1. Internship Programs A University Perspective By Dr. Lisa Stephenson The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs

2. What is an internship? Real-world work experience for students Real-world work experience for students Students develop career-specific skills & have intentional learning activities Students develop career-specific skills & have intentional learning activities Variable length, but usually 3-6 months Variable length, but usually 3-6 months Part-time or Full-time, Paid or Unpaid Part-time or Full-time, Paid or Unpaid Promote academic, career and/or personal development Promote academic, career and/or personal development

3. Why are internships important for students? Acquire experience important for future employment and education Acquire experience important for future employment and education Apply classroom knowledge to a real work environment Apply classroom knowledge to a real work environment Develop and practice transferable skills Develop and practice transferable skills Learn about personal strengths, weaknesses and preferences Learn about personal strengths, weaknesses and preferences Expand professional network and references Expand professional network and references Increase chances of receiving a job offer upon graduation Increase chances of receiving a job offer upon graduation

4. Why do organizations want interns? Year-round source of highly motivated pre- professionals Year-round source of highly motivated pre- professionals Students bring new perspectives to old problems Students bring new perspectives to old problems Freedom for professional staff to pursue more creative projects Freedom for professional staff to pursue more creative projects Quality candidates for temporary or seasonal positions and projects Quality candidates for temporary or seasonal positions and projects Flexible, cost-effective work force not requiring a long- term commitment Flexible, cost-effective work force not requiring a long- term commitment Proven, cost-effective way to recruit and evaluate potential employees Proven, cost-effective way to recruit and evaluate potential employees

5. How do universities and companies prepare students for internships? Help students understand how an internship fits into their professional development by developing a Professional Development Action Plan (PDAP) Help students understand how an internship fits into their professional development by developing a Professional Development Action Plan (PDAP) Students need assistance with resumes and cover letters. Students need assistance with resumes and cover letters. Students need assistance with developing good interview skills Students need assistance with developing good interview skills Before taking an internship, students should ask themselves some key questions. Before taking an internship, students should ask themselves some key questions.

6. What interns tell us about internships (adapted from University of Virginia) Give us real work Give us real work Do what you say, and say what you do Do what you say, and say what you do We like feedback We like feedback We want to be included too We want to be included too Please explain Please explain I want a mentor I want a mentor A minute of your time, please A minute of your time, please Be prepared Be prepared I need a desk I need a desk Please pay (if possible), or help with something. Please pay (if possible), or help with something.

7. How do we advertise internships? Organizations should work closely with career centers. Organizations should work closely with career centers. Advertise in university on-line databases Advertise in university on-line databases Hold on-campus presentations to discuss internships Hold on-campus presentations to discuss internships Participate in career fairs Participate in career fairs Speak with faculty at universities Speak with faculty at universities Advertise opportunities on your websites and through list serves Advertise opportunities on your websites and through list serves

8. Publishing a Resume to a Resume Book

9. Elliott School Career Connection Job Listings

10. Making the Internship a Good Experience for Everyone Be clear on the realistic tasks students can accomplish Be clear on the realistic tasks students can accomplish Work with career centers to establish learning objectives for students Work with career centers to establish learning objectives for students Identify outcomes and expected products Identify outcomes and expected products Be willing to incorporate the students’ particular strengths Be willing to incorporate the students’ particular strengths Show how intern’s work relates to the organization Show how intern’s work relates to the organization Maintain an open channel of communication Maintain an open channel of communication Keep interns busy and challenged Keep interns busy and challenged Provide opportunities for increasing responsibility Provide opportunities for increasing responsibility Encourage professionalism and development of new skills Encourage professionalism and development of new skills Remember you are a role model Remember you are a role model

11. Evaluation of Internships Companies and Universities should work with students to evaluate and reflect on their internships once they are completed. Companies and Universities should work with students to evaluate and reflect on their internships once they are completed. Examples of Questions for Evaluations Examples of Questions for Evaluations

12. Student Evaluation of Internships: Examples of aspects of the internship a student should rank from Poor to Excellent are: Examples of aspects of the internship a student should rank from Poor to Excellent are: Work experience relates to career goals Work experience relates to career goals Adequacy of employer supervision Adequacy of employer supervision Opportunity to use training Opportunity to use training Provides levels of responsibility consistent with abilities Provides levels of responsibility consistent with abilities Opportunity to develop communication skills, be creative, problem solve, and develop critical thinking skills Opportunity to develop communication skills, be creative, problem solve, and develop critical thinking skills Provide Orientation to the organization Provide Orientation to the organization Effort to make it a learning experience Effort to make it a learning experience Other good questions: Other good questions: Would you work for this supervisor again? Would you work for this supervisor again? Would you work for the organization again? Would you work for the organization again? Would you recommend this organization to other students? Would you recommend this organization to other students?

13. Employer Evaluation of Intern Employers should rank students from Unsatisfactory to Exceptional in the following areas: Employers should rank students from Unsatisfactory to Exceptional in the following areas: Motivation to learn Motivation to learn Reading/Writing/Computation Skills Reading/Writing/Computation Skills Listening & Oral Communication Skills Listening & Oral Communication Skills Creative Thinking & Problem Solving Skills Creative Thinking & Problem Solving Skills Professional and Career Development Skills Professional and Career Development Skills Interpersonal and Teamwork Skills Interpersonal and Teamwork Skills Organizational Effectiveness Skills Organizational Effectiveness Skills Basic Work Habits Basic Work Habits Character Attributes Character Attributes Overall Performance Overall Performance

14. In Conclusion A good Internship Program benefits Students A good Internship Program benefits Students A good Internship Program benefits Companies and Organizations A good Internship Program benefits Companies and Organizations A good Internship Program benefits Universities A good Internship Program benefits Universities