Employer Internship Checklist

Set-Up an Internship Program

• Confirm all stakeholders are aware of the internship and the responsibilities intended for the intern to execute. Some stakeholders may include human resources, IT, the person assigned to supervise/mentor the intern, and others who may be expected to work with, or are impacted by the interns’ work.
• Draft a job description exciting enough to interest an intern. Detail what they will learn and why they want to work for your company. This is particularly important for unpaid internships.
• Ensure your company is prepared to provide the intern with at least 54 hours over the course of the term. The minimum hours are set by the state and are tied directly to the number of Work Experience (WE) course units the intern is enrolled. The employer is not obligated to offer more than 54 hours for an intern.
• Select a mentor who will act as the interns supervisor and has the skills, knowledge, and abilities in the area associated with the task the intern will perform. The mentor should be approachable, allow the intern to ask questions and foster professional growth.
• Identify who will screen resumes and contact candidates for an interview.
• Get started by posting the job description in Career Connect by Jobspeaker, our Job & Internship database.
• Allow six to eight weeks for Internship Office staff to recruit.
   

Minimum Hours Required Over the Course of the Term

Units Enrolled	Hours Required
1	54 hours
2	108 hours
3	162 hours
4	216 hours

 

Prepare for the Intern

• Contact the Internship Office to report your hire. This will initiate an action on our end to assist the student with enrolling in the WE course and put Workers Compensation Insurance in place for unpaid interns.
• Set a start date and end date for the intern to work.
• Provide a workspace, phone, computer, or essential resources.
• Establish a work schedule for the intern that is flexible considering the interns school commitments.
• Provide a forum for the mentor to provide feedback with constructive criticism and encouragement.
• The supervisor/mentor must agree to consult with the student and WE faculty member at the start of the internship to establish a meaningful workplace project. The supervisor/mentor will approve the students’ project by signing the Workplace Project Agreement form.
  

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At the Conclusion of the Internship

• Schedule an exit interview with the intern.
• Sign and date the Work Experience Education (WEE) issued time sheet verifying hours completed by the intern.
• Evaluate the intern’s achievements surrounding the established workplace project on the WEE Time Sheet.
• Consider providing a letter of recommendation if appropriate.