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First Year MEM student Alex Aines works at the Bimini Biological Field Station as a research intern over the summer. – See more at: https://nicholas.duke.edu/alex-aines

Nicholas School graduate students sometimes refer to summer as the “third semester”, because their internships provide essential opportunities to gain practical skills.  Environmental professionals also benefit from sponsoring an intern – students can help collect data, get back-burner projects up and running, or conduct outreach.  Yet as supervisors, we rarely receive any intern management training.  Here are some quick tips on how to maximize the summer internship experience for both student and supervisor:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Write and share clear expectations of outcomes. Answer a simple question for yourself – What is the purpose of this internship? Is there a clear objective or student project? Is this simply an opportunity for them to shadow you to get exposure to meetings, procedures, or resources that you use? Glenda Lee, Nicholas School Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Programs tells us, “It’s important for the supervisor to think through the experience and expectations before the intern arrives.”
  2. Set aside time in the first week to show the intern around. Maybe you can host a little welcome social or group lunch.  Introducing your intern to colleagues helps broaden their professional network and might allow them to take on projects for colleagues that will benefit everyone.  Lee advises, “…begin with the end in mind. Interns are a breathing billboard to promote your organization. How can you plan and deliver an experience to maximize the chances they will say good things?”
  3. Set periodic goals or schedule times to debrief (or at least have them submit a written report) before the end of the internship. This will help to check for understanding and ensure that you are both on track before it’s too late.
  4. Give honest feedback and tips for improvement. This is meant to be a learning experience and it might be the best chance for the student to receive informal feedback on their job performance.  For you, it’s a great chance to practice communicating, managing, and coaching as well.  Feedback can be as simple as a quick email, or more formal like this Evaluation Form or a survey.
  5. Share appreciation, give thanks, and stay in touch. Make a point to acknowledge the intern’s accomplishments before they leave. Assuming you were pleased with their work, write a letter or LinkedIn endorsement, or send an email to their internship placement program with specifics on what went well or suggestions for how the position can be improved in future years.

Taking the time to integrate these five steps into a summer internship can add countless value to the student’s experience, and also to your own depth as a manager.

Written by Allison Besch, Director of Executive Education Programs