Characteristics of a High-quality Internship
An internship is a position, usually part-time, that is related to the student's academic goals and is pre-professional in nature. It should be designed to give the student the opportunity to learn new skills, explore career interests, and meet new social and intellectual challenges. Keep the following characteristics of a good internship in mind when thinking about your organization's internship program:
- A clear position description outlining the primary responsibilities of the intern. Include interns in hands-on, meaningful work which will enhance their understanding of your organization.
- Training that familiarizes the intern with the organization's mission and outlines the objectives of the internship.
- Challenging and meaningful duties and responsibilities that are not randomly determined or purely clerical in nature.
- A safe and specific work space for the intern.
- Exposure to other professional staff, clientele, etc.(as appropriate) for professional growth.
- Opportunities for “shadowing” and mentoring.
- Feedback and discussion regarding the intern’s performance.
Internships
Contact Us
Ashley Tarbet
Internship Coordinator
102 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 867-2317
FAX (814) 863-6834
aet143@psu.edu
Kathy Swanger
Staff Assistant
102 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 867-2317
kam55@psu.edu
Alumni Contact
Christopher Gamble
Assistant Director Alumni Relations
College of the Liberal Arts
Penn State University
138 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 863-2398
cvg4@psu.edu