Fresh Ideas, New Trends, and Latest Technology

University students often see the world through a different lens.  They can bring  innovation and creative thinking to the workplace, questioning processes and offering suggestions. Accustomed to teaching themselves new technologies quickly, they will likely have learning strategies to offer.

Increased Capacity

Interns bring skills and a desire to use their abilities to further the mission of the company. After initial training, interns can take on a project they can work on autonomously, often creating a valuable deliverable. Their work can free up other employees to pursue new endeavors.

Mentorship Opportunities

Internship programs give current employees an opportunity to mentor future leaders in the field, which can promote a healthy work culture and build company morale. Helping teach and develop individuals new to the career can motivate employees and reinvigorate their passion or work ethic, and increase effective leadership within the team (Indeed Career Guide, 2023.)

New Talent Discovery

• 85% of responding employers indicated internships are the top recruiting method for their investment of time and money, far ahead of career fairs (9%), on-campus visits (3%), and participating in campus panels (3%)(NACE, 2023.)
• Hiring an intern from UVM will forge relationships within the University that can lead to new connections with Career Center recruitment opportunities as well as with the intern’s friends, colleagues and faculty.

Employee Retention

• 50% to 60% of eligible interns convert to full-time employees.
• 75% of converted interns are still with the organization after their first year on the job compared to 51% of non-intern employees (NACE 2023 Internship & Co-op Report, 2023.)

Position Description

A position description with clear responsibilities, specific projects and required/desired qualifications. Consider consulting resources on the most inclusive hiring practices.

Defined Learning Goals

Clearly defined learning goals and a plan for how the intern will gain and practice the skills to meet those goals.

Direct Supervisor

A direct professional supervisor with relevant expertise who provides productive feedback, guidance, and the resources and equipment necessary to successfully complete the assignment.

Compensation

Diversify your Workforce

Women, Black, and Hispanic students are significantly underrepresented as a proportion of paid interns. Providing more paid internships for underrepresented populations will lead to greater access, opportunity, and success for participating students; help fill critical roles throughout the employment landscape; and lead to needed diversification of the workforce. (NACE, 2023)

Fully Engaged and Present Interns

Paid interns do their best work and are able to be more fully present because they don’t have to work side jobs to manage their living expenses during the internship.

More Applicants

• Handshake data from August 2022 through February shows that paid internship postings attract an average of 43 more applicants per job than unpaid ones. (Forbes, 2023).
• NACE research has found that students who take part in paid internships receive more job offers and garner higher starting salaries than those who participate in unpaid internships (NACE 2022 Student Survey, 2022).

US Department of Labor Standards

• The standards for intern pay are dictated by the US Department of Labor, and are outlined on Fact Sheet #71 - which states that interns must be paid minimum wage unless the intern is determined to be the “primary beneficiary” of the intern-employer relationship. If you have questions about the Department of Labor’s guidance, we recommend you consult your attorney.
• NACE Position Statement on Unpaid Internships and the Need for Federal Action

Make a Plan

• Consult the UVM Guide: Internship Information and Best Practices to help you think through
  • Your goals for the internship
  • Supervision
  • Inclusive hiring practices
  • Hours and duration of the internship
  • Compensation

Develop a robust and engaging Internship Description

• The Writing an Internship Description Guide walks you through the recommended components
• Looking for feedback on your description? Send it to UVM Internship Coordinator Kristen.Andrews@uvm.edu for review and suggestions on how to make it most appealing to a strong field of applicants

Post your internship

• Register and post your internship on Handshake. UVM students access these postings and will contact you directly, allowing you to interview and select the student(s) who are the best fit for your position.
• Handshake problems? Contact careers@uvm.edu for assistance
• Use this Handshake Onboarding Guide to walk you through the process.
• Your post will now be visible to all UVM students and students at any other participating college you select.
• Consider consulting our guidance on diversity recruiting strategies

Target promotion of your internship position to interested UVM students

• Explore avenues to Engage Students from Marginalized Backgrounds Early & Often
• If you are a UVM alum, you can post about the position on our student, staff and alum platform UVM Connect
• Let the UVM Career Center know your posting is up by emailing Kristen.andrews@uvm.edu
  • Tell us the specific majors/interest areas you’d like to see among your applicants, and we’ll alert UVM department newsletter managers and Career Center Interest Group leaders of the opportunity
  • We can highlight your post on our platform UVM Connect under specific interest groups