Employers creating a new internship program or trying to optimize their current internship program often ask the RIC team for some advice on how to determine intern tasks.  To have a successful internship program, you need to take into account the projects and tasks that will meet the needs of the company while providing a meaningful learning experience for the intern.

The needs of the company may include having the intern do work that allows the employer to evaluate their potential to be a full-time hire, or simply to give the intern tasks so that they are involved in different projects.

Meaningful intern tasks allow them to apply what they have learned in the classroom in a “real world” setting and to also be able to leave the internship with something they can add to their portfolios and resumes.  In order to ensure that the intern tasks are meaningful for both the company and the intern, you should first determine a list of tasks that you would like to have completed by the intern.

When defining intern tasks, try to be as specific as possible.  You do not want your intern to feel lost, confused, or bored.  Since internships must have a learning component, the intern must be more engaged than just photocopying, data entry, and stuffing envelopes.  This is not to say that a student cannot do these “glamorous” tasks, as they are usually elements of full-time jobs; however, the student should not be hired just to do this type of work.  The daily tasks assigned to the intern should be challenging, yet realistic tasks that the student can accomplish the intern should be challenging, yet realistic tasks that the student can accomplish during the typical three-month long internship.  These are the tasks that should appear in the job description.

Once you have hired the intern, you should discuss what he/she would like to get out of the experience, and modify the tasks to reflect the goals and expected outcomes to meet the needs of both the company and the intern.

Below is a list of possible intern tasks that you can assign to interns so that the intern’s experience is beneficial for both the student and the company:

• Contribute to project design or development
• Develop and carry-out a marketing plan or business strategy
• Develop advertising/promotional strategies
• Contact/Relationship management and general customer service
• Participate in networking opportunities
• Write reports, handbooks, manuals, or newsletters
• Coordinate and perform education/outreach
• Develop presentations
• Design posters, charts, graphs
• Respond to inquires, leads, and referrals
• Create and maintain database
• Participate in various staff meetings in more than one department/level
• Perform software/hardware modifications
• Develop/Create and upkeep website
• Conduct research, studies, or surveys
• Perform laboratory tests
• Accounting: General Ledger, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable