Effective Date: 10/08/2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to Next Step Internships (“Next Step,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), a general partnership that provides an online platform connecting students with internship opportunities offered by businesses and organizations. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your personal information is handled securely and transparently. This Privacy Policy explains:
  • The information we collect and why
  • How we use and share it
  • Your rights and choices
  • How we protect your data
By using our website and services (the “Services”), you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of our Services.

2. Information We Collect

A. Information Provided by Users

Students / Applicants:
  • Full name, email, phone number, date of birth, school name, grade level
  • Resume/CV, cover letters, skills, internship interests, portfolios, profile photo (optional)
  • Messages and communications with businesses or us
Businesses / Employers:
  • Business name, address, industry, and description of available internships
  • Contact name, email, phone number, and role/title
  • Internship postings and communications with students
Payments:
  • Transaction details (date, time, amount, status)
  • We do not store full credit/debit card or bank account information; this is handled by PayPal

B. Information Collected Automatically

  • Device and browser information (IP address, operating system, browser type)
  • Usage data (pages visited, time on site, clicks, log files)
  • Cookies, tracking pixels, and similar technologies

C. Information From Third Parties

  • If you link accounts (e.g., LinkedIn), we may import profile information with your consent
  • Publicly available educational or business information relevant to internships

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:
  1. Provide, operate, and improve our Services
  2. Facilitate student–business matching for internships
  3. Enable communication between students and employers
  4. Process payments and maintain transaction records
  5. Verify identity and prevent fraud
  6. Personalize recommendations and user experience
  7. Send important updates and service notifications
  8. Comply with legal requirements
We will never sell your personal information.

4. Payments

  • All payments are processed by PayPal.
  • When you make a payment, PayPal collects your financial information directly.
  • We only receive confirmation of the transaction (amount, time, payment status).
  • Your financial information is handled under PayPal’s Privacy Policy: https://www.paypal.com/privacy.
  • We do not store or access your complete payment details.

5. How We Share Information

We may share data only when necessary:
  • With Employers: When you apply for an internship, your profile and application details are shared with the employer.
  • With Service Providers: Hosting, analytics, email services, payment processors.
  • For Legal Compliance: If required by law, regulation, or valid request.
  • In Business Transfers: In case of merger, partnership restructuring, or asset sale.
We do not sell personal data to third parties.

6. Data Retention

  • Account and profile data: Retained as long as your account is active.
  • Application records: Retained for internship matching and compliance purposes.
  • Transaction records: Retained for at least 7 years for tax and legal purposes.
  • Communications: Retained as necessary for customer service and dispute resolution.
When data is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

7. Security Measures

We use reasonable safeguards, including:
  • Encrypted HTTPS connections
  • Secure authentication and access controls
  • Limited access to sensitive data
  • Regular system monitoring
No method is 100% secure. Users share data at their own risk.

8. Children’s Privacy

  • Our Services are intended for individuals 13 years or older.
  • If we learn we have collected personal data from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete it immediately.

9. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar tools to:
  • Keep you signed in
  • Store user preferences
  • Analyze usage trends
You can disable cookies through your browser, but some features may stop working.

10. Your Rights

Depending on your location (e.g., California or EU), you may have rights to:
  • Access – Request a copy of your data
  • Correction – Fix inaccurate information
  • Deletion – Ask us to delete your data
  • Portability – Request your data in a transferable format
  • Opt-Out – Stop receiving marketing communications
  • Withdraw Consent – Where applicable
To exercise rights, email info@nextstepintern.com.

11. International Data Transfers

If you are outside the U.S., your data may be transferred to and stored in the U.S. where laws may differ. By using our Services, you consent to this transfer.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on our site with a new “Effective Date.” If major changes occur, we may notify you by email.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at: Next Step Internships
A General Partnership
Email: info@nextstepintern.com
Phone: +1 (469) 476-5745
Address: 1625 Firestone Ct