Interested in adding value to your business or organization while providing opportunity to help a college student learn skills and gain valuable experience? Would you like to have an opportunity to work with a job candidate in a rea-time professional working environment? Consider offering a student internship!
What is an Internship?
Internships are designed by the employer to meet their organizational needs, while providing for the educational and training needs of the intern. They offer students an opportunity to enhance their education by putting classroom theory into practice, test tentative career choices, and build their professional experience and network in preparation for graduation. Interns make a short-term commitment to work for an employer to gain valuable experience to the work environment as it relates to their academic major. The employer provides a real-world learning experience and specific work assignments related to a student’s interests, studies or professional goals. The employer will also provide mentorship and supervision to ensure students will gain valuable skills and knowledge.
How do Interns Contribute to the Business?
Interns are a valuable resource. They may:
- Assist with special projects (tackle a “wish list”), organize research projects, plan special events, and develop targeted promotional campaigns.
- Provide additional help during peak business periods.
- Offer fresh, creative perspectives and energy.
- Contribute new or additional research and communication channels using the latest techniques, computer skills, and evolving theoretical knowledge.
- Serve as additional staff at minimal cost without making a long-term commitment.
- Provide an organization with a low-risk opportunity to try out a possible new employee for future job openings.
Organizational Support
When hosting an intern at your employment site, consider the following:
- Who will supervise and guide the intern?
- Where will the intern’s work area be located?
- Does the intern need tools or equipment?
- What kind of orientation and training will the intern need?
- What hours will the intern work?
- How much will the intern be paid?
- How will other staff members interact with the intern?
Internship Job Description
The first step is to write the internship position description(s); approach this as if you were seeking a new part-time employee. Include the following:
- A brief description of the organization and its mission
- Position title; roles and responsibilities of the intern
- Skills and qualifications required or preferred
- Hourly pay rate and other compensation/benefits
- Start/end dates of the internship
- How to apply for the internship including attaching a resume and cover letter
- Information about any deadlines to apply
Recruiting
In order to reach students and be able to track applicant information, list the internship electronically on the LMU Handshake Job board, the exclusive platform used for LMU student recruitment:
https://careers.lmu.edu/employers
- Students will view positions descriptions and application instructions online
- Students may apply and submit their resume and cover letter via Handshake
- Employers and view student applications and decides whether to interview each applicant.
Paid or Unpaid?
We encourage employers to pay students for internships for two reasons. First, students, especially students from diverse backgrounds, often support themselves throughout their college and need to work and earn money. Second, employers working with student interns must meet the standard under the Federal Labor Standards Act which encourages employers to pay students for their work. Unpaid internships are reserved for part-time roles the meet certain criterion, here is the link for the FLSA form if you choose to implement an unpaid intern. Unpaid internship may be eligible course credit in some cases.
Employer Role for Students Earning Intern Credit
- Active involvement in creating and confirming specific learning goals that will guide the students’ immersive learning experience
- Meeting with LMU CPD staff, student and employer/supervisor (end of semester)
- Written evaluation of the student’s learning goals and verification of hours worked
- Discussion of performance with the intern and instructor
- Students who are enrolled in the course, and have an unpaid internship (following FLSA Guidelines), are covered for Workers Compensation through LMU.
Loyola Marymount University Employer Agreement and Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the employer to provide a safe and supervised workplace environment with expertise free of harassment and discrimination as well as the following:
- Adhere to the guidelines for internships as outlined in the Federal Labor and Standards Act of 1938.
- Develop relevant learning objectives aligned with the intern’s academic major, professional interest or passion, and that are congruence with LMU’s mission and goals.
- Notify LMU in a timely manner of hiring, termination and or issues of concern that may arise out of the placement.
- Complete a constructive evaluation critiquing the intern’s performance.
- Orient the student intern to the company’s structure and operations.
- Orient the student intern to the company’s policies and procedures regarding appropriate dress, office hours, and applicable leave policies.
- Introduce the student intern to the appropriate professional and clerical staff.
- Provide the student intern with adequate resources necessary to accomplish job objectives.
- Orient the student intern to the policies and procedures of the company and human resources department.
- Afford the student intern the opportunity to identify with the supervisor as a professional staff person by jointly participating or shadowing during in office interviews, meetings, conferences, projects, and other management functions.
- Assigning and supervising the completion of tasks and responsibilities that are consistent with the student intern’s role and agreed learning objectives in the company.
- Consulting the university’s internship staff in the event that the supervisor becomes aware of personal, communication or other problems that are disrupting the student intern’s learning and performance.
- Providing regularly scheduled supervisory conferences with the student intern.
- Participating in the joint and individual conferences with the student intern and faculty coordinator regarding the student intern’s performance.
- Submitting a job description for the student intern within 10 working days from the start of the internship.
- Make available the site and staff for visitation by the university’s internship staff.
See our website for Internship Guidelines and more – https://careers.lmu.edu/internships/internshipguidelines/
Employer Checklist in Designing an Internship:
These are prompts to help you think through your internship position(s).
- Supervisor/Manager Identified and Assigned to the Student – Direct supervision is an important aspect to provide a meaningful learning environment for the student where they can apply their classroom knowledge to the workplace.
- Job Description – Students work under a specific job description outlining responsibilities, tasks, and desired minimum qualifications.
- Application Process – Students will fill out specific paperwork for the company.
- Interview and Hiring Process – Students will participate in an interview process with the employer.
- Paid Interns – Students receive monetary compensation for their work.
- Orientation – Students participate in a formal orientation at the beginning of the internship.
- Tours – Students participate in a tour of the facilities at the beginning of the internship.
- Safety Training – Students participate in safety training at the beginning of the internship.
- Consistent Schedule – Students are given a consistent work schedule.
- Work Space – Students are given a work space to perform duties.
- Performance or Learning Objectives – Students are given a list of clear performance or learning goals to achieve during the internship.
- Regular and Ongoing Feedback on Performance – Students receive recognition and positive feedback on their progress, and constructive feedback when necessary.
- Mentors/Supervisors Assigned to Intern – Students have an assigned mentor and a supervisor who offer guidance and support.
- Partnered with Educational Institution – The employer is partnered with an educational institution which can allow student interns to receive college credits for their employment, educational instruction that aligns with their gap year and additional resources to aid the students with their goals.
- Rotational Schedule – Students rotate job assignments and even locations throughout the course of the internship to diversify the training and broaden their understanding of the company.
- Work Performance Evaluation at the Internship Conclusion – Supervisors provide interns with performance evaluations at the conclusion of the internship.
- Post-Internship Employment Opportunities – Students may be hired on as fulltime staff after the internship if there is an open position and the intern is qualified.
- Skilled Trade(s) Emphasis – The program emphasizes training for a skilled trade or trades.
