Building an Internship Program

Interested in hiring interns? Here are some tips from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) about how you can go about bringing this valuable resource to your company.

• Build a business case for your internship program and demonstrate its use to the organization.
• Create an effective orientation program for interns as well as their supervisors and mentors
• Achieve consistent supervision and evaluation
• Evaluate and document your internship program

You might also consider adding a scholarship component just as Westaff has as part of its yearly, summer internship program. Between May and September, Westaff will evaluate and place dozens of college interns in companies around the country. The program will also include scholarships. At the end of the summer, companies who've hired Westaff college interns will have the chance to nominate their favorite interns for the scholarships.

A scholarship is an opportunity to acknowledge an intern's outstanding work, contribute to a student's education and enhance a company's reputation as one that gives back to the community.

"It's also a chance to further build your relationship with a particularly talented and productive intern," said Linda Gaebler, Vice President and Director of Marketing/Communications for Westaff. "Everyone in the business world is competing for talent. An internship program with a scholarship component can give you an edge."