Being thoughtful and intentional as you design your internship opportunity can mean a more successful and satisfying experience for all involved. We encourage you to consult the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ resources on internship best practices as you are building and conceptualizing your opportunity: 15 Best Practices for Internship Programs.
How to Write an Effective Internship Posting:
- Keep it simple.
- Use keywords that attract students.
- State the payment details.
- Review internship postings for examples.
- Include an overview of the job, including potential projects and tasks that could be assigned.
- List expected outcomes for the position.
- Include a list of required skills and qualifications.
What is an average hourly wage?
An hourly wage for an intern will vary widely, depending on the industry in which you work, the major or skillset of the student you are recruiting and his or her level of experience. Internships can range from minimum wage for some roles and up to $22 or more an hour for more technical skillsets. An hourly wage cannot be less than minimum wage.
How many hours a week should an intern work?
As much as possible, an internship should be flexible in nature, as it is generally something a student pursues while also taking classes. During the academic year, internships are typically part-time, between 10-20 hours a week; not to exceed 20 hours a week (September-May). Summer internships, or those during a semester in which the student is not enrolled in courses, can require up to 40 hours a week. Please note that we strongly encourage internships that require more than 20 hours/week of students to be paid on an hourly or stipend basis, regardless of industry. Offering an unpaid full-time summer internship will likely result in no applicants, as most students cannot commit that amount of time to an unpaid opportunity.
How many weeks or months is a typical internship?
An average internship is 3-4 months coinciding with a student’s typical semester or summer. A key factor in determining proper internship length is that an internship should be long enough for a student to get into the rhythm of the position and complete deliverables that are valuable to you and them.
| Season | Beginning Date | End Date | Avg. # of Hours / Week |
| Fall | Mid Aug.-Mid Oct. | Mid-December | 10-20 |
| Spring | Early February | Mid May | 10-20 |
| Summer | Mid May- Early July | Mid August | 20-40+ |
How can I find the best possible intern?
Maryland is fortunate to have an excellent source of colleges and universities from which employers can recruit intern candidates.
Intern hires can be recruited through any program or platform for MTIP funding. Internships should focus on opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in addition to digital arts. We encourage employers to contact and post their intern positions with multiple institutions along with engaging in on-campus recruiting programs.
MTIP administrators are available to offer guidance to employers on recruiting best practices, as well as coaching on how to run a successful internship program.
FAQs
In turn, we have an opportunity to see their analytical, leadership, and teamwork skills through real project experiences. In order to create a “best-in-class” intern program, we have identified six “must have” elements—the work, feedback, social opportunities, networking, training, and firm connection.
How to design an internship program? ›
In this article, we will share some tips on how to create a successful internship program that benefits both your organization and your interns.
- 1 Define your objectives. ...
- 2 Recruit strategically. ...
- 3 Provide orientation and training. ...
- 4 Assign meaningful work. ...
- 5 Foster a positive culture. ...
- 6 Evaluate and follow up.
In turn, we have an opportunity to see their analytical, leadership, and teamwork skills through real project experiences. In order to create a “best-in-class” intern program, we have identified six “must have” elements—the work, feedback, social opportunities, networking, training, and firm connection.
What does a good internship program look like? ›
Providing interns with real work is number one to ensuring your program's success. Interns should be doing work related to their major and/or skill set, that is challenging, that is recognized by the organization as valuable, and that fills the entire work term.
How do I make an internship design portfolio? ›
How to Make a Portfolio for Your Internship
- Pick out your best work. You should only include your best work in your portfolio, so be sure to go through everything you created this summer to pick out your favorite pieces.
- Create an Adobe Portfolio. ...
- Add your summer internship work. ...
- Share your summer internship showcase!
Definitely not illegal. If the internship meets all six factors, it may qualify for unpaid status. However, the DOL takes a very narrow view of this exemption and believes that very few "for profit" employers can properly offer these programs.
How to ask for internship template? ›
Dear [Recipient's Name], I hope this email finds you well. My name is [Your Name], a [Your University] student majoring in [Your Major]. I am writing to express my strong interest in the [Specific Internship Position] at [Company Name], as advertised on [where you found the listing].
What are the objectives of internship program? ›
Internships provide students with an opportunity to put into practice skills they have learned while in school. In addition, students should have an opportunity to enhance those skills, obtain the perspective of a work environment and benefit from a mentor or supervisor's experience and advice.
How can I be a successful intern? ›
“ Have a willingness to help participate on projects no matter how large or small with a positive attitude and the ability to learn on the go.” “Understand time management, organization, and communication skills.” “Be a problem solver and have the ability to accept and learn fromcriticism, and of course communication.”
What are the 5 stages of internship? ›
The Stages of Internship focuses on five predictable stages students encounter during internships. These stages include: anticipation, disillusionment, confrontation, competence, and culmination.
Enthusiasm is invaluable
As an intern, I discovered it's essential to be enthusiastic and open to learning new skills, asking for more work and being curious to learn and ask questions. This attitude will show that you enjoy being part of the team and that you're keen to help.
What is the made internship program? ›
MADE is a national internship program that connects students with summer marketing & advertising internships at top companies.
What is a work plan for an internship? ›
Work Plans help to a) break down large projects into smaller goals, b) create a logical schedule and progression for work, and c) identify the specifics of the work you will do, how and by when. They also identify personal goals you hope to meet through your internship experience.
What makes you the best fit for this internship program? ›
My time management skills and ability to juggle several projects and responsibilities simultaneously will benefit me in completing the tasks assigned to me during this internship. I am honest and straightforward, and whenever I am having difficulties with a task, I do not hesitate to seek help and ask questions.
