Make the most of your Summer Internships
Are graduates walking off the stage and straight into your office? When done right, internships are mutually beneficial. But how can you get the most out of your interns? Here are six suggestions from experienced intern supervisors.
Know your requirements. Does the intern need a sign-off on hours, or for you to fill out an evaluation? Be sure to ask in the initial meeting so there are no surprises. When the internship is over and your intern asks for letters of recommendation, or for a job reference, be prompt and conscientious in proving them.
Clear and consistent communication. Make time in your schedule for a check in (daily or weekly) to ask your intern what they need help with and what they have learned. If performance needs improvement, or mistakes are being made, address it immediately. Tailor new tasks accordingly.
Help your intern network. Introduce your intern around the office, taking the time to explain office hierarchy and who does what. Don’t assume your intern knows how things are supposed to work and encourage them to ask you if they aren’t sure of how to do something.
Give them real work, and then acknowledge it. In addition to the typical data entry or menial tasks, have your intern help with part of a larger project. A by-line, a mention in a footnote, or being listed as a contributor to a sales report might seem inconsequential to you, but to your intern, being officially credited for their part may make all their hard work worthwhile.
Include them in a variety of experiences. Get your intern out of the file room and invite them to observe a client presentation, walk around a trade show, or take notes in a board meeting. Think about where you learned the most about your industry when you were starting your career and be a mentor to your intern.
Make a mentoring moment. At the end of the internship, invite your intern to lunch and offer them more of the personal mentoring that you may not have gotten to in the office. You can invite them to bring a few questions about their next career steps and bring their resume for critique. By removing the formality of the office, you can learn more about your intern and help set them up for a successful career.