Frequently Asked Questions

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General Info
Employers
Internships
Associate Program

General Info

What is the relationship between The Script and The Contingent/Portland Leadership Foundation?

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.

Employers

What is the expected length of the internship?

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, public schools 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.  

Our associate candidates are young professionals who have graduated college within the last five years and come from underrepresented backgrounds.  

You will provide a pathway for long-term career growth and leadership for the associate(s) you’re working with. You’ll help them thrive in an inclusive environment while simultaneously fulfilling your company’s DEI initiatives and ESG strategies. 

To enroll as a company partner, sign up through The Script Portal, select the number of interns you are hiring, and submit payment to The Contingent by January 16th. After payment is submitted, you will gain access to matching and more.

Internship position details must be submitted by February 17th so that we can include them in our Portal, invite students to get familiar with your company and internship, and prepare to match for your position.  Position descriptions must include:

  • 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 minimum is $18/hour.   
  • Your anticipated internship’s start and end dates (can indicate flexibility).   
  • Any other specific requirements for each internship.  

We’ll let you know who your finalist internship 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 The Script. 

All The Script hosting companies handle their own payroll, paying the intern directly. Interns should be W2 employees. 

Your company’s contribution per intern 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 non-refundable fee is due at time of program sign up. You will be directed to a payment page where you can pay via credit card or request an invoice.

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 mock interview event to mentoring. 

The Script interns 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. 

Internships

What is The Script Intern program, and how does it work?

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 2025, the following are some key dates and deadlines related to the Internship program:  

  • January 16th, 2025 – Student application deadline  
  • January 16th, 2025 – Deadline for company sign-up in internship program  
  • February 17th, 2025 – Company Position Profile Deadline  
  • February 22nd and March 1st– Mock Interview Events 
  • April 2025 – Companies interview finalists  
  • May 1st, 2025– Intern offer deadline for companies  
  • Late May 22nd, 2025 – Company Orientation  
  • June 7, 2025 – Intern Orientation 

 

Phase 1: Recruitment: Fall/Winter 

  • Companies agree to partner with The Script and to host a summer intern by signing up 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 support 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 2025) 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 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) 
  • 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 community 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. 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).

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 the internship program 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 college credit for 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 candidates begins at the mock 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 22 and March 1.  
  • 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 mock 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 mock 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 The Script 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. 

Associate Program

What are the basics of the Associate Program? (Eligibility, about, commitment, length of the membership) 

The Script Associate Program is designed to connect recent college graduates with full-time career opportunities. This program focuses on helping you secure meaningful employment while providing access to professional development and networking opportunities.

The Script Associate program is open to recent college graduates (within 5 years of graduation), who identify as BIPOC, have a connection to Oregon or SW Washington, are eligible to work in the US (excluding F-1 Visas), and are looking for work at a Portland-based company. 

The program is free and does not require any long-term commitment. You can become a member by signing up for an account on our portal. Completion of the Universal Application is required to apply for jobs through the portal. Members also have access to Professional Development events and resources. Our mentoring program will launch in Spring 2025 and will also be available only to Members.  

Our goal at The Script is to walk alongside young professionals throughout their career journey. The Associate program has been built to help you find and apply for jobs, level up with our Professional Development events and resources, and get one on one personalized mentoring (coming in 2025). The Associate program has been built so that you can focus on the support that interests you the most and pass on those areas that don’t.  

The Script works with Portland area companies of all sizes from a variety of industries. All companies post positions that fall in one of the following job groupings:  

  • Business and Entrepreneurship   
  • Finance and Accounting  
  • Marketing and Communications  
  • Operations and Projects  
  • People and Engagement  
  • Technology 

The Script works with Portland area companies of all sizes from a variety of industries. Our company partners share a commitment to seeing the business landscape in the Portland area better reflect the diversity of our communities.

The Associate program is a new offering by The Script. We anticipate new companies will be signing up over time. The Script has been administering our internship program since 2016 and have had over 200 company partners during that time. There has been a great deal of anticipation among partners for the job matching and placement offered by the portal. 

We are  actively building out our mentoring program for Associates. The program will launch in Spring 2025 and will focus on facilitating individual connections between mentors and mentees. We will be rolling out more information on eligible mentoring topics and how that process will work at the time of launch. In the meantime, if you are interested in finding and engaging a mentor on your own, we’ve developed this resource to help. Stay tuned for more details on our formal program coming Spring 2025!  

Details about upcoming events will be sent via email. Make sure you sign up for our inquiry form pre-launch and then sign up for a portal account after our official launch to be notified of upcoming events. 

Our Professional Development series will cover a range of topics, with most focused on getting you the tools to successfully secure employment. You can reference our calendar of events to see upcoming Professional Development or networking events. 

Our programming plan for the next year is set, but we do love to hear feedback from participants about what future topics would be of interest. Feel free to share any of these ideas via surveys or email. 

The Script offers regular Professional Development events (virtually) which will also be available via the portal to watch if you missed it live. We also have career resources in our blog to help you get a job and maximize it once you have one. In 2025 we will roll out our new one on one mentoring program where you can connect with a mentor to get advice on a variety of topics, including related to your career direction. More information will be available closer to the launch in 2025. 

There is no guarantee that applicants will be offered a position. It is a competitive process, and the company will ultimately decide who to interview and who to hire.

Since there is no commitment to join or guidelines on minimum participation in the Associate Program, you can simply stop signing up for events and participating in our program offerings if you are no longer interested, then resume participation at any point when you are interested. If you don’t want to hear from our team, please reach out to opt out of our email communications. 

Our Associate program is a year-round program, with companies hiring year-round with rolling application deadlines. You can complete your universal application in the portal and apply for available positions at any time, on an ongoing basis. We would encourage you to check the portal regularly for additional positions you may be qualified for, as companies will be posting new positions regularly.

As new positions are posted, our proprietary matching program will compare your application and will surface the position as a potential match in your portal if you appear to be qualified based on your universal application.  

The Associate Program reimagines many of the elements of the SINE program, taking into account the feedback about challenges that some of our SINE participants faced. The Associate program is meant for the same group – young BIPOC professionals (less than 5 years out of school). We have designed the Associate Program to be more modularized than SINE, so it does not require a one-year commitment or commitment to monthly meetings. You can choose what elements of the Associate Program you want to participate in.

The Associate Program consists of job matching, live (virtual) professional development events, in-person networking events, and more. We will be rolling out additional programming throughout 2025.    

Yes! If you still meet the eligibility guidelines for the Associate Program, we would welcome your participation. To become a member, simply create a portal account. To take advantage of our new job matching services, you will also need to create a universal application. Members will get regular emails about Professional Development or other programming opportunities. 

We encourage applicants to check their portal notifications on a regular basis as new positions are posted frequently. The Associate Program also offers professional development resources and a professional network to help support you. We suggest you utilize all of the resources The Script offers to continue your career development.

The Script has multiple Professional Development events planned for the upcoming year. One of the topics will be job interviewing. We also will have resources related to interview best practice available on the blog. 

Once you’ve completed your universal application in the Portal, you will start to get matched with positions you may qualify for. After reviewing the positions, you can indicate your interest in them within the Portal. Companies will then be alerted to review your application. If you are selected for an interview, you can expect to hear from the company at your primary email address or phone number on your application. Companies will follow their own internal hiring procedures, so the process will vary by company. 

Once you are hired, you can continue to utilize Professional Development and other resources from The Script. 

Yes, you can apply for multiple roles in the portal. The portal will surface any positions that you appear to be qualified for and will continue to surface additional positions as they become available.

We would encourage you to carefully assess these positions for fit and apply to any that you are interested in. Once you indicate your interest, the company will be notified. You should also regularly monitor your email associated and phone number associated with the portal, as companies will be contacting you outside the portal with next steps. We encourage you to ensure your voicemail box is not full and respond to any company correspondence promptly.