Questions to ask yourself
An intern is defined as "an advanced student gaining supervised practical training". If you are considering an Internship Program, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Why are you interested in having an intern on staff?
- What field of study is your operation of interest to?
- Are you willing to expose many layers of the operation, as well as operational policies and procedures, to a student?
- Can your operation afford to entertain typical “student” availability dates?
- Do you have an established performance review system already in place?
- Is there a person on your staff with the time, training talent and interest to invest as an intern coordinator?
- What can you offer to an intern above and beyond a typical employee experience?
Things to consider
Internships can provide motivated student employees. In many cases, the student may have credits at stake ~ credits cost money ... credits are needed to graduate. Internship credits are also required for some disciplines.
Working through the internship process will involve three players – the employer, the student and the official contact at the student’s institution. Just because the student thinks a position as a camp counselor sounds like a good internship opportunity, the advisor and/or established internship guidelines may see it in a different light.
Internships can be paid or unpaid. Consider your state labor laws, your Company policy, and also the benefit to the student when making this decision.
Internships typically need to fall into a “term” for a student. This could mean summer, but consider whether a fall semester or spring semester might be as successful for you.
Still interested?
- Zero in on a position that sounds most promising for the internship, and establish what field of study it is best suited for.
- Start with a position description. Build on that and create guidelines for unique “intern only” opportunities. Some examples:
- Shadowing a department manager/GM for an hour a week;
- Job rotation on a bi-weekly basis
- Assisting in the creation of work schedules
- Attendance at educational seminars within the company or community
- Conducting information interviews with senior staff;
- Other items that may be required by the internship guidelines
- Establish the salary and perks; consider offering free room & board, a scholarship upon successful completion of the employment agreement, the use of a computer to type reports or access the internet for e-mail to advisors or additional needs. Be creative!
- Establish the feedback process – how frequently will the employee/intern receive formal, written performance evaluations? How often and in what form the school requires this information will guide you here, but it would helpful to have some schedule in place.
- Contact a local institution, or check out colleges/universities/junior colleges offering degrees in the field you have identified above. Talk through the details with a department rep. Be sure to ask how to advertise your opportunity ~ school newspaper, placement office, department bulletin board, department newsletter? Let them guide you with suggestions. Establish response methods and determine how you will proceed after an application is received.
- Be proud of the fact you are helping another human being reach his or her goal of achieving great things in a great place.
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