What makes an internship a success? No Comments. In addition to structure, a third-party organization can also provide support to the employer. Meaningful Internship Roles — We encourage employers to carve out challenging and engaging roles that allow interns to contribute to the advancement of their host organizations. Sometimes these roles arise from vacancies such as maternity-leave or turnover. Internships can also be project-based or a response to an increase in business activity and workload.
Compensation — The debate continues on paid vs. In general, workers feel more valued when they are being rewarded for their work. They are also more likely to identify with and feel part of the rest of your team if they are compensated just like everyone else. New-hire panels are one of the best ways to showcase an organization to interns as a great place to work.
These are panels of five or six people who were hired as new grads within the last three years. They act as panelists in a meeting of interns, giving a brief summary of their background and then answering questions from the intern audience. Your interns get insight about your organization from your new hires—people who they perceive are like themselves and who they consequently view as credible sources of information.
What was your first year like? How is being a full-time employee here different from being an intern? Do you recommend getting a graduate degree?
In the same field, or an M. College relations staff should attend these sessions, but should remain unobtrusive, staying in the back of the room so as not to stifle the conversation.
By being there, you stay aware of what is on the minds of your target group, and you can answer any detailed questions that may come up, such as those related to benefits. One of the greatest advantages to students in having internships is the access they get to accomplished professionals in their field.
Having a CEO speak is especially impressive. Best scenario: Your CEO speaker is personable, willing to answer questions, and willing and able to spend a little informal time with the students after speaking—your interns will be quite impressed. Providing students with access to in-house training—both in work-skills-related areas, such as a computer language, and in general skills areas, such as time management—is a tangible way to show students you are interested in their development.
Conducting focus groups and feedback surveys with these representatives of your target group is a great way to see your organization as the students see it. Focus groups in particular can yield information about what your competitors are doing that students find appealing. Students work very hard at completing their work and are generally proud of their accomplishments.
If you are providing direct service or doing client based work, it will be a great way to debrief and raise any concerns or issues you are having. Set dates with your supervisor at the beginning of your internship for check in meetings so you are both aware from the beginning when these will be. In addition, try and have the meetings with your supervisor out of the office to limit distractions and focus on the topic at hand. Positive Closure The way you handle the end of your internship can be just as important as how you start your internship.
If it was a positive experience, you should ask for a letter of reference or if you can use your supervisor as a reference in the future. Also, learn how you can stay connected to the organization, be it through volunteering, occasional visits back to the office, or through receiving newsletters, etc.
The organization and the people you meet will be a fantastic addition to your professional network and staying connected will help you leverage that network for the future. Following these tips should help make your internship a successful one in which you gain professional experience.
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