Hiring Interns
Below is some general information about internships development. If you'd like to
talk with someone personally about internships for FSU students please contact Angela
Roman at angelaroman@ferris.edu, with any questions. Internships for Ferris State University students can be posted
for free on Bulldog CareerLink.
Review the Intern In Michigan Employers Internship Toolkit
An internship is:
- An on-site work experience directly related to career goals and/or field(s) of interest
- Supervised, emphasizing learning and professional development
- Evaluative, provides system for feedback and communication
- Either paid, unpaid, for-credit, not-for-credit
An internship is not:
- Routine, repetitive tasks unrelated to identified learning goals
- A job that does not offer career related learning opportunities and experiences
- Unsupervised, not evaluated experiences
- An internship is not doing tasks in a workplace but rather learning and growing professionally.
Quick Points:
- Internship positions are available from businesses, government departments, non-profit
groups and organizations.
- Credit or non-credit internships can be done during the fall, spring and summer
- An internship can be paid or unpaid. (A volunteer can also be categorized as an unpaid
intern.)
- Student interns have a supervisor on-site with experience in the students' area of
interest.
Benefits of an Internship Program:
- Students offer fresh perspectives beneficial to business
- Students have a desire to learn and make contributions to business
- Students are up-to-date on cutting edge concepts and knowledge
- Internships offer an effective way for companies to locate and train motivated students
to fill immediate needs.
- Internships create a valuable pipeline of talent for a future workforce.
- Internships allow employers to pre-screen potential employees for ability, habits,
interpersonal skills and adaptability before making a full-time offer, and students
get to learn about a company before making a commitment.
- Employers can seamlessly convert interns to full-time employees who can be productive
immediately.
Top Ten Tips for Successful Internships:
- Plan and Prepare – Successful internships require some upfront planning and preparation
time. Define the intern’s role and responsibilities sufficiently ahead of time. Prepare
staff members who will interact with the intern.
- Orient and Train – Plan and provide at least basic orientation and training.
- Supervise – Designate a supervisor who will be available and committed to overseeing
the intern.
- Include and Enrich – In addition to the fundamental tasks the intern handles, provide
other experiences that will enrich the experience, such as sitting in on staff meetings
and client presentations.
- Challenge and Use – Find out what specialized skills the intern might possess and
find a way to use them in a way that challenges the intern and benefits your organization.
- Mentor – Arrange opportunities for the intern to benefit from experienced individuals
in your organization. For example, help them connect with others in your organization
for career information and advice interviews.
- Feedback – Provide ongoing performance feedback to the intern. Also, get feedback
FROM them about their experience.
- Follow-up – Contact the College representative (if applicable) if you do not receive
intern applicants or have any other concerns.
- Support – At the conclusion of the internship, give the student a letter of reference
that outlines his/her strengths and accomplishments as an intern. Talk to the student
about job search strategies that might help him or her break into your field.
- Have Fun – College students can bring a breath of fresh air to a workplace. Enjoy
your time with them!!
