Should your organisation offer internships?

The Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) has conducted an internship program with more than 100 interns over the past six years and has found interns to be highly valuable to the growth of the organisation. Based on their experiences Conley Tyler and former intern at the AIIA Olivia Rothnie-Jones tackle some of the common myths about internships.

Myth: Interns expect to be spoon-fed, immediately gratified and consistently praised

Reality: Many interns have a tremendous capacity to work and are aware that not all projects are glamorous or show immediate results. However, they do want their work to have value. Therefore it’s important to explain not only what you want interns to do but why the task needs to be done and how it fits into the larger strategic picture. Even a fairly mundane job can be interesting if interns know why it’s important and how it will build their skills. Like any employee, interns require feedback. Praise, when deserved, can be a useful motivational tool.

Myth: Interns are overconfident and incapable

Reality: It’s true that interns lack experience, but they can still be valuable assets to an organisation. Their lack of experience is countered by their eagerness to acquire new skills. For many interns the biggest shock of an internship is realising how much they don’t yet know, which motivates them to learn. Clear guidelines and adequate supervision helps keep interns on track with their tasks and reduces the frequency and severity of mistakes.

Myth: Interns are too young, which makes them oversensitive and unable to accept constructive criticism

Reality: On the whole, I have found interns to be receptive to all forms of feedback. In fact they are often harsher on themselves than I would ever be. Undertaking an internship, especially if it’s for the first time, is a steep learning curve and interns do not always start out as mature as they leave. Many interns have reported that the personal and emotional growth they have gained through an internship experience has been just as important as professional development and practical experience.

Myth: Interns are unpaid so there is nothing compelling them to perform well or even show up

Reality: In the case of the AIIA, we are dealing with a group of highly educated, highly motivated individuals who have sought out this opportunity for reasons beyond financial remuneration and who have made it through a competitive selection process. Feedback from interns indicates that not only do they want to take advantage of the opportunity, but that they take immense pride in their work.

The key to fostering this sense of pride is giving interns ownership of tasks. The AIIA aims to create an atmosphere of structured independence where interns take on significant responsibilities and have an adequate support network they can draw on when needed. It’s impressive to see how most interns rise to the challenges of their new role.

Myth: Interns don’t care about an organisation’s reputation and are a risk to the brand

Reality: Most interns are not interning for money but for educational, professional and personal rewards. More often than not, the organisation itself is a key factor in their choice to undertake an internship and interns feel responsibility for the reputation of the organisation. They also care about their own reputation as part of their career prospects.

One good technique for fostering responsibility is to make interns feel included in and integral to the organisation. If interns feel trusted, they will take it upon themselves to strive to uphold the aims and values of the organisation. Training is required to protect your organisation’s reputation. The AIIA provides intern training on professional etiquette, editing and proof reading, website management and proposal writing. You can’t assume that interns already have certain knowledge.

Myth: Interns are too high-maintenance

Reality: Yes, you have to put in the work to adequately support interns. However, the benefits interns have brought to the AIIA over the past six years have far outweighed the time spent investing in them. For organisations with limited resources, interns can be the perfect way to incorporate fresh ideas and energy into your organisation.