done during regular registration periods, or it can be added to your schedule during the semester. Your advisor and Career Services Coordinator can assist you.
For each 80 hours of approved work experience, you can earn one hour of academic credit. The maximum amount of credit granted varies by curriculum. Determination of how many hours of work to attempt should be decided in consultation with your advisor. If you must work on a non-paid basis due to the constraints of financial aid grants or public assistance programs, you should inform your advisor and alert the Career Services Coordinator. After completing the necessary hours on the job, the work supervisor will evaluate your performance.
 

To earn a letter grade, you must successfully complete the required number of hours in an approved co-op job and receive an evaluation from your work supervisor.

For more information contact Angie Watson, Career Services Coordinator, in the Start Center at 270-831-9671.