If I post a Job Description, do I have to hire an intern?
No. Posting the Job Description allows you to receive applications from students of the participating schools. If you do not find one that meets your criteria and satisfies you, you are under no obligation to hire one.

Can I advertise this internship position elsewhere, or does it have to be exclusive to the CLIMB program?
You may advertise the internship position through any and all sources available to you - it does not have to be unique for the CLIMB program. CLIMB provides another mechanism for you to reach these students. The schools often encourage students to apply for these internships because the schools believe them to be good summer jobs with various unusual benefits.

When and how do the students apply?
The website "opens" for student applications in January. They can apply to any positions listed. They use our site for the application process, and their application is emailed directly to the employer for evaluation. It is the employer, not CLIMB, who makes the hiring decision. When you log in to your password-protected account at http://climbtherockies.org, you will be able to view a summary of the applicants, review their applications online, and change their status (i.e., In Review, Offer Extended, Declined). When the student logs in to his or her password-protected account, he or she will also be able to see the status that you set.

How do I evaluate or interview the applicants?
You should review applications as they come in throughout January and February rather than holding them all until late in the application process. Most students apply to several jobs, and many of the best applicants are chosen early.  Also, in our experience, many applications are submitted in the final week or two (at the end of February). We encourage you to interview all applicants, as any positive personal contact they have with a Denver employer will contribute to their perception of Denver as a place of potential employment opportunities. As explained above, you may change the status of each student's application by logging in to the CLIMB website.

How do I extend an offer to a student?
To extend an offer to a student, log in to the CLIMB website and issue a Commitment Letter for that student. When you submit the information through the website, it will be emailed to the Program Coordinator who will then forward it to the student. The student is expected to reply within 48 hours, and their position in the CLIMB program is not reserved until they complete and submit their portion of the Commitment Letter. We have learned that this is the most effective means of tracking employer offers, student acceptances, and therefore positions in the CLIMB program. Of course, it is good to call the student and discuss your offer, but both parties must also complete this Commitment Letter process.

Is there a cost to participate?
There is only a cost for employers who hire a student that participates in the CLIMB program. Employers who post a Job Description but do not hire a student are not charged. Employers pay students at least $270 per week, paid bi-weekly.

For-profit employers pay an additional $1,800 and non-profit employers pay an additional $800 to cover the cost of housing at the Inn at Auraria and civic, social, and educational components as well as program administration. The $4,500 total for for-profit employers translates to approximately $11.50 per hour; the $3,500 sum for non-profit employers translates to approximately $9.00 per hour. Additional contributions from employers help run and build the program.

For certain employers, special arrangements are made, for example for employers who normally pay students additional sums for housing or travel.

What is the students' program and work schedule?
The program runs 10 weeks, though typically one or two weeks shorter for Stanford, which is on a quarter system.

All students will be working regular work weeks (or whatever is stated in the Job Description) and participating in additional CLIMB program activities each week. Typically, required civic and educational dinners and events are held for students on Wednesday evenings. Often, voluntary student events, such as hikes and the like, are scheduled on weekends.