Onboarding tomorrow’s talent

Internships provide valuable opportunities for students and young professionals to gain real-world experience and explore potential career paths. Interns bring fresh perspectives, enthusiasm and a desire to learn, making them valuable to any organization. Conversely, interns provide organizations with a range of benefits, from taking on lower-level tasks to free up time for colleagues to giving managers the opportunity to discover new talent.

What is an intern?

An intern is a developing professional who works at an organization for a short time to gain  practical experience or knowledge in a specific industry or occupation. While interns are typically college students gaining real-world experience outside the classroom, they can also be other adults that are earning higher education degrees or considering career changes. An internship typically spans a defined period, during which interns work closely with professionals, gaining insights into the field and developing essential skills. An internship can be  taken part- or full-time and is normally structured and supervised, often with onboarding and training to ensure interns succeed while gaining skills.

How you can benefit from a positive intern onboarding experience?

Your onboarding process shouldn’t just be treated as formality. As interns step into their roles, the initial experience sets the tone for their time with your organization — and you want to make a great first impression right from day one. Creating a memorable onboarding experience not only sets your intern up for success, but also provides the following benefits to your organization: 

Retention and engagement

When interns feel welcomed and supported from the start, they are more likely to be more engaged, contribute effectively to projects and stay committed to your organization.

Job success

An effective onboarding process ensures that interns receive the necessary training and resources to perform their tasks competently. This, in turn, enhances their skill development and boosts their confidence.

Company culture assimilation

Introducing interns to the company's culture, values and mission early fosters a sense of belonging. When interns align with the company's principles, they are more likely to work harmoniously with others and contribute positively to the workplace environment.

Productivity and efficiency

A well-structured onboarding process helps interns become productive more quickly. By reducing the learning curve, interns can contribute meaningfully to projects, benefiting both their professional growth and the company's productivity.

Talent attraction

A positive onboarding experience creates a positive reputation for the organization. Happy interns are more likely to share their experiences with their networks, attracting more talented individuals to apply for future internships with your company.

Creating a winning intern onboarding template

An intern onboarding template is a structured and organized framework, designed to guide you through the process of welcoming and integrating new interns. A good template should be consistent and comprehensive, outlining the steps, tasks and activities required to ensure a smooth transition for interns. Here’s what you must include in your intern onboarding template, which you can build out for free using the Coassemble template builder:

1. Welcome package

Prepare a warm welcome package that includes a personalized message from the manager, company swag (such as a t-shirt, pen, notebook, tote bag — or all of the above!) and any necessary paperwork that must be completed. 

2. Mentor assignment

Assign a mentor or buddy to your intern, ideally from the same department they’ll be joining. This guiding presence will assist them in navigating their responsibilities, addressing queries and seamlessly integrating into the team.

3. Orientation

Conduct an orientation session that introduces interns to your company's history, values, culture and organizational structure. All this information, including videos if available, can be laid out in a Coassemble screen for easy reference. The orientation session should also include a team introduction session where interns can get to know their colleagues. 

4. Job training

Provide comprehensive training related to the intern’s specific roles and responsibilities. If possible, offer workshops, online courses or shadowing opportunities to equip them with the skills they need to excel.

5. Regular check-ins

Schedule regular check-in meetings to assess interns' progress, address concerns and provide constructive feedback.

6. Real projects

Assign interns real projects that contribute to the company's objectives — yes, this goes beyond photocopying and fetching lattes! Tasking interns with real projects will provide a sense of purpose and allow them to apply their skills practically.

7. Social events

Organize social events and team-building activities to foster camaraderie and create a friendly work environment.

8. Feedback and evaluation

Conduct a final evaluation and provide interns with constructive feedback. Offer guidance on areas for improvement and recognize their achievements during their time with your company.

9. Certificate and farewell

Present interns with a certificate of completion and organize a farewell event to celebrate their contributions.

Fostering futures and empowering success for interns

As you can see, investing time and effort into intern onboarding is a smart move that pays dividends in the long run, making it a win-win situation for everyone involved. The value of a well-crafted intern onboarding template cannot be overstated. By embracing the principles we've explored today, you're not only preparing your interns for success, but also fortifying your organization's foundation for innovation and achievement.