Hiring Interns

Internships at the University of Rochester

Per the National Association of Colleges and Employers “An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.”

For questions on internships, please contact Brittney Turner, Employer Engagement Program Director.

• • Internship Checklist
    

    An internship must:

    • Be supervised by a professional within the organization
    • Serve primarily as a learning experience for the student
    • Have clearly defined duties and activities agreed upon by student and employer
    • Include an analytical or reflective component
    • Assist the student in progressing toward a professional or exploratory career goal
    • Comply with all relevant employment laws and statues; students do not give up their rights as employees due to their academic status

     

    An internship should:

    • Take place in a professional setting (allowing that professional development and learning can take place during remote arrangements as well as when adequately structured)
    • Have clear expectations and evaluation processes provided by the employer
    • Assist the student in delineating a career path from the internship forward
    • Encourage the student to develop Career Competencies

     

    Internship sites offering unpaid internships should review national standards to ensure compliance.

    • Key Elements to a Quality Internship
      

      Elements of a strong internship program should include:

      • • Provide compensation or credit: If you are deciding between paid and unpaid internships, it is important to know if the US Labor Standards Act applies to your organization.
      • • Communicate expectations: Identify specific goals and objectives for the intern to accomplish. Provide structure for an intern with a balance between “big” projects and daily tasks.
      • • Provide mentorship, coaching, and teaching: Assign a supervisor who will familiarize him or herself with the organization, communicate clearly, and provide assignments.
      • • Assign challenging, meaningful work: Provide learning opportunities for an intern to use analytical skills and reflection to apply new ideas gained from experience to their classroom learning.
      • • Involve interns in networking and professional development opportunities: Encourage interns to be part of the team, participating in team-building or social activities. Provide networking opportunities for interns to interact with other staff and interns.
      • • Include Culture Transmission: The “Big Picture” – what you want the interns to know about your company, industry, etc., engage interns in activities that highlight the culture you want to transmit.

       

How to Write an Internship Job Description

When creating your internship posting, we encourage you to include the following:

• Brief description of your company
• Overview of the position
• A list of responsibilities and tasks
• Benefits of the internship such as, professional development, networking opportunities, and/or mentorship
• Learning outcomes
• Intern qualifications & skills

For assistance in creating an internship job description, check out the template below:

Internship Job Description Template 

Academic Credit

Nearly all students can gain academic credit for their internship, regardless of payment. Students may choose to do this through a departmental program, a faculty sponsorship, or through the Greene Center directly. Regardless of method, employers and supervisors will typically need to:

• Work with intern to define learning goals
• Provide a clear list of duties or activities for the internship
• Complete an employer evaluation at the end of the semester

More on Academic Credit

Recruiting for Your Internship

The Greene Center partners with Handshake to provide you a robust recruiting platform. The system allows you to:

• Effectively list your internship opportunities
• Arrange special events such as office hours, coffee chats & information sessions
• Establish interviewing schedules

Handshake Employer Portal