Develop an Effective Internship Program
Key Components of an Internship Program
- Purpose
- Characteristics
- Guidelines:
- Goal Setting
- Initial Preparation
- Intern Training
- General Resources
- Virtual Resources
An internship should offer students with:
- Practical work experience or a project, given by a designated supervisor
- An opportunity to observe, contribute, and rotate through the different parts of the department/organization
- Career connections, mentorship, and networking opportunities within the organization/industry
- Training, either “formal,” on-the-job or virtual/remote along with constructive, on-going feedback for personal and professional development
Typical Internship Program Characteristics
Length
- Completed during an academic semester or summer; at least six weeks
Hours
- 8-15 hours/week during the fall, spring, or summer semesters
- Paid, full-time internships may be offered during the summer
Compensation
- Starting at minimum wage – $25+/hour based on experience and industry/field
Guidelines for an Internship Program
Goal Setting
- Assess the organizational needs and determine what you hope to gain from an internship program
- Define the aspects to make an internship an educational, interesting, and rewarding experience
- Develop individual expectations, goals, and learning objectives for the intern
- Communicate program goals with your team to ensure the organization’s commitment
Initial Preparation
- Draft a job description that clearly explains the duties required of the intern
- Review the organization’s ability to provide assignments, equipment, and compensation
- Build a pipeline of student candidates to potentially convert to full-time employees
- Invest time in interns through selection, training, supervision, and evaluation
- Identify a staff member who would enjoy and benefit from mentoring an intern, who is committed to and capable of providing structure and insight in addition to constructive feedback
- Discuss upcoming intern projects and activities in addition to the time commitment
During an Internship
- Orient the intern to your organization; acquaint the intern to the mission, vision, and policies of your company (un/written and un/spoken) along with team introductions
- Set specific professional and career goals for the internship
- Teach the intern about the working world and consider serving as a mentor
- Explain the organizational structure and illustrate the company culture
- Schedule a formal meeting to discuss progress and expectations for your projects
- Provide other colleagues with background information about the intern’s projects, responsibilities, and schedule
- Discuss projects regularly and expected outcomes (decide on start and end dates, in advance)
- Schedule a mid-semester evaluation and an exit interview to provide a forum for constructive feedback and questions
The USC Career Center expects our employers to abide by our Non-Discrimination Policy and Anti-Harassment Guidelines when interacting with USC students before, during, and after their internship experiences.
General Resources
The following resources are provided by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE):
- 15 Best Practices for Internship Programs
- Key Items to Document for Your Internship Program
- Recruiting Methods That Do, Don’t Work
- Toolkits Provide Key Information to Interns, Managers
Virtual Resources
When establishing a virtual internship, consider these GitLab suggestions.
- Learn how to convert your internship program into a remote option
- Identify ways to best design and manage remote internship programs
- Develop a virtual onboarding program
Review the USC Career Center’s COVID Internship Guidelines for guidance.
