What kinds of things can interns do?
Specific intern projects vary considerably depending on the needs of the employer.
- In the past, interns have worked in a variety of roles including accountant, biologist, business analyst, chemist, GIS/GPS specialist graphic designer, manager, probation officer, software engineer, technical writer, and web developer.
- Examples of various departments who have hired an intern include accounting, advertising, customer service, human resources, marketing, public relations, product development, quality control, research and development, sales, and technology.
- Any type of organization can benefit from an intern. For example last year, interns worked in a variety of business sectors including banking, education, economic development, environmental, government, health, insurance, manufacturing, nonprofit, retail, and tourism.
What’s special about students of the Chippewa Valley? Why should I hire a Chippewa Valley intern?
Students receive a strong academic curriculum which is reinforced with a strong dose of liberal arts. As a result students are skilled communicators, problem-solvers, critical thinkers and researchers.
In addition, students are heavily involved in student organizations and other leadership activities which contribute to their ability to work as effective members of a team, to develop leadership skills, as well as the ability to work independently.
A strong academic base, combined with leadership activities creates students who are highly motivated, professional and committed to excellence. As a result interns can perform a wide variety of tasks which can contribute to the success of your organization.
Will an intern really add value to my organization?
Yes! There are two critical steps that will help assure this:
- The position description needs to be well-designed with an accurate description of the project(s) which the organization needs to have completed
- The requirements students will need to have to apply for this position.
Career Services staff can help with every step of the process!
The minimal investment of up-front time it takes to develop the position description and hire the student is easily compensated by the difference the intern makes to an organization by reducing work-loads, completing back-burner projects, assisting with special projects and/or providing extra help during those busy seasons.
I’ve never had an intern before and it sounds like a complicated process. How do I get started?
It is a very easy and streamlined process. Career Services staff will assist the employer throughout the whole process.
Career Services will help the employer:
- Review the employer’s needs
- Translate these into specific projects
- Develop a position description which describes the project/work to be done, and
- Describe the requirements (skills and knowledge) students would need to possess to apply for this internship.
Career Services will then market this position to the appropriate students/faculty. Once the resumes are collected, the employer will review the student resumes and make the hiring decision.
Do I have to pay my intern?
The decision to compensate student interns is left to the discretion of the employer. The market for specific types of intern an organization is looking for are a strong indicator of paid vs unpaid internships.
Some students are willing to volunteer their time to gain work experience. In addition, there are often creative ways to reward a student. Certainly some students need to earn an hourly wage or a student stipend.
However, some students are intrigued by other types of benefits which might include opportunities to attend professional conferences, gain experience with different software/hardware, network with professionals in their area of interest, gain new skills, etc. Chippewa Valley Internship Central can help you explore these potential “extra” benefits which your organization may offer.
How many hours can an interns work?
This varies considerably and is entirely dependent on the employer’s needs. Some employers hire an intern to work 10-15 hours per week during the school year; others need a student to work full-time during the summer.
Some employers combine a full-time summer internship with part-time hours during the academic year while some may just need a student on a part-time basis. There are unlimited options available depending on the projects to be completed and the timeline of the employer.
Is there a suggested ideal length for an internship?
This is entirely dependent on the employer’s needs. Some internships last several months, some much longer. Chippewa Valley Internship Central can help you match your needs with a projected internship timeline.