Internship Information and Resources for Employers
Find everything employers need to develop successful internship programs with ¶¶Òô³Ô¹Ï interns. This page outlines the benefits of hosting interns, including strong ROI, improved retention, and high intern-to-hire conversion rates, along with sample agreements, internship guidelines, and best practices for creating meaningful internship opportunities.
Internship Benefits
- An effective way to recruit early-career college graduates
- 80% of employers surveyed indicated that internships provided the best return on investment (ROI)
- 50%-60% of interns convert to full-time employees with quicker onboarding
- Interns who become employees have a high 75.5% retention rate after their first year, compared to 51.5% for non-intern hires
- Opportunity to enhance an employer’s brand on college campuses
- Interns are a cost-effective resource to accomplish work and increase productivity
Adapted from the National Association of Colleges and Employers ()
Essential Information
Questions to Consider
- Will you pay the intern?
- Where will you put the intern?
- What qualifications do you want in an intern?
- Who will have primary responsibility for the intern?
- What will the intern be doing?
- How many hours will the intern work?
- What additional benefits can you offer an intern?
Best Practices
- Paying interns enables meaningful work assignments, broadens the candidate pool, and supports intern-to-hire conversion.
- Source, screen, and select intern candidates with the same standards as full-time hires to improve match quality and retention.
- Assign substantive work tied to interns’ academic backgrounds and career goals to boost engagement and demonstrate value.
- Combine orientation sessions, handbooks, and online portals to set clear expectations and equip interns for success.
- Appoint a mentor to oversee logistics, foster connections, and guide intern development.
- Offer in-person, hybrid, or remote options to accommodate intern preferences and organizational needs.
Adapted from the National Association of Colleges and Employers ()
