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TTU Home University Career Center

Guidelines for Establishing Strong Effective Internship Programs

What you should know

An internhsip is an on-site pre-professional experience providing exposure to actual career fields and responsibilities
Internships provide students with opportunities to identify skills and gain practical work experience
An internship is NOT free labor
Typical internships range from 8 - 15 hours a week during semesters and full-time during the summer
Many students are compensated monetarily for their internships. The range is from approximately $10 - $17 per hour based on experience and industry/field
Students usually recive credit or some kind of acknowedgment from their program department for unpaid internships and they negotiate the terms of the agreement
Stipends, recognition dinners, cook-outs or outings add a nice touch to unpaid work experiences.

Internship Guidelines

Establishing an Internship Program

Consider your organization's ability to provide meaningful work assignments, to invest time in interns through training and supervision
Begin by locating a staff member who would enjoy and benefit from working with an intern
The intern supervisor should be a professional in the field who is committed to and capable of providing instruction and constructive feedback for the intern
Develop goals and learning objectives for the intern and identify the intern's projects and activities
Take into account your ability to provide financial support (monetary compensation) as well as office space

Finding your intern

To list an internship opportunity for Tech students, register with RaiderJobs, our online job portal
Provide a company overview, job description, and qualifications. Give a brief idea of projects, tasks, compensation, location and time commitment.
Meet with the intern to discuss the job descriptions and expected outcomes. Decide on start and end dates.
Orient the intern to your work site through a tour. Acquaint the intern to the mission, goals and policies of your company (written and unwritten).
Provide staff with background information about the intern's projects and responsibilities.
Schedule regular meetings with the intern to provide a forum for feedback and questions.
During the internship, the supervisor and intern should meet frequently to discuss progress and expectations.
An exit interview should be done with the intern to review the intern's performance and accomplishments.