Frequently Asked Questions
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General
The Script is an initiative of The Contingent (formerly Portland Leadership Foundation), an Oregon nonprofit organization, which has been active in scholarships for underrepresented students for more than 10 years, with a focus on empowering the underserved. Our vision is to see a transformed and strengthened community through the development of multicultural leaders.
Interns
The Script Intern Program is designed to connect talented college students of color and of lower socioeconomic status, with paid, leadership-track internships.
Our company partners agree to work toward hiring a qualified candidate from The Script as an intern at their organization for the summer. The Script recruits and supports participants, and facilitates the selection process, as well as community-building and learning opportunities throughout the summer internship. Through this strategic partnership, The Script and our partner companies are committed to strengthening and developing diverse leadership for our region.
For 2024, the following are some key dates and deadlines related to the Internship program:
- January 16th, 2024 – Student application deadline
- January 16th, 2024 -Company MOU deadline
- February 16th, 2024 – Company Position Profile Deadline
- February 24th and March 2nd – Mock Interview Events
- April 2024 – Companies interview finalists
- May 1st, 2024 – Intern offer deadline for companies
- Late May, 2024 – Company Orientation
- June 2024 – Intern Orientation
Phase 1: Recruitment: Fall/Winter
- Companies agree to partner with The Script and to host a summer intern by signing the digital Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and submitting the program fee.
- The Script team recruits college talent in the fall and winter. Our intern application is open from November to mid-January, and includes self-reported skills, personal short essays, and a professional resume.
Phase 2: Screening: Winter
- Once committed to The Script partnership, organizations provide an internship position profile (job description), including skills needed, preferred experience, internship hours/duration/time frame, and all related information for the intern position.
- After an initial screening, we invite qualified applicants to our annual Mock Interview event held in late February/early March. At this required event, intern candidates experience a group-style behavioral interview in which The Script team performs evaluations.
Phase 3: Matching: Spring
- The Script team uses these evaluations, along with the information on the student’s application, and begins our matching process based on the information company partners provide us about their internship positions and needs. We find the best-suited candidates and supply 3 finalists to the company for each posted position.
- In April, the company arranges finalist interviews with these candidates and makes an offer or declines the applicants they do not accept. Host companies make the final hiring decision on The Script Intern by May 1 and choose a start date, usually in June.
Phase 4: Internship Cohort: Summer
- In May, The Script hosts a company orientation.
- In June, the Script hosts an intern orientation and provides pre-internship coaching for internship success.
- Internships take place in summer with periodic training events, feedback evaluations, and ongoing coaching and inspiration.
- Interns participate in a series of Professional Development (PD) workshops from June to August to expose them to leadership training and opportunities to network with professionals.
- Company partners also have the opportunity to convene to build community, learn, and share knowledge.
All internships are:
- Leadership-track internships with meaningful, project-based work suited to college students/recent grads
- Paid (minimum $18/hour for 2023) by the host company
- Full time, at 30–40 hours per week
- 10–12 weeks in summer, typically running June–August
- Host company provides an individual mentor who meets regularly with the intern to offer guidance
- Intern participates in The Script programming over the summer, which includes attending professional development events, and routine reports.
The Script internships fall within five main industry/fields:
- Marketing & Communications
- Tech
- Business & Entrepreneurship
- Operations & Projects
- People & Engagement
- Finance and Accounting
Click here to see the full list of Job Groupings and subcategories.
The Script companies choose the most appropriate job grouping and subcategory for their internship position, and intern candidates select the groupings they are seeking positions within/that best align with their field and career interests.
At this time, there is only a summer intern program.
The Script matches eligible college students with paid internships at top Portland Metro-area and Southern Oregon companies. This includes current undergraduate students as well as recent graduates (within one year of graduation) who are looking for experience.
The Script candidates are:
- Current college student or recent graduate who are from, studying or living in Oregon and Southwest Washington
- Identify as a person of color (BIPOC) or are from a lower socioeconomic rural area
- Committed to investing in their growth by participating in The Script development and community-building opportunities
The Script company partners are:
- Organizations across the Pacific Northwest region
- Represent various industries, sizes, years of experience, and company cultures
- Committed to fostering leadership diversity in our region and continually working to build a more equitable and inclusive workplaces
- Agree to host an internship that meets The Script program requirements
Our interns are selected not only for their smarts, but for their desire to grow as leaders. The companies that are hosting interns have a sincere desire to broaden the representation of the full Portland Metro and Southern Oregon communities in their workplace. And they’re looking for new pipelines of talent. They’re looking for someone just like you to bring a new perspective.
Most internships are in Portland, but not all of them. In the past we’ve had positions in Vancouver and locations around the metro area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Lake Oswego. More recently, we have expanded and now offer internships in Southern Oregon! The application has a place for you to identify if you are willing to take an internship outside of Portland.
Our desire is to connect college students and recent college graduates (within one year) who have a strong connection with Oregon and Southwest Washington to internships in the region (please note most internship opportunities are in the Portland Metro area and Southern Oregon). The idea is that students from underserved communities who grew up in the area will return to their respective homes after graduation to build a career. Additionally, for those that have made Oregon and SW Washington their home during undergraduate or graduate studies, they will see themselves making this the place to build a career and participate in the community. As such, we currently accept applicants who are from Oregon and SW Washington and attending school anywhere, and those who are from any other location, but who are attending a higher education institution in the region and planning to look for career opportunities here.
Yes, we accept applications from DACA recipients.
Unfortunately, The Script internship currently lacks the capacity to support international students (F-1 visa) in the work authorization process. Thus, we have made the difficult decision not to consider international students for placement. We regret this disappointing situation and commit to continuing to develop systems and build our capacity to be able to support international students in future cycles of our program.
Students can apply for a TS internship while currently attending college or up to one year after undergraduate graduation. Students must have completed a minimum of one year of college coursework to be eligible. That can be at a community or a 4-year college.
While students currently enrolled in grad school can apply, we caution that our internship program is designed specifically for undergraduate students and recent graduates (within one year). Certain internship positions may not be able to accept grad students for their positions.
At this time, we do not coordinate credit for TS internships, but interns are free to discuss this with their company and school once they have accepted the internship.
There is no application fee. What it takes is your time and effort to complete a quality application, engage in our application and selection process, and participate in TS programming during the summer if placed as an intern.
Most internships run 10-12 weeks with scheduling flexibility to accommodate school calendars. These are generally full-time internships working 30-40 hours/week.
That depends on your interests, goals, career ambitions, and the company’s internship needs. Companies agree to provide work that is important to their goals and a senior leader as a mentor. Whatever specific work you do in your TS internship, it’ll be relevant to the organization and insightful for the intern.
Encouragement from The Script to interns begins at the interview event. You’ll be treated professionally and will gain experience in interviewing and networking through the process. Students who are selected for an internship will have a senior leader mentor in their company. During the summer, TS will host gatherings to support and inspire you on your path to becoming a professional and workshops on topics such as resume creation, networking, and other professional development topics. TS will continue to act as a support throughout your internship experience and beyond.
- Submit an online application before the deadline of January 16 (Check out our social media for updates), including a resume and essay questions. Your application will be screened to see if you meet the minimum requirements.
- If you pass this first screening, we’ll invite you to an interview. This is a required step for all candidates to move forward in the selection process. Interviews will be divided into sessions on two Saturdays: February 24 and March 2.
- Staff members will then evaluate your application, resume, and interview results to match 3 students to each internship opening as finalists for the company to select from. Students who apply are not guaranteed an internship.
- In April, if you’re matched to an opening, you and up to 2 other candidates will be contacted by the company to set up a final selection interview. Final interviews and offers will take place in April and are the decision of the company that is offering the position.
- In June, you’ll attend an orientation to set you up for success in your 10-12 week internship.
You will be notified following the January 16th application deadline if you are invited to the interview event.
We will only accept resumes that are one page in length and PDF format, and it is best not to use a lot of graphics or custom fonts. Your career center is a great resource to help you create and review a professional quality resume.
The purpose of the event is two-fold. First, it gives you a chance to hear more about our program and to gain experience in an interview situation. This is an opportunity to improve your skills and to network with the ambitious students and supportive professionals at the event. From day one, you are part of The Script’s family.
Second, it provides staff with feedback from interviewers on the way you present yourself and your readiness for an internship. Throughout the event, the focus is on building you up and on giving you feedback to make you an even stronger candidate. We want to reassure you that, yes, TS really does want you as an intern at a top company.
The interview event is required. If you are unable to attend for a valid reason, we will talk to you about an alternate way to accomplish the interview.
The application deadline is firm, and the online application may be completed from anywhere you have access to it. There is a mandatory interview event in late February/early March for all students who are selected to move forward in the selection process. Students must also be available (by phone or Skype/Zoom, etc.) if they cannot be present to participate in a final interview if invited to compete for a particular internship.
Following the interview event, The Script’s staff completes an intensive matching process and may not be able to reply to inquiries about your status. You’ll know in April if you’re a finalist for one or more internships. Applicants are not guaranteed a finalist interview.
There is no guarantee that finalists will be offered an internship. It is a competitive process and the company will ultimately decide who to interview and who to hire. Offers for internships are given directly to the intern by the hiring company. All offers are expected to be made by the end of April.
Yes, you're welcome to reapply! In fact, we encourage you to apply each year through graduation. Your skills will be building, and new internships will open up as TS grows.
Many companies will renew their internships, and others will have openings in different departments. While we don’t know for certain what the needs will be, you can take a look at the company partners from last year and the list of internship categories below to anticipate the types of internships that will be available. The full list of Job Groupings is available here.
You will have an opportunity to indicate a few internships that are of primary interest. TS will try to match you with your preferences, but the staff will also match students to other internships where they see a good fit. Keep an open mind; some of the best internship opportunities are with companies you may not be familiar with.
Associates
You will receive an email from The Script staff 2-3 weeks after the application deadline indicating whether or not you have been selected to continue in the orientation process to become a member at this time.
The Script events are quarterly opportunities for all Associates and Mentors to come together. These events will have workshops with guest speakers that will present on topics within the four focus areas. There will also be opportunities to engage in subject matter related to growing as a Mentor and Member. The Script events aren’t only for personal and professional development, but also a space that will allow for connections to be made outside of Mentoring Circles throughout the wider community.
Mentors and Members commit to attending at least two Script Events each year while involved in a Circle.
Once you complete the application and orientation process, you will begin your Mentoring Circle experience:
- Engage in a 1-year commitment to Mentoring Circles
- Each Circle meets monthly with 3 mentors and 7-9 mentees
- Attend at least two quarterly Script (Intentional Networking) Events while enrolled in a Mentoring Circle
- Complete annual Social Mobility Scorecard (reporting & accountability tool)
The Script strives to connect diverse rising leaders to meaningful opportunities and share valuable information focusing on financial education, leadership development, wealth building, and civic & community engagement.
The Script is a network of historically underrepresented college graduates from communities of color and low-income rural areas in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Members are young professionals/recent college graduates, who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and commit to build wealth and grow professionally through The Script.
No. The role of the mentor is not to provide financial advice or services. Rather, mentors provide support and walk alongside Script members as they work to grow in the focus areas of financial education, professional/leadership development, wealth building and civic & community engagement.
Mentoring meetings are virtual/video meetings. Given physical/social distancing and safety guidelines and precautions, programming has been designed for a fully virtual format. The possibility of including options for in-person meetings and events at a future date exists, but there is no expectation or plan for Mentoring Circles to meet in person at this time/until further notice.
You are only asked to share information like debt, savings, how much you earn, etc., with The Script via the secure Portal and surveys/reporting tools, to track your progress and measure impact. This is to help YOU stay accountable and understand how you are moving through your social mobility experience.
Growth is a process; real change takes time. Once fully oriented as a member, you will begin a 1 year Mentoring Circle experience. (See time commitment question.) Over your first 12 months as a member, if you put in the effort, you will set strong foundations to reach your long-term goals.
After the first year, The Script members are asked to stay engaged by attending quarterly events and providing updates on their progress through surveys/reporting. There will also be other optional ways to engage in overtime based on identified needs.
We will keep up with you and support you as you reach the next stages of your wealth building and leadership journey. If you tap in, The Script community will walk alongside you as you progress in your professional and wealth building journey for years to come. We’re all in.
Following the application process, the orientation phase will require investing:
- 2 hours attending The Script Member Orientation
- Approximately 10 hours of financial education through the online financial fundamentals course (2.5 hours/month in the first 4 months of circle engagement)
During the first year of membership, you’ll commit to spend at least:
- 1-2 hours monthly participating in mentoring circle meetings
- 1-2 hours attending quarterly (intentional networking) events
- Approximately 30 minutes of surveys/reporting per quarter
Members do not need to have any finance-related background, or come from a specific industry or profession. Members and Mentors represent all fields, including but not limited to: Finance & Accounting, Business & Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Communications, People & Engagement, and Tech.
Students who hold a Bachelor’s and are currently enrolled in grad school, or have received a postgraduate degree within the last 5 years, are welcome to apply.
The Script Associate members must hold an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree at the time of application.
By our current requirements, Members should have graduated with a 2-year or a 4-year degree within the past 5 years and be 18-35 years of age; OR hold an undergraduate degree and are currently pursuing a postgraduate degree and be under 40 years of age at the time of application.
Our desire is to build a network of leaders who have a strong connection to the region; leaders who see themselves making this the place to build a career and participate in the community. As such, we currently accept applicants who have a significant connection to Oregon or Southwest Washington (such as they are from/grew up in; and/or attend(ed) high school/college in Oregon/SW Washington). We want to ensure that the leaders of Oregon and Southwest Washington reflect the people who live here.
The Script is an initiative of Oregon-based nonprofit The Contingent.
No; but all Members have a strong connection to Oregon or Southwest Washington. Our vision is to see today’s college graduates of color and low-income rural graduates close current income and wealth gaps and increase wealth and social mobility so that Oregon and SW Washington’s community leaders reflect our region’s growing and diversifying population.
The Script Associates is a network of historically underrepresented college graduates from communities of color and low-income rural areas in Oregon. Members are young professionals/recent college graduates, who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and commit to build wealth and grow professionally through The Script.
Managers
Diversity is needed at every level of every business. Through The Script, regional companies will soon gain access to the strongest and most diversified mid-level professional candidates.
The Script Manager Program is currently in development for exceptional candidates who show true leadership promise. Rising professionals will learn to sharpen their strategic and problem solving skills at regional companies that are committed to building a strong and inclusive management team.
Stay tuned for more.
Executives
Nothing shows a company’s commitment to inclusion better than diversity at its most senior levels. Following the success of Intern, Associate and Manager Programs, The Script’s fourth initiative will help local companies fill their highest, and most sought-after positions with outstanding, senior-level candidates who are as diverse as they are career driven.
Our Executive Program will be designed to transition our most promising high-level career seekers to acting leadership roles within their chosen industries.
Stay tuned for more.
Employers Seeking Interns
Most internships run 10-12 weeks, roughly from June 1 to August 31, with scheduling flexibility to accommodate school calendars and business needs. Private schools are generally out at the beginning of May, publics later in June. You may negotiate the precise start and end dates with your individual intern once accepted.
These are generally full-time internships working 40 hours/week. Internships with shorter work weeks (minimum 30 hours) should be identified in the job description.
January 16 is the deadline for inclusion in The Script 2024.
Internship position details must be submitted by February 15 so that we can include them in our website, invite students to get familiar with your company and internship, and prepare to match for your position.
- A description of the project or type of work you’ll assign to each intern.
- Which department each intern will work in (i.e. Finance, Web Design, Marketing, etc.)
- Any specific skills, languages, or certifications successful interns will need (i.e. Java, Python, etc. for IT roles, or Canva, Illustrator, Corel, etc. for graphic design roles).
- Whether your internship is open to both college students (undergraduate and graduate school) and recent graduates (graduating seniors).
- Expected hours per week. The Script internships are full-time, 40 hours/week positions (minimum 30).
- Hourly wage, keeping in mind that the MOU states the minimum is $18/hour.
- Your anticipated internship starts and end dates (can indicate flexibility).
- Any other specific requirements for each internship.
We’ll let you know who your finalist candidates are by the first week of April.
Each company, as the intern host, is individually responsible for contacting their final candidates to schedule interviews, make offers, and decline applicants who aren’t accepted. As soon as you select your candidate you should update the Portal to notify TS.
All TS hosting companies handle their own payroll, paying the intern directly. Interns should be W2 employees.
Your company’s contribution per intern contribution helps defray the cost of running the TS program by contributing to website and application development, intern-to-company matching, event scheduling, staffing, and intern orientation costs.
This nonrefundable program fee is due in full at the time of signed MOU.
Payment methods available are outlined in the MOU.
Your contribution supports The Script and our diverse, local talent. It is an investment in the advancement and retention of diverse, local talent in our region.
No. While The Script is part of a nonprofit (an initiative of 501(c)(3) organization The Contingent), the program fee is not tax deductible, because it is a payment for services rendered. In addition to candidate identification/intern matching, the program fee also contributes to candidate recruitment, screening and support, and intern training and professional development, among other program costs.
Companies provide interns with either a $200 transportation allowance to offset the cost of travel to and from the internship site if in-person; OR a $200 remote work allowance to offset any home office costs (such as Wi-Fi) if virtual. Funds may be provided directly to the intern as a TriMet pass, gas card, parking reimbursement, or other form agreed upon with the intern once accepted for the position.
We’d love feedback on your intern and your internship program experience in general—positive notes, critical observations, suggestions, etc.—at any time. We’ll also ask you to participate in our surveys and invite you to events. Employees of hosting companies are also welcome to join us as a volunteer for a number of opportunities ranging from the interview event, to mentoring, or acting as a resume coach.
TS encouragement begins at the interview event. Students who are selected for internships will attend an internship orientation. They will receive tips on how to successfully engage their internship experience. We will also provide them with a network of support and will convene periodic summer gatherings to support and inspire.
We may have applicants or positions in fields not named in our Job Groupings (such as architecture, engineering, etc.), but cannot guarantee candidate matches or intern placements for positions that do not fall within our listed categories for the upcoming TS year.
If a field/role is not listed in our main Job Groupings, this means to date we have not had a consistent and substantial enough pool of candidates or internship positions in this area in order to include it. We have adopted this strategy as we want to have a reliable pool in the areas we post and recruit within, in order to serve both our company partners and interns well.
For a higher likelihood of successful placement, some of our company partners chose to post internships in roles to support their work and operations that may not be as directly related to the organization’s industry, but better align with our Job Groupings (for example, a human resources intern at a hospital).
Job Groupings will change over time in accordance with supply and demand of internships and our ability to reliably fulfill internship matches for a given field/role.
At this time, The Script Internship program is in summer only. Please refer to our timeline.
Employers Seeking Associates
Information coming soon
Employers Seeking Managers
Information coming soon
Employers Seeking Executives
Information coming soon