Internships Needed!
Building on the Foundation for
Maine’s Future Workforce
The response to the launch of InternHelpME.com from both the educator community and business
community has been enthusiastically supportive. Members of the chamber staff have been working
primarily with educators to populate their information on the site since the program’s launch in early
October.
When InternHelpME.com was launched, it unveiled the foundation for the highly interactive, keyword
search platform, opening the door for the site to be populated with information and postings by
educators, employers and students.
Our staff is ready to work with employers statewide to help them see the value and opportunities that
internships can bring to their organizations. Many Maine employers currently offer internships or
cooperatives, for those employers, InternHelpME.com can expand your outreach. For employers who
have never done it, let us help you get started.
Getting Started: Developing an Internship Program Within Your Organization
Determine your Organization’s Needs:




Do you feel as though you need more time to complete important projects?
Do you have projects that continue to be placed on the “back-burner” month after month?
Do you feel as though you are in a rut and need fresh ideas and creativity?
Do you need to hire a full-time position, but do not have the time or financial resources to recruit a
quality individual?
An Intern Could Be the Answer!
While back-burner projects may be lower priority to you, interns can complete these projects with
enthusiasm and gain valuable experience at the same time. As new, eager professionals, interns
contribute fresh ideas and new methods for solving old problems. Moreover, individuals taking part in an
internship experience are career-focused, preparing for their futures as professionals. The people they
meet become part of their professional networks; statistics indicate that 80% of all jobs are secured
through networking. Experiences gained throughout an internship are what make the individual
marketable to future employers.
Identify an Intern Supervisor
When starting an internship program, identify a supervisor for your intern(s). Each intern will need
someone to report to who will familiarize them with your organization, provide project assignments and
serve as a “go-to” person for questions. It is recommended that the intern supervisor be connected
closely with the type of project work the intern will perform (e.g. the marketing director supervising a
marketing intern, etc.) to provide appropriate guidance for the work that is to be completed. On most
occasions, the time an intern supervisor will need to dedicate to the intern will be heaviest at the
beginning of the internship for orientation, explanation and training purposes. If an intern is provided
ample project work – with set deadlines for completion and extra, less important projects for down time –
the intern will remain busy, feel productive and maintain ownership of assigned projects. Although the
intern supervisor should check in regularly on the intern’s progress and offer help when needed, it is
important to allow the intern opportunity for creative ownership in his/her project work.
Identify an Intern Mentor
While the intern supervisor works with the intern on assigned projects, the intern mentor assists with
“learning the ropes” of the organization. The intern mentor may work for another department or possess
similar interests in the intern’s field. Mentors can help extend the intern’s professional network, offer
assistance when the intern supervisor is unavailable and provide advice for handling internship
challenges. It is recommended that the mentor check in with the intern on a monthly basis (at minimum)
to ensure that the internship is running smoothly. Mentorship can be a wonderful method for contributing
to an intern’s professional development without being the direct supervisor.
Identify Meaningful Project Work
It is important to identify the intern’s responsibilities prior to advertising the internship opportunity.
Individuals searching for internship opportunities need to know the skills and responsibilities required,
significant projects for completion and as much about the internship as possible prior to applying or
interviewing for the opportunity. Given this information, applicants have a clear understanding of the
experience they will gain through the internship and the field it will allow them to explore. In turn,
employers are more likely to connect with students ready and able to complete project work.
While such tasks as filing, answering a telephone and assembling mailings are routine with any job, they
should not be the primary responsibilities of an intern. It is important to keep in mind that the intern is
participating in the internship to gain experience in his/her field, separating this experience from a parttime job.
By compiling a list of your organization’s needs, the intern’s responsibilities and project work may be
developed, as well as a determination of the number of inters needed and the amount of work to be
completed.
A business needing to develop a monthly newsletter, company brochure and other promotional materials,
for example, could benefit from a marketing student. While the primary responsibilities of the intern would
be to create these materials for the organization, having the student assist with distributing the
promotional materials to clientele, assemble the newsletter mailings, and even some filing and phone
reception is appropriate. The primary responsibilities of the intern are related to the marketing field, but
secondary responsibilities are also excellent experience for further developing appropriate communication
skills, conducting oneself in a professional manner with clients and learning how the organization
functions.
For more information about the program, please visit the website at www.InternHelpME.com, or to
schedule a meeting to discuss how to develop an internship for your organization, contact: JOYCE
LAROCHE (207) 623-4568, EXT. 23 /jlaroche@mainechamber.org - AMY DOWNING (207) 623-4568, EXT.
14 / adowning@mainechamber.org