HOW TO START AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Would you like to establish an internship program at your organization, but don’t know where to begin?

Start by compiling a list of colleges and universities in your area, says Stacey Norris, assistant director of activities and volunteers at Broadway House for Continuing Care (Newark, NJ). Include not only career services offices, but also academic departments and programs that relate to your cause.

“Broadway House pays particular attention to college interns,” says Norris. “We’ve developed a program where students receive three to six credits for their volunteer work.”

To recruit students effectively, Norris and her colleagues attend area college career/internship fairs and send out a biannual mailing to area schools. “On average, we take three to five interns per semester,” she says. “Some colleges charge a fee to participate in such fairs, but they may give a break to nonprofits, so be sure to ask.”

Although setting up an internship program has some initial costs and establishing contacts can be time consuming, it’s worth the investment, says Norris. “Some students continue to volunteer with us even after their internship ends…and once you develop a relationship with college faculty, they are more likely to refer students to your organization.’

Norris offers another piece of advice: “When creating job descriptions for interns, be sure to indicate whether the position is paid or not. Also, be sure to detail how the position applies to a specific major and what the student can expect to get out of the job.

Source: Stacey Norris, Assistant Director of Activities & Volunteers

Broadway House For Continuing Care - 298 Broadway Newark, New Jersey 07104 - (973) 268-9797