Internship Internship ProgramsProgramsA University PerspectiveA University Perspective

By Dr. Lisa StephensonBy Dr. Lisa StephensonThe George Washington UniversityThe George Washington University

Elliott School of International Elliott School of International AffairsAffairs

What is an internship?What is an internship? Real-world work experience for studentsReal-world work experience for students Students develop career-specific skills & Students develop career-specific skills &

have intentional learning activitieshave intentional learning activities Variable length, but usually 3-6 monthsVariable length, but usually 3-6 months Part-time or Full-time, Paid or UnpaidPart-time or Full-time, Paid or Unpaid Promote academic, career and/or personal Promote academic, career and/or personal

developmentdevelopment

Why are internships Why are internships important for students?important for students?

Acquire experience important for future Acquire experience important for future employment and educationemployment and education

Apply classroom knowledge to a real work Apply classroom knowledge to a real work environmentenvironment

Develop and practice transferable skillsDevelop and practice transferable skills Learn about personal strengths, Learn about personal strengths,

weaknesses and preferencesweaknesses and preferences Expand professional network and Expand professional network and

referencesreferences Increase chances of receiving a job offer Increase chances of receiving a job offer

upon graduationupon graduation

Why do organizations want Why do organizations want interns?interns?

Year-round source of highly motivated Year-round source of highly motivated pre-professionalspre-professionals

Students bring new perspectives to old Students bring new perspectives to old problemsproblems

Freedom for professional staff to pursue Freedom for professional staff to pursue more creative projectsmore creative projects

Quality candidates for temporary or Quality candidates for temporary or seasonal positions and projectsseasonal positions and projects

Flexible, cost-effective work force not Flexible, cost-effective work force not requiring a long-term commitmentrequiring a long-term commitment

Proven, cost-effective way to recruit and Proven, cost-effective way to recruit and evaluate potential employeesevaluate potential employees

How do universities and How do universities and companies prepare companies prepare

students for internships?students for internships? Help students understand how an Help students understand how an

internship fits into their professional internship fits into their professional development by developing a Professional development by developing a Professional Development Action Plan (PDAP)Development Action Plan (PDAP)

Students need assistance with resumes Students need assistance with resumes and cover letters.and cover letters.

Students need assistance with developing Students need assistance with developing good interview skillsgood interview skills

Before taking an internship, students Before taking an internship, students should ask themselves some key questions. should ask themselves some key questions.

What interns tell us about What interns tell us about internships (adapted from internships (adapted from

University of Virginia)University of Virginia) Give us real workGive us real work Do what you say, and say what you doDo what you say, and say what you do We like feedbackWe like feedback We want to be included tooWe want to be included too Please explainPlease explain I want a mentorI want a mentor A minute of your time, pleaseA minute of your time, please Be preparedBe prepared I need a deskI need a desk Please pay (if possible), or help with Please pay (if possible), or help with

something.something.

How do we advertise How do we advertise internships?internships?

Organizations should work closely with Organizations should work closely with career centers.career centers.

Advertise in university on-line Advertise in university on-line databasesdatabases

Hold on-campus presentations to Hold on-campus presentations to discuss internshipsdiscuss internships

Participate in career fairsParticipate in career fairs Speak with faculty at universitiesSpeak with faculty at universities Advertise opportunities on your Advertise opportunities on your

websites and through list serveswebsites and through list serves

Publishing a Resume to a Publishing a Resume to a Resume BookResume Book

Elliott School Career Elliott School Career Connection Job ListingsConnection Job Listings

Making the Internship a Making the Internship a Good Experience for Good Experience for

EveryoneEveryone Be clear on the realistic tasks students can accomplishBe clear on the realistic tasks students can accomplish Work with career centers to establish learning Work with career centers to establish learning

objectives for studentsobjectives for students Identify outcomes and expected productsIdentify outcomes and expected products Be willing to incorporate the students’ particular Be willing to incorporate the students’ particular

strengthsstrengths Show how intern’s work relates to the organizationShow how intern’s work relates to the organization Maintain an open channel of communicationMaintain an open channel of communication Keep interns busy and challengedKeep interns busy and challenged Provide opportunities for increasing responsibilityProvide opportunities for increasing responsibility Encourage professionalism and development of new Encourage professionalism and development of new

skillsskills Remember you are a role modelRemember you are a role model

Evaluation of InternshipsEvaluation of Internships

Companies and Universities should Companies and Universities should work with students to evaluate and work with students to evaluate and reflect on their internships once they reflect on their internships once they are completed.are completed.

Examples of Questions for Examples of Questions for EvaluationsEvaluations

Student Evaluation of Student Evaluation of Internships:Internships:

Examples of aspects of the internship a student Examples of aspects of the internship a student should rank from Poor to Excellent are:should rank from Poor to Excellent are: Work experience relates to career goalsWork experience relates to career goals Adequacy of employer supervisionAdequacy of employer supervision Opportunity to use trainingOpportunity to use training Provides levels of responsibility consistent with abilities Provides levels of responsibility consistent with abilities Opportunity to develop communication skills, be creative, Opportunity to develop communication skills, be creative,

problem solve, and develop critical thinking skillsproblem solve, and develop critical thinking skills Provide Orientation to the organizationProvide Orientation to the organization Effort to make it a learning experience Effort to make it a learning experience

Other good questions:Other good questions: Would you work for this supervisor again?Would you work for this supervisor again? Would you work for the organization again?Would you work for the organization again? Would you recommend this organization to other Would you recommend this organization to other

students?students?

Employer Evaluation of Employer Evaluation of InternIntern

Employers should rank students from Employers should rank students from Unsatisfactory to Exceptional in the Unsatisfactory to Exceptional in the following areas:following areas: Motivation to learnMotivation to learn Reading/Writing/Computation SkillsReading/Writing/Computation Skills Listening & Oral Communication SkillsListening & Oral Communication Skills Creative Thinking & Problem Solving SkillsCreative Thinking & Problem Solving Skills Professional and Career Development SkillsProfessional and Career Development Skills Interpersonal and Teamwork SkillsInterpersonal and Teamwork Skills Organizational Effectiveness SkillsOrganizational Effectiveness Skills Basic Work HabitsBasic Work Habits Character AttributesCharacter Attributes Overall PerformanceOverall Performance

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

A good Internship Program benefits A good Internship Program benefits StudentsStudents

A good Internship Program benefits A good Internship Program benefits Companies and OrganizationsCompanies and Organizations

A good Internship Program benefits A good Internship Program benefits UniversitiesUniversities