Building an Internship Program
Derek A Guffin June 28, 2019
� Why Internships?
� Benefits to Internship Programs
� Internships Vs. Part-Time Jobs
� Tips from the UNF Perspective
� Internships 101
� Start: Preparations & Identifying Work
� Middle: Intern Management
� End: Conclusion & Evaluations
� Discussion & Application
� Employee Summit Attendees Best Practices
OverviewOverviewOverviewOverview
� What do you hope to learn
today?
� What is one question you
want answered?
� Benefits to Internship Programs
� Proven, cost-effective way to recruit and evaluate potential FT hires
� “3 month job interview”
� Freedom for FT staff to pursue more creative projects
� New perspectives to old problems
� Increase company on-campus visibility
� Enhanced community image
Why Internships: BenefitsWhy Internships: BenefitsWhy Internships: BenefitsWhy Internships: Benefits
Why Internships: Meeting Company NeedsWhy Internships: Meeting Company NeedsWhy Internships: Meeting Company NeedsWhy Internships: Meeting Company Needs
� Company Goals & Objectives: Drive Design & Purpose
� Begin with End in Mind: What do you hope to achieve?
� Help on a specific project
� Primary driver to onboard FT college graduate hires
� Management Support: Committed start/grow internship program?
� Blueprint Your Internship Startup
Payment Method & Hours Hourly? Scholarship?
Office Location for Intern Business unit specific? All interns?
Supervision or Mentor Who has primary responsibility? Ideally
will like to train/teach/mentor
Scope of Work Need structure. Rotational?
Consideration #1: Internships Vs. Part Time JobsConsideration #1: Internships Vs. Part Time JobsConsideration #1: Internships Vs. Part Time JobsConsideration #1: Internships Vs. Part Time Jobs
Internship Part-Time Job
Intentional learning agenda, learning
objectives, and or attached to
curriculum
Yes No
Ideally work inside area of collegiate
studyYes No
Supervisor: guidance, evaluation, and
feedback (written or verbal)Yes No
Learning component primary driver? Yes No
Explore career paths and industry Yes No
� Partnering with Coggin
� University Academic Date Alignment
� Ideal Internship Length: o 8-15/hrs week; 6 – 16 Weeks
� Paid Work: Hourly or Scholarship
� Internship Position Availability
o Year Round Vs. Summer Only
Consideration Consideration Consideration Consideration #2: UNF Perspectives#2: UNF Perspectives#2: UNF Perspectives#2: UNF Perspectives
� Pre-Start: Preparations
� Recruitment & Selection Process� Start Early: 3-4 months advance of start date
� Corporate Culture: Will this person fit in well here?
� Time Investment: Current skills, competencies, knowledge base VS training payoffs
� Orientation: Full Day, ½ Day, Office walk around
� Intern Manual: Company Overview, etc..
� Resources for Success: Job responsibilities, where to go for help,
� New Hire Panels: Young alumni (<3 Years) to discuss college to career; company culture
Internships 101Internships 101Internships 101Internships 101
� Pre-Start: Identifying Work for Your Intern
� Create challenging , but realistic tasks students can accomplish within 3-months
� Identify outcomes and/or expected products (Do I have a sense of accomplishment?)
� Work with CMC to establish learning objectives if needed
� Show how work relates to department/company (Does my work matter?)
� Common sample tasks ideal for any college intern may include:
Internships 101Internships 101Internships 101Internships 101
Designing posters, charts, & graphs Conducting research or trainings
Conducting studies & surveys Coordinating special events
Generating marketing plans Preparing budgets/financial reports
Compiling technical reports Performing data analysis
� Beginning & Middle: Management
� First Few Weeks OTJ
� Monitor Your Intern: Check in daily to ensure intern has direction and feels confident; if confused/bored assess and redirect
� Provide Feedback. Is there work measuring up correctly?
� Evaluate Progress. Is your intern making progress toward personal/supervisor goals?
� Supervision
� Goal: Bridge knowledge gaps from classroom to career
� Meet regularly: coach, counsel, and reinforce positive performance
� Encourage a portfolio/journal to track progress
Internships 101Internships 101Internships 101Internships 101
� End: Conclusion & Evaluations
� Intern Presentation to Management (What did I do these past X months?)
� Encourage student to share their future plans with supervisor & employees
� Group: Conduct focus groups with exiting interns
� Individual: Evaluation
� Employer Evaluation of Student Intern
� Intern Evaluation of Employer
� Close the Loop: Arrange a meeting with Coggin
� Did you extend any offers? Were the students prepared? How did you find your interns?
Internships 101Internships 101Internships 101Internships 101
� General Tips
� Keep Your Application open 24/7, 365
� In 2016, the NACE reported that over 52% of employers sourced interns from an open application process. An open application process involves keeping a posting up year-round on your career site for an intern role that you are likely to regularly hire for. This way, applicants can review the ad and apply at any time.
� Ten Concerns of Interns (handout)
Discussion & ApplicationDiscussion & ApplicationDiscussion & ApplicationDiscussion & Application
� Why Internships?
� Benefits to Internship Programs
� Internships Vs. Part-Time Jobs
� Tips from the UNF Perspective
� Internships 101
� Start: Preparations & Identifying Work
� Middle: Intern Management
� End: Conclusion & Evaluations
� Discussion & Application
� Employee Summit Attendees Best Practices
ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion
� Employee Summit Attendees:
Best Practices
� What are internship best practices at your current or former organization?
� What tools helped start or grow your internship program?
� What hasn’t worked for your internship?
True, Michael (N.A.). Starting and Maintaining a Quality Internship Program. Retrieved from www2.virginia.edu/career/intern/startinganinternship.PDF
NACE Staff. (2016, October 26). Sourcing Interns: Open Applications, Career Center Contacts. Retrieved from http://www.naceweb.org/talent-acquisition/internships/sourcing-interns-open-applications-career-center-contacts/
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