Experiential learning is the process of learning through experience. This can range from conducting informational interviews or job shadowing a company, volunteering, or doing an internship. Experiential learning can help you learn more about the world of work and what you want to do after graduation as well as giving you the experience and skills to add to your resume and make you more marketable in the job market.

 Informational Interviews

An informational interview is a meeting with someone working in a field you are interested so you can learn more about the field and how someone in the field got their start. This is one of the most effective ways to find what it’s like to work in a specific occupation. 

Information on Informational Interviews

Job Shadowing

Job shadowing is a work experience option where students learn about a job by walking through the work day as a shadow to someone working in their field of interest. The job shadowing work experience is a temporary, unpaid exposure to the workplace in an occupational area of interest to the student. Meet with the Experiential Learning Coordinator to brainstorm companies to approach and strategies for a successful job shadow experience.

 Internships

Internships enhance the education of Red Rocks Community College students by placing students in work experiences related to their academic major or minor. The RRCC Experiential Learning Coordinator works closely with students and employers to match students’ skills and classroom training with positions in business, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. The Internship Program also works directly with faculty to ensure that internships meet the educational needs of our students.

Internship Opportunities

Visit Handshake to view current Internship Opportunities. Local organizations are adding new internships opportunities weekly. Need help finding an internship site? Meet with the Experiential Learning Coordinator to brainstorm potential internship opportunities.

What are the Requirements for an Internship?

• Red Rocks Community College Student
• One to two semesters of RRCC coursework
• Minimum GPA of 2.5

What are the Benefits of an Internship?

• Earn Credit
• Gain Experience
• Expand Your Professional Network and References
• Be First In Line for Related Job Openings

Where Do I Find an Internship?

• STEM Internship/Co-op/Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs)/Fellowship Opportunities
• Medical Experiential Learning Opportunities

What Do I Do After I Find an Internship?

• Make an appointment with the Experiential Learning Coordinator and attend an Internship Orientation. 
• You will not be able to register for your internship course until you have completed your Internship Orientation and required internship paperwork. 

Internship Paperwork

• Internship Enrollment Agreement
• Training Agreement
• Final Project Agreement
• Final Paper Guidelines
• Learning Objectives
• Learning Objectives Worksheet
• Planned Internship Schedule
• Timesheets (Semester Time Log or Monthly Notes and Timesheet)

 Volunteering

Every employer wants experience, but how do you get that experience? Consider volunteering. You can develop job skills and gain experience even when you are not receiving a paycheck. Plus, you can choose to spend your time helping an organization that supports a cause you are excited about!

Volunteering gives you the opportunity to try out the type of work you might consider for a career. What do you want to explore? Do you want to sample the medical field, education, television production or hospitality? Do you want to work with children, seniors, animals, art, computers or numbers? Do you want to work in an office, a school, a gallery or the great outdoors? Through volunteering you can gain experience in almost any field and help your community at the same time.

Volunteer Opportunities

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available throughout the community.  Below are some volunteer opportunities websites.

• Volunteer Match
• United We Serve
• Create the Good

Need help finding other volunteer opportunities? Meet with the Experiential Learning Coordinator to brainstorm potential volunteer opportunities.