Why Hire an Intern

Participation in an internship program can enhance an employer’s relationship with Chapman University by way of new academic partnerships, a recruitment pipeline to build your applicant pool, and through a culture of mentorship and learning.

There is no long-term commitment so recruitment for projects with short and ongoing timelines is welcomed year-round. Several national studies have shown that participation in such programs is a cost-effective way for employers to pre-screen, evaluate, train, recruit and hire talent. Although there are many tasks students can perform, the primary purpose of an internship is to provide a beneficial learning environment for the student.

Ask yourself the following questions to determine your needs and qualifications as an employer:

1.     Is the work meaningful and appropriate for a college student?
Hiring a student to perform busy work (cold calls, data entry, filing, answering phones, faxing, "gophering," etc.) is inappropriate for internship experiences. Hiring an intern to alleviate some of your busy work is acceptable if balanced with meaningful responsibilities.

2.     Will there be sufficient learning opportunities?
The basis of the four-way partnership between the employer, the student, faculty internship advisor, and the Internship Coordinator is a shared goal: the learning, growth, and development of the intern. Will the work you offer the intern meet this goal?

3.     Are you available for on-site supervision?
Do you have the time to oversee and guide the student's performance? Will you be available to offer constructive feedback?

4.     Will you provide appropriate resources for the student to do the job?
Student interns require an adequate work environment to perform useful and necessary tasks. Can you be sure the student has an appropriate work station to complete the agreed upon duties? Does the student need a computer? A phone? Pens? Paper? It is unreasonable to expect anyone, including a student, to perform a job function without proper resources.

5.     Are the required skills and responsibilities sufficiently challenging?
An internship serves as a link between textbook theory and practical application. Will the work require the student to make decisions and learn about the field through hands-on experience?