FutureFWD Internship Program
EXPLORE CAREERS. GAIN EXPERIENCE. MOVE YOUR FUTURE FORWARD.
FutureFWD is a paid summer career exploration and internship experience that gives recent high school graduates the opportunity to discover career pathways, gain meaningful workplace experience, and build the confidence, skills, and connections needed for what comes next.
Through hands-on internships, career exposure, professional development, and connections with industry professionals, students don’t just learn about careers, they experience them.
EXPLORE. PREPARE. CONNECT.
DISCOVER WHAT’S POSSIBLE.
You don’t have to have your entire future figured out.
FutureFWD gives students the opportunity to explore their interests before making important decisions about college, training, majors, and careers.
Students step inside real workplaces, meet professionals, take on meaningful responsibilities, and experience different career environments firsthand.
Along the way, they begin answering important questions:
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What am I good at?
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What careers interest me?
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What kind of workplace is right for me?
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What skills do I need to succeed?
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Who can help me get there?
01. EXPLORE
Discover Career Possibilities
Explore industries, professions, and career pathways through workplace exposure, conversations with professionals, career experiences, and hands-on learning.
02. EXPERIENCE
Step Into the Workplace
Gain paid, real-world experience with a WrightChoice employer partner. Students contribute to meaningful projects, learn workplace expectations, and experience what it means to be part of a professional team.
03. PREPARE
Build Your Professional Toolkit
Develop the skills employers value through professional development experiences focused on:
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Professional communication
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Workplace etiquette
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Resume and interview preparation
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Networking
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Financial literacy
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Confidence and self-advocacy
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Teamwork and problem-solving
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College and career readiness
04. CONNECT
Build Your Network
Meet professionals, employers, mentors, and community leaders who can provide career insight, encouragement, introductions, and access to future opportunities.
Because sometimes the difference between knowing what you want to do and knowing how to get there is having the right person in your corner.
Career pathways may include:
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Healthcare & Public Health
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Business & Finance
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Government & Public Service
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Construction & Skilled Trades
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Technology
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Human & Social Services
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Arts, Media & Communications
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Education
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Community Development
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Law & Public Policy
Placements vary each year based on student interests and participating employer partners.
REAL STUDENTS. REAL WORKPLACES. REAL EXPERIENCE.
Their future looks different when they can see themselves in it.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
FutureFWD is designed for recent high school graduates who are ready to explore their future and gain real-world experience.
We’re looking for students who are:
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Curious about career possibilities
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Ready to learn and grow
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Interested in gaining professional experience
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Willing to step outside their comfort zone
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Ready to develop workplace skills
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Committed to completing the summer experience
You don’t need to know exactly what career you want. That’s what exploration is for.
EMPLOYERS: HELP MOVE A FUTURE FORWARD.
Great careers often begin with someone opening a door.
FutureFWD partners with employers throughout Central Ohio to provide young people with meaningful workplace experiences that introduce them to careers, build professional skills, and expand their networks.
Employer partners can:
HOST an intern
EXPOSE students to career pathways
MENTOR emerging talent
PROVIDE job-shadowing and workplace experiences
CONNECT students to professionals and opportunities
INVEST in the future workforce
By becoming a FutureFWD partner, your organization isn’t simply providing a summer experience, you are helping a young person imagine and prepare for what’s possible.