Best Practices for a Successful Internship Program Diane Mellon, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Best Practices for a Successful Internship Program Diane Mellon, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Aug 15, 2023 170 likes •510 views

Best Practices for a Successful Internship Program Diane Mellon, M.S.Ed. Coordinator of Experiential Learning Programs, USF Tampa Ben Heins, M.F.A. Coordinator of Internships and Service Learning, USF Sarasota-Manatee Content adapted with

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Best Practices for a Successful Internship Program

Diane Mellon, M.S.Ed.

Coordinator of Experiential Learning Programs, USF Tampa

Ben Heins, M.F.A.

Coordinator of Internships and Service Learning, USF Sarasota-Manatee

Content adapted with permission of Madeline Heath (NCF) and Michele Groves (SCF).

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Present + Future

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Interns v. Part-Time Staff

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What is an Internship?

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.

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  • For-credit and not-for-credit ≠ Pay
  • Specific learning objectives
  • Theory to Practice
  • Mentor with expertise
  • Ongoing reflection and evaluation
  • Start date and end date

Interns v. Part-Time Staff:

Interns

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  • Hired already having most necessary

skills/experience

  • Minimal mentorship or guidance
  • Not usually accompanied by

learning objectives

  • Can continue without end date

Interns v. Part-Time Staff:

Part-Time Employees

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Hosting a

Quality

Internship Program

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  • Real work assignments and projects
  • Supervisor with educator’s mindset and

expertise

  • Reciprocity of work (mutually-beneficial)

Transferable skill development and learning

  • bjectives/goals
  • Time and commitment to guide, mentor,

and give routine feedback to intern

Need + Infrastructure:

Better Internship, Better Intern

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  • Internship position description with

clear expectations

  • Program syllabus

Weekly learning objectives covered Weekly topics covered Weekly projects/goals

Need + Infrastructure:

Better Internship, Better Intern (cont.)

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Private Sector Unpaid Internships

  • Glorified, Extended Shadowing

Experience

  • Pass the Test...

Avoiding The Man:

Fair Labor Standards Act (DOL)

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  • Mutual Understanding of Zero

Compensation

  • Experience Mirrors Educational Setting
  • Student Enrolled in an Internship

Course

  • Experience Corresponds with

Academic Calendar

Avoiding The Man:

Seven Factors of Consideration/ MOUs

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(Cont.)

  • Work Must End When Student Meets

Learning Objectives

  • Work Must Complement, Not Displace,

Paid Staff

  • Mutual Understanding of No Guaranteed

Employment Post-Internship

Avoiding The Man:

Seven Factors of Consideration/ MOUs

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  • At Least Minimum Wage
  • Overtime Pay Required, When

Applicable

  • Statistically More Valuable to Both

Parties

  • ...Also, More Competitive!

Avoiding The Man:

When in Doubt, Pay It Out!

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  • Start/End Date

Important to consider semesters

  • Milestones/Deliverables

Learning Objectives/Outcomes Include Timeline

  • Work Setup

Office/Remote/Travel Required

  • Types of Support from Employer Team

Access to Professional Development Networking opportunities

  • Stipend and/or Hourly Payment

Internship Description:

The Details

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  • Brief, Bulleted Project Description

Less HR…more what you actually do!

  • Ideal Stakeholders

Who will the student be interacting with?

  • Organized List of Benefits for All Parties

What is the benefit to the student? Why should they apply/accept your internship?

Internship Description:

Position/Project Summary

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  • Brief, Bulleted List

Remember, these are still students

  • Necessary Skills to Work on Employer

Team

Set students up for success

  • Try to Avoid Targeting Specific Majors

If possible – expands potential candidate pool

Internship Description:

Minimum and Preferred Skills

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  • Brief Summary
  • Contact Information
  • Relevant Location(s)

Internship Description:

About the Organization

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Recruiting Gen Z… And Beyond!

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Campus Outreach:

Recruit and Promote

Handshake…One-Stop Resource!

  • FREE for employers to create and

manage a single profile

All 3 USF campuses 700+ Colleges Nationally

  • Job posting and applicant filtering

Students AND Alumni Directly message individual students*

  • Schedule on-campus interviews
  • Register for events and career fairs
  • Set up your organization’s events and

info sessions

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(Cont.)

  • Tabling in student centers
  • Events/Career Fairs
  • Classroom Presentations
  • Information Sessions
  • Sponsorship/Scholarship

Campus Outreach:

Recruit and Promote

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  • Social Media

Acceptable = LinkedIn & Handshake, Messaging Tools Unacceptable = Anything Else

  • Phone

Call, Don’t Text

  • Email

Use Email Listed on Resume

Navigating Connections:

A Shift in the Paradigm

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Personal Seek First to Understand...

Be Happy and Approachable Ask About Their Career Search Process

...Then to Be Understood

Pitch Effectively Be Flexible and Open

Navigating Connections:

A Shift in the Paradigm

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Good News and Bad News Spread…

Navigating Connections

(Peer Groups, Parents, and Social Media)

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Retaining Gen Z… And Beyond!

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  • Introduction to work environment

(Company mission, culture, and values)

Provides an instant boost in morale Increases productivity Improves compliance of policies

  • Welcome Letter

Orient and welcome intern to team

Orientation + Onboarding:

The Why and Welcome

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  • Internship Overview
  • Intro to Company
  • New Intern Paperwork
  • Handbook and Policies
  • Technology
  • Tour and Intros to Staff
  • Bonus - Acquire Gifts of Welcome

(hats, mugs, pens)

Orientation + Onboarding

Coordinate a First Day Agenda

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First meeting with intern

  • Discuss how the mission of the

company and culture relates to the intern’s role & projects

  • State clear expectations
  • Give guidelines
  • Answer any questions

Orientation + Onboarding:

Internship Meetings

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  • Schedule Weekly 1:1 Meetings
  • Conduct Midpoint and Final

Performance Reviews

Use Your Own Review Template…

  • r the College/University’s
  • Provide Professional Development and

Networking Opportunities

Effective Execution:

Maintaining an Excellent Impression

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  • Give a Talent Referral
  • Acknowledge Recruitment Cycles
  • Remember:

Good Students Want Good Internships Good AND Bad News Spreads

Full-Time Opportunities:

Post-Internship Success

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Present + Future

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Post-Internship Success

  • Light-Bulb Moments
  • One Major Improvement
  • Next Action Item

Let’s Chat!

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Diane Mellon, M.S.Ed.

Coordinator, Experiential Learning Programs USF Tampa 813.974.9635 dmellon@usf.edu

Ben Heins, M.F.A.

Coordinator, Internships and Service Learning USF Sarasota-Manatee 941.359.4357 heins@sar.usf.edu

Contact Us!

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