We sat down with Brian, a former Program Director and now Learning & Development Specialist, to hear his thoughts and advice about becoming an intern at Sevita.
What do I look for in an Intern?
What do I look for in an Intern?
If I had to narrow it down, I’d say consistency and a real passion to learn.
We get a lot of college students and recent grads—especially those pursuing psychology or related degrees—and I think that’s great. Early in your career, you have that energy and that thirst for knowledge. The interns who do well here are the ones who come in ready to absorb everything they can.
If you’re pursuing a field connected to what we do, or you have a genuine interest in working with this population, that’s huge. This is meaningful work—but it’s also hard work. You have to really want to be here.
At Northway Academy, we work one-to-one with kids, so if you’re excited about working directly with children and supporting their growth, that’s going to make you stand out. If you’re just looking to complete internship hours, there are probably easier paths. But if you’re passionate about helping and being in this field, this can be incredibly rewarding.
We get a lot of college students and recent grads—especially those pursuing psychology or related degrees—and I think that’s great. Early in your career, you have that energy and that thirst for knowledge. The interns who do well here are the ones who come in ready to absorb everything they can.
If you’re pursuing a field connected to what we do, or you have a genuine interest in working with this population, that’s huge. This is meaningful work—but it’s also hard work. You have to really want to be here.
At Northway Academy, we work one-to-one with kids, so if you’re excited about working directly with children and supporting their growth, that’s going to make you stand out. If you’re just looking to complete internship hours, there are probably easier paths. But if you’re passionate about helping and being in this field, this can be incredibly rewarding.
What helps make someone stand out in the interview/hiring process?
Excitement goes a long way.
I can tell when someone truly wants to be in this field versus when they’re just checking a box. Show that you’re interested. Show that you want to work with this population. That matters.
I also think about the long term. When I’m interviewing an intern, I’m asking myself: Is this someone we could grow with? Could this internship turn into long-term employment?
We’re pretty flexible with schedules. Because we follow the kids’ schedules, every semester might look a little different for you—and that’s okay. I always tell interns: At the end of the semester, let’s talk. We’ll figure out what works next and match it up with our clients’ needs. Even if it’s just a few days a week after your internship requirement is complete, we may want to continue that relationship.
Excitement goes a long way.
I can tell when someone truly wants to be in this field versus when they’re just checking a box. Show that you’re interested. Show that you want to work with this population. That matters.
I also think about the long term. When I’m interviewing an intern, I’m asking myself: Is this someone we could grow with? Could this internship turn into long-term employment?
We’re pretty flexible with schedules. Because we follow the kids’ schedules, every semester might look a little different for you—and that’s okay. I always tell interns: At the end of the semester, let’s talk. We’ll figure out what works next and match it up with our clients’ needs. Even if it’s just a few days a week after your internship requirement is complete, we may want to continue that relationship.
Here's my advice for 'day one'...
Ask questions.
Ask as many as you want. I actually love when new interns ask questions because it shows they’re engaged. It shows they care and want to understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. That curiosity is refreshing, and it’s exactly what you should bring on day one.
Ask questions.
Ask as many as you want. I actually love when new interns ask questions because it shows they’re engaged. It shows they care and want to understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. That curiosity is refreshing, and it’s exactly what you should bring on day one.
What's the culture like at Sevita?
I love our culture here!
We do a hard job, and the only way we can do it well is by supporting each other. We lean on one another. We step in when someone needs help. That team mentality extends to our interns, too—you’re part of that support system.
Recognition is important here. We make a point to highlight what people are doing right and to show how we’re improving and growing. Because we give feedback consistently in our model, we’ve built a culture where feedback is normal and ongoing. There’s a lot of verbal praise, a lot of acknowledgment. We’re intentional about saying when something is going well—not just when something needs to be fixed.
I love our culture here!
We do a hard job, and the only way we can do it well is by supporting each other. We lean on one another. We step in when someone needs help. That team mentality extends to our interns, too—you’re part of that support system.
Recognition is important here. We make a point to highlight what people are doing right and to show how we’re improving and growing. Because we give feedback consistently in our model, we’ve built a culture where feedback is normal and ongoing. There’s a lot of verbal praise, a lot of acknowledgment. We’re intentional about saying when something is going well—not just when something needs to be fixed.