Internship Guidelines
Why hire an intern?
Employers want to hire students for entry level positions who have some type of related experience on their resumes. For this reason, the Career Center is always looking for employers that are willing to provide internship opportunities for Stony Brook students, so they are better prepared upon graduation. You may be wondering, "What's in it for me?". There are several reasons you should consider hiring an intern. Here are a few:
- Interns are enthusiastic young people who provide fresh perspectives, and new ideas and viewpoints.
- Interns allow flexibility in staffing needs - Interns can help with important projects/activities you don't have the time to get to.
- Cost effective, screening program of recruiting highly qualified students - "test" now to see if the student would be a viable candidate for a full-time position after graduation.
- Greater retention of newly hired employees - students who have already participated in an internship program and are offered full-time employment tend to stay longer than candidates hired from the outside.
- Interns returning to school are effective PR ambassadors - word will spread fast about the wonderful experience you are able to provide students.
- Employer/University ties are strengthened - as your program grows in popularity, the process for hiring interns will become seamless.
What exactly is an internship?
An internship is a carefully monitored work or service experience in which an undergraduate has specific learning goals and reflects actively on what s/he is learning throughout the semester. The duration of a credit bearing internship parallels an academic term. Students engaged in credit bearing internships must have a faculty sponsor, complete a journal, and submit a term report.
Internship for Cash, Credit or both?
Some employers offer credit bearing internships, some non-credit bearing but paid and some even offer credit bearing and paid! Students engaged in credit bearing internships must have a faculty sponsor, complete a journal, and submit a term report.
Employer Responsibilities
The Internship Program seeks to provide students with a realistic exposure to deadlines and expectations outside traditional classroom experiences.
What does sponsoring a student for academic credit involve?
- Develop a detailed position description outlining learning objectives to be achieved throughout the experience. For faculty approval, the description must clearly outline how the experience will enhance learning in the classroom.
Please note: We understand that clerical tasks are a part of many professional jobs and expect that some duties of this nature will be assigned. However, the student should have professional assignments similar to other entry-level workers. - Sign the student’s internship agreement form.
- Ensure that a well trained supervisor is assigned to the student and available on a regular basis for necessary training and guidance.
- A mid-term and final evaluation must be completed assessing the student’s on the job performance.
What about compensation? You are not required to pay a student for an internship. We encourage students to pursue internships for the practical training. We also realize that not all organizations have the budget to compensate an intern. That said, it will make a big difference to a student if some form of monetary compensation is available (eg. hourly wage, monthly stipend, reimbursement of transportation expenses).
Developing an Effective Internship Program
Michael True, Director of the Internship Program at Messiah College, has developed an excellent resource for employers want to develop or improve their internship program. Please click here for access to this guide.