Hiring Interns

What Is an Internship?

Internships are structured career preparation activities designed to enrich and expand classroom learning for students and to help meet an organization’s goals. Students work in an internship for a defined period of time to participate in and observe work first hand within a given industry.

Benefits of Hiring Interns

• Investing in training for your talent pipeline and future workforce needs
• An internship is a low-stakes way to evaluate a person's potential for permanent employment
• Interns are more likely to become full-time employees and be loyal to a company; local interns are more likely to stay in the area
• Building your company's brand as a contributor to professional development for your community's workforce
• Contributing to student success: students participating in an internship related to their major are more likely to finish their degree

Internship Essentials

• Supervision and ongoing feedback provided by a professional in the field
• Clearly defined learning objectives related to a student's field of study
• Orientation, training, and/or an onboarding process
• A safe environment with the necessary tools to perform the learning objectives
• Work that is not meant to replace an employee
• Compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and with EEOC laws

Duration and Hours

Internships require a commitment for a defined period of time, typically a semester or summer. If interns are enrolled in college, classes are a top priority for them.

Typically, internships in fall, spring, or summer terms require about 5-20 hours per week.

Paid, full-time internships of 30-40 hours per week may be offered during the summer.

Compensation

Las Positas College encourages paid internships for students.

Recommended wages

Compensation can start at minimum wage, but $20-22 is a recommended starting wage

Top earners can make $26 per hour and more, based on experience and type of industry.

Unpaid Internships

If for-profit employers are considering offering an unpaid internship, they must be in compliance with the FLSA Fact Sheet 71.

Please note that unpaid internships can be posted to Handshake, but they will not be eligible for special promotion by the Career Center.

Posting Your Internship

Register as an employer on Handshake, the Las Positas College Internship & Job Board. Choose Las Positas College as a "School" when you post your internship. Once it is approved, you can post more jobs or internships.

Recommended items to include in a job posting:

• Job title mentions major/field (e.g. Marketing Intern, Engineering Intern)
• Short introduction to your organization (and the specific department) 
• Bulleted lists of job duties, qualifications, and preferred qualifications. Avoid paragraphs since people are less likely to read them 
• List of benefits to students, as well as positive impact they will have
• List at least 3 things that students will learn
• List Wage/ Salary range 
• List number of hours per week, hours of operation in which expected to work

Recommendations for Recruiting Interns

• Allow students 2-3 weeks to apply for a job or internship once it is posted (at least 1 month is ideal) 
• Email the Career Center Coordinator if you would like to request faculty referrals for student interns. Review our Overview of LPC programs.
• Please note that unpaid internships can be posted to Handshake, but they will not be eligible for special promotion by the Career Center

Recruiting and Retaining Diverse Interns

• Mention in the job posting that you encourage diverse students to apply 
• Provide information about mentorship, Employee Resource groups, etc.
• Include your organization’s definition of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the job posting
• Keep in mind that students in some groups will only apply if they meet 100% of requirements on a job description. Therefore, it is helpful to separate essential vs. desired qualifications on a job posting.
• Make recruitment process accessible for students with disabilities
• UC DEI Guide for Employers

Developing an Internship Program

Internship Program Consultation

Please contact the Career Center Coordinator if you would like to schedule a consultation regarding setting up an internship program.

Program Development Resources

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, employers find internship programs attractive because they bring in fresh perspectives, create a pipeline for new hires, and provide mentorship opportunities for existing employees. For best practices in developing an internship program, please consult the following resources provided by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE):

• 15 Best Practices for Internship Programs
• Key Items to Document for Your Internship Program
• Toolkits Provide Key Information to Interns, Managers

Credit for Internships

Students can earn credit for internships by enrolling in the course, WRKX 94 Occupational Work Experience/Internship—a win-win for employers and students. In WRKX 94, students work with their instructors and supervisors to develop learning objectives they will achieve during their internship.

They also learn work skills important to all employers: communication, customer service, time management, honesty/integrity, interpersonal skills, motivation/initiative, teamwork, analytical skills, flexibility/adaptability, technology, job knowledge, and professionalism/work ethic.

Students who took Work Experience 94 have reported improved relationships with their supervisors as well as promotions or extensions of their internship as a result of taking the course.