Internship Information
We aim to create opportunities for students to enhance their understanding of, and experience in, a variety of occupations and industries. This organization internship manual page aims to assist in the creation, implementation, and facilitation of comprehensive internships for our students. For the purpose of the manual, “organization” is defined as an entity that hosts students as interns.
What Do We Consider an Internship?
The term "internship" is commonly used to describe a part- or full-time temporary position that has the dual purpose of educating while providing work experience.
In order for a position to qualify as an internship, the following criteria must be met:
The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the organization or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications. Typically, an internship is held for a predetermined amount of time, such as one semester, one summer, or an academic year.
There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
- There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
- There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
- There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host organization that support learning objectives/goals.
Eligibility Criteria
NYUAD Internship Facts
How to Recruit an Intern
Orientation for New Interns
Whether an organization is small or large, orienting new interns is essential when setting the tone within a new work environment. It will set up the interns' and the staff's expectations and goals of the program and alleviate confusion, and is a way for interns to bond with one another and their supervisors/mentors.
Some tips to having a successful internship orientation:
Orientations should be mandatory and scheduled for the first day of work, not after interns have already started working. However, an organization might want to provide its new interns with some orientation information before their first day.
This will get them up to speed more quickly. Information about the organization’s history, goals, and products can be read before the first-day orientation so that interns can more easily digest what they learn on day one.
Orientations shouldn’t be more than a couple of hours long. If possible, we encourage organizations to coordinate orientations so multiple interns have the chance to interact with one another — this will also ensure that interns hear the same expectations and important information.
Organizations should begin an orientation with introductions and a general company overview before getting to the details of the program. It’s advisable to have all paperwork out of the way prior to the beginning of the orientation. This will aid in allowing organizations to move on to more interesting activities.
Team-building exercises are a good way to get interns and supervisors to interact and get to know each other. Next, interns should be given details about their duties and responsibilities, the processes and procedures they should follow, and logistical information.
Some examples are where to find supplies, the bathroom, or the office break/lunch room. A tour of the organization can be given in the middle or at the end of the orientation. As with most programs, it is advised that organizations leave ample time for student interns to ask questions about their new internships.
In Building a Premier Internship Program: A Practical Guide for Employers [1], Julie Cunningham suggests that expectations need to be managed on both sides and an orientation is the perfect time to do it. Students enter internships with expectations of what they will gain, learn, do, and not do. And supervisors have expectations of an internship program and what an intern will be able to do for them. It’s important to manage these expectations right from the start so that problems don’t arise further down the road. Here are some areas supervisors might cover with student interns during the orientation to help manage expectations:
- good work habits (being responsible, completing tasks, being neat)
- punctuality
- the importance of communication with the intern's supervisor, mentor, and co-workers
- participation in events and activities
- understanding confidentiality
Interns also have expectations of their supervisors, so the orientation is a good time to let them know what they can expect from their supervisors and the organization in general. Here are some expectations interns can have of their supervisors/internships:
- a challenging but supportive work environment
- co-workers, supervisors, and mentors who are receptive and supportive but still have high expectations
- constructive feedback about performance
- opportunities to gain new skills and interact with new people
- an organized and well-thought-out internship program that provides an appropriate amount of work to keep the interns busy but not overwhelmed
The goals of a good orientation program should be to help the interns feel a sense of belonging and commitment to the organization, as well as to provide information they will need to navigate the organization on a daily basis.
[1] Cunningham, Julie, Building a Premier Internship Program: A Practical Guide for Employers. National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2002
Many organizations use intern handbooks to help orient interns throughout their internships.
A handbook can be helpful in that interns can refer to it as needed to get simple information, such as how the organization is structured, what their job duties are, details about company policies, what kind of benefits they receive, and/or a list of frequently asked questions and answers.
Supervision and Mentoring
Not all staff within an employing organization will be effective intern supervisors or mentors. Organizations are highly recommended to select staff members that have the interest, the time, and the ability to work with students who have a lot of potential, but perhaps not a lot of skills to offer right away. Allowing all managers to supervise interns just because they asked for one is not a good idea and can derail a good internship program.
Evaluation After the Internship
Stakeholder Responsibilities
Useful Resources
- Employer's Internship Manual (PDF)
- Job Posting Guide (PDF)
- Recruiting Guidelines (PDF)
- Appendix A: Intern Job Description Template (PDF)
- Appendix B: Internship Expectations Agreement Template (PDF)
- Appendix C: Internship Learning Plan Template (PDF)
- Appendix D: Supervisor Evaluation of Intern Template (PDF)