What Does the Employer Expect from a Student Intern? 
Your employer expects you to be a professional. This means to act, dress, and present yourself in a professional manner.
Work ethic
You are considered an employee of the agency that hires
you. This is your job, even if you are not getting paid (or getting
paid less than you would like). This means that you need to be on time
to work and keep the hours that are stated in your contract.
Appearance
Depending on your job, dress will be professional or casual. Ask your
supervisor when you are hired what the normal dress is for the agency.
Be neat and tidy regardless of any co-worker example to the contrary.
Appearances do make a difference in the manner in which you are treated,
viewed and, eventually, paid.
Professional Responsibilities
You are responsible for:
- asking questions when you are unsure about things
- alerting your employer to any potential problems
-
getting your assigned projects done on time.
What should student interns expect from the employers?
Student interns have a right to expect particular information and actions from an employer.
Position and Project Description
Each potential
Each employer has been requested to provide a
position description and internship project description for the
particular time period for which the job is advertised. This will give
you an opportunity to match your skills and interests to an internship
or to look for new experiences to make the internship as productive as
possible.
Treatment as a Professional
Student interns have the right to be treated as
professionals. This means that you are not expected to be a "gopher" for
the agency or talked down to. Employers are aware that minimum "grunt
work" is allowed but some routine or unpleasant tasks are part of most
professions. Students should be able to apply their education and
brainpower for the majority of the internship and, accordingly, should
act like a professional. Keep yourself open to new experiences.
Student Responsibilities
Certain things are expected from students in regards to the internship and materials that must be submitted.
Find an internship
The student is primarily responsible for finding an
internship, with assistance from peers, faculty and Career Services as
needed.
Attend an internship orientation meeting
There will be a meeting at the end of the spring semester that is mandatory. The meeting will have two purposes:
- explaining the minimum requirements of the internship program
- allowing interns who have completed their experience to share informally with those who are just getting started.
Submit an internship proposal
A student must submit the position and project
description for his/her proposed internship before work begins. The
proposal must be approved by the agency/firm and include the name,
address, and phone number of the employer.
Arrange for an evaluation and exit interview
The student evaluation by the employer should include a
description of what the student accomplished and the hours worked. The
university will provide the evaluation form. The employers will also
conduct an exit interview with the student intern upon completion of the
internship. Both of these techniques will provide student interns
feedback about their performance.
Student report
See the section entitled "What is the grading procedure?" for details.
Skip to main content
