Internships aren’t just learning experiences for students—they’re a powerful hiring tool for employers. Hosting interns allows you to get to know emerging talent while they’re developing their skills, gaining industry exposure, and building loyalty to your organization. By the time interns graduate, they’re not new hires—they’re proven contributors who understand your work, your culture, and your expectations. Internships help employers hire smarter, faster, and with greater confidence.

Writing an Internship Description: What to Include

Information about your Organization:

• Provide a brief description of the organization, including the mission, industry, and core values

Intern Responsibilities & Learning Objectives:

• a clear description of what the student will be expected to do and overall goals for the experience
• a list of specific responsibilities that are meaningful projects with exposure to teams, culture, and decision-making
• identify 2 or 3 learning objectives that describe what the student will learn

Internship Details:

• Work setting (in person, hybrid, remote)
• Compensation information, including clarity if it is unpaid
• Work requirements including expected hours per week, start and end dates
• Work Authorization requirements if applicable

Applicant Requirements:

• Identify materials that should be submitted along with application (course schedule, resume, cover letter)
• Deadline to apply for best consideration
• Proivde contact information (email, address, website) for any follow up

The Role of the Internship Site Supervisor:  

• An intern must be supervised by a staff member who is a subject matter expert in the area of the internship. For example, to hire an intern to support social media marketing, the supervisor on site should be adept in this area as the role involves instruction and direction.
• An internship must have defined learning outcomes tied to industry roles
• Interns should receive regular feedback, have consistent check-in’s with supervisors, and be evaluated for skill development.
• Interns benefit from exposure to teams, culture, and decision-making.
• Internships should include conversations about pathways to post-graduation roles within your organization.

Helpful Resources:

• Employer Guide to Creating a Meaningful Learning Experience

• Information on funding support for employers offering internships can be found on the website for the Governor’s Workforce Board, including the Work Immersion Training Grants  

• NACE Internship Principles regarding unpaid internships provide guidance

• Fair Labor Standards Act outlined by The US Department of Labor