How to Improve Your Internship Experience, by a College Student Who Knows
An internship is a right of passage for many college students — an introduction to the business world and a first glimpse at a potential career path. Over the last few years, I’ve had two internships, and the experiences couldn’t be more different.
In one case, I was a number in a system, given little room for growth and few opportunities to connect with co-workers. In the other, I worked on projects which allowed me to develop my skills and grow professionally.
These two different experiences made me wonder, what makes a good internship and what can companies do to improve them?
How Internships Benefit the Employer
Internships are mutually beneficial for companies and interns alike. Companies gain from internships in a variety of ways.
- Internships are a good way for employers to vet potential employees while getting assistance with tasks.
- Businesses can also potentially cultivate long-term connections with academic institutions through internship programs.
- Internships also give employers access to a pool of fresh talent and new ideas.
- Interns bring enthusiasm and motivation to complete tasks and projects in a timely manner.
- And at times, internships even serve as a low-cost substitute for conventional hiring procedures.
Interns gain real-world experience and an opportunity to build skills while learning the hard and soft skills which make a great employee. According to Statista, “38% of graduates surveyed who had completed an internship felt that their leadership skills were extremely well developed, as compared to only 26% of those who had not taken an internship.”
The knowledge interns gain while working in the company can help them to become more marketable when they've graduated and are ready to enter the workforce.
Related Article: What's Next for Internships?
Internships Start With Finding the Right Fit
The first step is making sure it's a good fit between the company and the intern. Having an intern who doesn't know what they’re signing up for will waste the employer’s and the intern’s time.
Nandin Patel, an aerospace engineering student at Penn State University is an example of when an intern and employer clicks. Following his time as an intern, Patel was hired as a recruiter for the same company. He believes a combination of adaptability, communication skills and a strong work ethic landed him the internship and in turn, the job.
In doing so, he saw firsthand what went into finding the right intern to hire.
Patel stood out from other interns with his eagerness to learn, take initiative, and take on new tasks and challenges. His dedication and excellent communication skills helped him build relationships with other employees, giving him the edge to getting hired and promoted.
The best intern a company can hire is one that wants to learn. Having that drive to take on extra responsibility is what a company is looking for. An intern's willingness to work and learn is one of the easiest things to determine in an interview. Does the candidate seem excited about the position and being a part of your team?
Learning Opportunities
Related Article: Best Practices for Every Stage of Employee Experience: Stage 3, Onboard
What Interns Need From You
Hiring an intern can provide valuable assistance for businesses of all sizes. Internships are a way for companies to invest in their own future by identifying new talent and potential future leaders.
Ryan Daley, a year-long intern for Penn State Football said, "The staff helping teach and develop my interests directly reinvigorated my passion and work ethic, making my internship not a job but a hobby."
Interns want to be part of the company they've joined, which comes down to workplace culture and connecting interns with interesting work and with full-time staff. When interns enjoy their jobs, it will benefit the company and in turn increase internship retention. Businesses can help introduce interns to the workplace culture by assigning a supervisor or mentor to guide and support them throughout their time with the company. Less formal relationships help too, such as pairing an intern with a buddy who helps them learn the ropes. Welcome events — either in person or online — can also quickly bring an intern up to speed on who’s who in the company.
A 2021 LinkedIn Learning Report showed that 94% of surveyed employees would stay longer if their company simply invested in their learning. While the survey focused on full-time employees, the same holds true of interns: they are looking for an opportunity to grow and learn while with your company.
Keep Interns Active and Engaged
Most companies probably follow a set formula for how they manage their interns. Chances are this formula is either way out of date or hasn’t been improved in some time.
Finance student Lucas Lohn found himself in such a position. "I had an internship where I would do file copying, assisting and organizing, and occasionally shadow a client. I think having more responsibilities would've been useful. I found myself clock-watching more than learning."
Unfortunately some companies still assign interns to dull and rote tasks rather than work that helps them learn and grow. Giving meaningful work to build experience and skills should be your first focus as an employer. And remember: picking up an order from the local coffee shop isn't teaching hard skills and isn't helping your company.
About the Author
Michael Tarapchak is an events intern for Simpler Media Group, as well as a senior at Penn State University. With some background in journalism, he took the challenge of creating stories based upon the business and operations industry.
Connect with Michael Tarapchak:
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