- Let us work! Interns want the opportunity to work and learn. An internship can help you get a job done that couldn't have been completed otherwise. A little planning on your part will make this a positive experience for both you and your intern.
- Be honest with your interns about your expectations of them during the internship. Tell the intern if the job may require some clerical work. Don't tell them they will be doing something significant and then ask them to spend most of their time doing "grunt work."
- Provide feedback. Interns may not have all of the skills that you may take for granted. They are students and are learning. That's why they're completing an internship. When they make a mistake, talk with them privately and let them know how you would like them to handle similar situations in the future.
- Include them! Include the intern in as much as possible in the workplace. Encourage them to attend meetings, take them to lunch or ask others to do so. The more they understand about the whole workplace, the better their work for you will be.
- Explain. Please give them detailed explanations when you give them an assignment. This may be their first time working in a setting such as yours. While what you are asking them to do may seem very clear to you, it may be very confusing to a student for whom it is new. The extra time you spend at the beginning of a project will pay off significantly in terms of work output.
- Mentor. It is important that students have a mentor or supervisor to guide them. If you have someone on your staff who really likes to teach the experience will be even better.
- Spend time with your intern. Schedule regular times to meet with your intern. An intern may be very reluctant to speak up in a new situation and may spend unnecessary time wondering what it is that you really want them to do. When you have a regular time to meet, work responsibilities can be clarified.
- Be prepared! Not only is it important to have a job description for the intern, you should have also thought through where they will work. What chair, desk, phone, and computer will be available to them? Provide the tools for doing a job if you want it done well.
- Enjoy! The opportunity to work with an intern can be enriching for all involved. Take the time to work with the intern and your efforts will be richly rewarded.
Concerns of Interns