Internships are a two-way street.  As interns, students are excited to learn the job, gain real-world perspective, acquire experience for their resume, make career connections and discern specific career paths. 

To make the internship a success it is important your team supports the intern in his or her learning experience.

Planning for an effective and successful internship or co-op from the very beginning is a good way to insure a successful experience for both employer and student. A few guidelines are offered below to assist you in your early planning.

Ask yourself some realistic questions.

• Can you provide meaningful work assignments?
• Are you prepared to invest time in interns?
• Is there a professional staff person to supervise interns?
• Do your top managers and employees want to have interns on-site?
• Can you provide financial support (salary, gas money, supplies, etc.)?
• Do you have sufficient office space?

Create Effective Position Descriptions

• The quality of students attracted to your listed positions sometimes depends upon the quality of your announcement.
• In addition to the position title, hours, salary, and location, describe the duties, qualifications and application instructions in terms that will attract students.
• Provide enough detail to identify specific academic disciplines and learning objectives. One-line descriptions are not sufficient.
• Reference descriptive material such as your website which may include descriptions of the type of equipment they will use.
• Identify the "contact person." This should be the professional designated to coordinate the company or department internship/cooperative education program. All correspondence will be sent to the designated "contact person."

Select carefully the intern and site supervisor.

• Is this a professional member of your staff who is committed to and capable of developing people?
• Does this person have the time to supervise interns?

Work with the Career Center.

Review resumes and/or applications and interview students.

• Do not automatically accept interns without conducting interviews.
• Notify the Career Center when interns have been selected.

Prepare for the interns to start.

• Discuss start and end dates with the selected students.
• Agree on days and times they will be expected to be on site.
• Provide interns with information regarding work attire.
• Notify your permanent employees when the interns will be starting and provide them with background information about the projects interns will be doing.
• Set up work space for interns.