How to Build a Winning Internship Program to retain Interns

 

How to Build a Winning Internship Program to retain Interns

Introduction:

A successful internship necessitates not just the intern's hard work, but also the managers' and supervisors' efforts to ensure that the intern has a worthwhile experience. Making an internship a win-win situation for both employers and students is part of the beauty and value of successful internships (Campbell, 2020).

Develop a clearly defined job description

No one can function effectively if they are given little or no direction. This is especially true for college students who enter the internship with minimal experience and knowledge of the employer's expectations for them as an intern. Supervisors can begin the planning process to guarantee that their interns are successful by taking this first step (Trevor, 2009).  A genuine job description can be very useful not only in defining the internship, but also in evaluating performance at the beginning, middle, and finish.

Schedule regular performance reviews

Schedule regular performance reviews to provide students an honest assessment of their performance so they can track their progress (Campbell, 2020). A good performance review provides an opportunity to assist the intern in learning while also providing a true gauge of whether or not they are reaching the expectations of their employer.

Keep intern busy

Developing short and long-term projects for your intern will keep them engaged and help them accomplish their best work. Interns frequently complain about not having enough work to do or being given work that is menial and does not engage them in concrete assignments that will benefit both them as an intern and the employer, just as employers frequently complain about interns using work time for personal calls and emails (Yazinski, 2009).

Help your intern to find a mentor within the Organization

Having a mentor as an intern can be quite beneficial. Because there is so much new information to absorb at the outset of an internship, a mentor can assist the student in navigating the waters of a new job much more rapidly than if they tried to learn everything on their own. For interns who are still learning the ropes, a good mentor can be quite beneficial (Campbell, 2020).

 

Show appreciation for the work that your interns do

Nothing boosts self-esteem like being acknowledged for who you are and what you accomplish. Interns will have a better experience and perform better on the job if they believe their employers regard them as individuals and are completely invested in making their internship a success (Campbell, 2020).

Conclusion

Internships are extremely important in determining one's future path. It not only allows students and graduates to obtain real-world experience in the workplace, but it also allows them to build the necessary abilities to stand out in a crowded employment market.

References

Campbell, S., 2020. New role of HR professionals. [Online]
Available at: https://www.trainingjournal.com/articles/features/six-ways-role-hr-professionals-will-adjust-post-pandemic
[Accessed 12 April 2022].

Trevor, W., 2009. Staff Training and development. 2nd Edition ed. New York: Pearson Publishers.

Yazinski, S. K., 2009. Library: HR.BLR.com. [Online]
Available at: https://hr.blr.com/whitepapers/Staffing-Training/Employee-Turnover/Strategies-for-Retaining-Employees-and-Minimizing-
[Accessed 12 April 2022].