InternshipsContent adapted from Starting and Maintaining a Quality Internship Program, Michael True, Messiah College

Erin Wolfram: Assistant Director, University Career Center-KUewolfram@ku.edu / 785-864-7676

Questions Answered:• What is an internship?

• Why is this important for you?

• What are the requirements of an internship?

• What makes a quality internship?

• Do students need to get academic • credit?

• How can you promote your opportunities?

Why is this important for you, HR professionals?• Help you better understand the requirements of an experience

for it to be considered an internship

• Provide you with information from the Department of Labor regarding internships

• Assist you in developing quality internships within your organization

• Help you connect with universities to find quality candidates who may turn into full-time hires

How do interns help employers?• Source of motivated pre-professionals

• New perspectives

• Organization visibility

• Quality candidate pool for future openings

• No long-term commitment

What is an internship?Experience that:• integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with

practical application

• is overseen by a designated employee of an organization who has expertise in the intern’s responsibilities

• usually lasts a semester: part-time or full-time

• does not have to be paid

• must include a learning component

What is an internship?

Experience that:• may be part of an educational program for academic credit or

simply a part of a learning plan

• includes learning objectives, observation, reflection, evaluation, & assessment

• promotes academic, career and/or personal development

What are the requirements for an internship to be unpaid?

• The U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, which applies to all companies that have at least two employees directly engaged in interstate commerce and annual sales of at least $500,000, severely restricts an employer’s ability to use unpaid interns or trainees. It does not limit an employer’s ability to hire paid interns.

What are the requirements for an experience to be an unpaid internship?

From the U.S. Department of Labor:Interns…• Cannot displace regular employees

• Are not guaranteed a job at the end of the internship

• Are not entitled wages

• Must receive training from your organization

• Must get hands-on experience and must learn new skills or gain new knowledge

• Training must primarily benefit the student, not the organization

http://www.wagehour.dol.gov

What makes a quality internship?• Goal-oriented: learning objectives

• Proper orientation

• Necessary resources to do the internship

• Hands-on responsibility that allows interns to integrate their academic knowledge

• Proper supervision

• Feedback

• Evaluation

• Pay if you can

Do students need to get academic credit?• No

• Give them the option

• Options for credit

• Make sure to include learning components throughout the internship

How can you promote your opportunities?• University career centers

• Career and internship fairs

• Post on your website

• www.hirekansastalent.com

Questions?