What is an Internship Program?
The National Association of Colleges and Employers considers an internship as “a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.”
Internships Benefit Your Organization in Many Ways:
- Training students to support and contribute to the mission and goals of your organizations;
- Having the opportunity to vet talent for an extended “interview” period;
- Developing a consistent pipeline of hirable entry-level candidates;
- Building your organization’s image and brand on campus.
How To Create An Internship Program
Successful internship programs have support from the top-down within an organization, not just a commitment by a few employees.
Define your goals & purpose:
- Do you want to convert graduating interns to full-time employees?
- Do you want to create an ambassador for my organization as interns return to campus after their internship?
- Do you need more staff for a specific project?
- Is there an area of expertise interns could bring to your organization that you do not currently have?
- Do you want to use the internship program as a focus group for projects and services?
Aspects of an Internship to Consider:
- Substance of work, project goals, duties & responsibilities, paid vs. unpaid (be sure to check state & federal labor laws), full-time/part-time, location (in-person vs. remote), start and end dates, supervision & evaluation; all should be included in your job posting
- Additional offerings – assigned mentors, lunch & learn with management, program outings (baseball games, tours, dinners, museums, etc.);
- Liability coverage – Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) policies typically cover student interns, but you should confirm with your insurance company.
Onboarding & Program Completion Considerations:
- Hiring process – what will it look like, who will be involved, and what is the timeline?
- Onboarding, training, and assignments should be planned to reflect your goals;
- End of the internship – you may want to have the program end with a presentation or final report, along with evaluations (supervisors evaluating the students and student evaluating the program, click here for a sample).
Resources for hiring a Dartmouth Intern:
Post internships, connect with our students through events and the platform’s messaging system. By connecting with us, you also join our mailing list for recruiting opportunities.
Our recruiting program is designed to provide additional marketing, student outreach, and support
Keep an eye out for upcoming in-person or virtual job & internship fairs (invitations sent via Handshake).
Schedule a time to meet with our team to discuss your goals and recruiting strategy.
