Work-Study Interns for For-Profit Employers

Did you know that your organization may qualify for federal support to employ an SJSU intern?
SJSU invites you to join a pilot program for small-to-mid-sized, for-profit organizations to hire SJSU interns and receive wage subsidies for those interns through the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program. 

• Why get involved?

  • In addition to forging the next generation of talent for your organization, you will receive a subsidy that covers 40 to 50 percent of your intern’s wages.  Also, your SJSU intern will receive needed funds to pay for college.

• Is my organization eligible?

  • To join this pilot program, your organization must be a for-profit business.  

• Is my internship eligible?

  • Full-time, part-time, in-person, and virtual internships are eligible to receive this support.  Internships must:

    Be located in the U.S., 

    Adhere to local labor laws and pay at least minimum wage,  

    Not replace full-time employees, including those whose jobs have been eliminated or who have gone on strike, 

    Not involve political action or federal lobbying, and

    Not involve construction, maintenance, or operation of any facility used for sectarian instruction or religious services.

• How do I join the Work-Study Program?

  • Complete the brief contract-development form to get started.  Anthony Bettencourt from SJSU’s Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will contact you to complete the remaining preparations.  As part of this process, Anthony will indicate the subsidy you will receive.

• How do I find a Work-Study intern?

  • Post your opportunity at no cost in Handshake, the student career-management system. 

    1. To register as an employer with SJSU, follow these directions.  
    2. Click Create a Job to post your internship.  
    3. When completing the job posting form, respond Yes to the question Is this a Work Study job?  
    4. After students have applied for your internship, select finalist(s).  
    5. Verify with Anthony Bettencourt from SJSU’s Financial Aid and Scholarships Office that your finalist(s) are eligible for Work-Study.  
    6. Make an employment offer of at least minimum wage for your county. 
    7. Contact Lisa Trikofski from SJSU’s Career Center to further develop your SJSU talent recruiting strategy.
• How will I receive the Work-Study subsidy?

  • SJSU will provide you a monthly form to report payroll data to SJSU for each of your approved Federal Work-Study (FWS) interns. Then, SJSU will calculate and send your payroll reimbursement based on your designated subsidy.  For example, if you employ two approved FWS interns, pay each intern $1,000 monthly, and are eligible for a 40% subsidy, SJSU will reimburse you $400 for each intern, or $800 total.  

• Got tips for creating an internship?

  • Check out these resources from the Society for Human Resource Management:

    Create an internship program

    Develop effective virtual internships

    Develop interns in a remote work environment