Create an Internship

As the Career Center of the UW, we know how important internships are - not only to students, but to our business partners too.  Internships help students develop necessary skills to compete in the job market while helping your business at the same time.

We also know that there are many questions about how to create a meaningful and practical internship program. That's why we have developed the following guidelines to help you build an internship program that works for you, our students and meets the guidelines of allowable internship experiences.

What is an Internship?

In short, an internship is a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to a student's field of study or career interest. Internships allow students to apply principles and theory they've learned in the classroom to a professional environment where they can build skills and explore career opportunities. Internships are available in all employing sectors and can be paid or unpaid. If unpaid, an internship must meet the U.S. Department of Labor's criteria for a learner/trainee, to be considered legal. Students also have the option of earning credit for an internship by making arrangements with their academic department.

Benefits of Creating an Internship

There are many benefits to creating an internship, such as:

  • Creating a cost-effective pipeline of future employee candidates;
  • Accessing students who have special skills or knowledge;
  • Gaining short-term talent to assist with projects that might otherwise not be accomplished;
  • Sourcing ideas grounded in academic specialities from a group of enthusiastic and innovative workers;
  • Increasing your organization's visibility on campus; and,
  • Finding satisfaction in helping students progress in their career path.

Internship Guidelines for Employers

What is NOT an Internship?

Generally, positions that are primarily clerical or volunteer jobs which provide little or no opportunity for students to gain practical experience which compliments their academic learning are not considered internships.  

Tips for a Successful Internship Program

  • Assess your needs and resources.
  • Provide a challenging work experience.
  • Create a clearly defined description of the position.
  • Orient students to your work environment.
  • Supervise your interns to maximize their learning experience.

Best Practices for Internship Programs

How to Find Interns

In addition to posting your internship on HuskyJobs, or interviewing on campus, The Career Center and our team of talented Employer Relations specialists are happy to help you devise ways to find and recruit interns.

For more information about building an internship in your organization or help developing an internship plan please contact us.