Beginner Guide to Internships

Employers meet organization needs while developing emerging professionals by hiring interns. There are many reasons hire interns…

Benefits for Employers When Hosting an Intern

  • Recruitment and training cost savings
  • Proven, cost-effective way to recruit and evaluate potential employees
  • Opportunity to assess students’ work and fit within the organization
  • Enhanced recruitment and retention outcomes
  • Reduced turnover and training time for entry-level employees

Meet organization needs while developing professionals

  • Quality candidates for temporary or seasonal positions and projects
  • Year-round source of highly motivated pre-professionals ready to learn
  • Additional people to pursue more creative projects
  • Developmental experience for staff by supervising and managing talent
  • Opportunity to foster the next generation of professionals in your field

Interns bring fresh perspective

  • New perspectives, concepts, ideas and the latest technologies for your organization
  • Innovative solutions utilizing the knowledge students bring from their academic course work

Expanded pool of qualified candidates

  • Greater chance of hiring the top students in your field through showcasing your organization to potential employees
  • Increased visibility of your organization on campus and as a potential employer, internship site or volunteer site
  • Enhanced community image by contributing your expertise to the educational enterprise

What Qualifies as an Internship?

Before hiring an intern, identify what specific type of work needs to be completed. To be considered an internship, a position must:

  • Provide a learning experience that parallels the student’s course of study.
  • Have a defined beginning and end (i.e., it should last at least 4 weeks).
  • Adhere to clearly defined learning outcomes related to the professional goals of the student’s field(s) of study.
  • Be supervised by a professional employed by the hiring company or organization and include an evaluative component, whereby the supervisor offers routine feedback and at least one formal evaluation of the student’s performance.
  • Provide resources, equipment and facilities that support a professional learning environment for the student.
  • Take place in a setting other than a private home. (Remote internships are allowed when certain qualifications are met, but the organization’s headquarters must have a verifiable public address.)

Best Practices for Internship Programs

  • Begin recruiting for internships 6-8 months in advance to their start date
  • Provide students with real-work experience
  • Hold orientations for all involved
  • Provide students with a handbook or website for information
  • Provide housing and relocation assistance
  • Offer scholarships
  • Offer flex-time and/or other creative work arrangements
  • Encourage team involvement by inviting career staff and faculty to visit interns on site
  • Have an intern manager
  • Hold a new-hire panel your company’s executive ranks
  • Showcase intern work through presentations/expo
  • Conduct exit interviews

For more information about internships, please refer to the pamphlet below, for specific registration questions please contact us directly.

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