Starting an Internship/Co-op
Below are a few simple steps to assist you in creating a quality internship/co-op.1. Create a job description. Students should be involved in academic or career-related work with limited clerical duties. In your job description, clearly define the role of the intern, including specific examples of job responsibilities with a clear definition of the department in which he/she will be working.
2. Identify the qualifications the student must possess. Freshman through graduate students are eligible to participate in an internship, depending upon your organization’s needs. You can request a student have a strong interest in your field or require related coursework or skills.
3. Develop a training plan. Provide students with an orientation and training about their responsibilities. You can elevate their responsibilities and assignment duties as their skills develop.
4. Decide who will supervise and who will mentor. A professional staff member, not another student, should provide training and general orientation to the intern. A mentor, who may or may not be the supervisor, can provide assistance with the intern’s professional development.
5. Determine the time commitment. Internships vary from 4 to 40 hours per week and can range from 10 weeks to 12 months. The minimum time commitment, for an internship to eligible for academic credit or transcript notation, requires an intern to complete 40 hours per 10-week quarter.
6. Establish the salary. Some internships are paid and others are not. Paid intern’s salaries are based on their work responsibilities and vary between industries. Some organizations provide benefits and some do not, however all organizations must provide worker’s compensation.