Setting up an Internship Program

1. Identify Significant Internship Projects 
• Special Projects. If you are like most employers, you have a long list of special projects that need to be done but don’t have the personnel to organize and implement them. Because of the nature of academic schedules, students often look for internship opportunities that are temporary in nature, so employers find interns to be an ideal solution to this problem. Interns can be assigned to organize research projects, plan special events, develop special promotional campaigns, or design web pages. When developing an internship around a special project, you should identify goals, timelines, and outcomes so that everyone understands the purpose and expectations. 
• On-Going Operations. Some organizations routinely experience peak periods where additional staff is needed. Others may operate under very limited budgets and need more help throughout the year. Again, interns may solve these problems. Interns may serve as facilitators for youth groups, HR support staff, PR or marketing associates, or website developers. Remember, students are looking for internships that provide them with professional experience and the opportunity to learn.
2. Determine the Length of the Internship 
• The duration of your internship can be as flexible as is necessary to accommodate the mutual needs of both the student and the employer. 
• How long will the internship last? How much time it will take to accomplish your goals for the internship? Generally, students are available for a semester (15 weeks) or a summer (Mid-May through Mid-August); some may consider longer internships. 
• Summer Internships. This is the most popular time for students to participate in an internship. Students begin looking for full-time summer internships as early as October. 
• Continuing Full-Time Internships. Full-time internships extending beyond a semester can be created if a student chooses to temporarily “stop out” from school. In a continuing full-time internship, students assume full responsibility for stopping out. 
• Academic credit for internships is available if pre-arranged by the student and their academic department or CAPP. 
• Students who seek these longer internships prefer a summer/fall or spring/summer internship. These internships should coincide with the UI semester system. 
• Continuing Part-Time Internships. For students who are currently enrolled in classes, internships can be part-time (10-20 hours per week) for one or more semesters. Transportation may be a concern; part-time internship generally should be within commuting distance from the UI campus. 
3. Establish the Necessary Organizational Support 
• Designate a mentor/supervisor. The best supervisor is someone who is interested in teaching others, understands you organization and its operating procedures, and can develop quality work assignments for students. Good supervisors not only help interns learn, they also help your organization learn about the intern as a potential full-time hire. 
• Decide whether your intern will work in one department or several. 
• Determine the type of orientation and training your intern will need. 
• Provide safe working facilities. Make available equipment, supplies, and work space necessary for the student to perform his/her duties. 
4. Write a Position Description. Include the following: 
• Brief organization description of your organization and website address 
• Position title 
• Skills and qualifications required/preferred 
• Duties and responsibilities 
• Pay rate (or indicate that it is unpaid) 
• Hours per week 
• Location (city, state) 
• Start and end dates of the internship 
• Application instructions and deadline 
5. Advertise and Hire an Intern. The Career Center can help! 
• Internship announcements. Post your internship on Vandal CareerConnection (VCC), UI’s on-line job/internship database (www.capp.uidaho.edu). Having difficulty? Contact our Employer Relations team for help. 
• On-campus interviews. Our qualified staff will coordinate your on-campus interview schedule to maximize your visit and allow you to meet with as many candidates as possible. To arrange your on-campus interviews, please contact our Employer Relations team. Please contact us 6-8 weeks prior to your visit to allow adequate time to promote your internship opportunity and interview date. 
• Report your hire. When you hire a UI student or alumnus, let us know! At the end of the recruiting season, we will send you a placement survey to help us learn where our students were hired. You can also send an e-mail to capp@uidaho.edu at any time with hiring information.

Key to a successful internship: Provide challenging and productive work assignments. UI students are intelligent and highly motivated; they take a great deal of pride in their work and generally perform beyond the employer’s expectation. They want to learn from real-world experience, to work with professionals in their field, and to make a meaningful contribution to your organization. Assigning significant projects will benefit your intern and maximizes the return on your intern investment.