Employer Guide
Internships & Co-ops
Internships are work experiences that are usually accompanied by university credit and sponsored by a faculty member. If employers can offer compensation, they will get more applicants, but its not required.
Co-ops are paid positions lasting from 3-9 months, for a summer, a semester, or a combination of the two and relate to students’ academic studies. Students do not receive academic credit but co-ops are noted on their transcript.
5 Steps to Hiring a Co-op or Intern
1. Contact Career Services to discuss your short term or project-based needs.
2. Provide a position description. Students will view your organization’s information and position description on our Career Connect website http://umass.experience.com/emp/sblogin. Students apply for your position. You then contact the student(s) you wish to interview.
3. You can interview students at the Career Services office in Goodell, by phone, or arrange for students to come to your organization. Please notify both the student and Career Services of your selection.
4. Provide a supervisor for the student, an orientation to your organization and the project, and a formal job description.
5. Complete a Final Evaluation Form (provided) for each student.
Working with an Intern or Co-op Student
1. Develop a Position Description
Detailed expectations will make everyone's life easier. You will be treating the intern as a
professional, being especially careful to provide opportunities for training and mentoring, as per federal labor law.
2. Prepare your Staff
Make sure your staff understands the intern's role and how the intern will fit into the office and organization. Have people suggest projects and help orient the intern.
3. Introduce the Intern
A good orientation will include a tour of the site and introductions to the intern's co-workers. Clarify your expectations, their tasks, and the supervisory structure.
4. Provide Training and Challenges
Offer diverse and challenging duties. Include the intern in regular meetings and appropriate events, and provide opportunities for intern to connect with a mentor. Train the intern in the appropriate working skills. Understand that they want to prove their capabilities - integrate them as useful and contributing members of work groups as soon as possible. Their confidence and level of productivity will quickly increase.
5. Give Feedback
Schedule regular supervisory meetings during the intern's stay. You will be asked to complete a Final Evaluation Form for each student towards the end of the placement period.
Here’s our good news:
U.S. News and World Report 2011, ranked UMass Amherst among the Top 10 National Universities for percentage of graduates who participated in internships.
57% of our undergraduates have internship experience, making UMass No. 7 nationally.
We look forward to working with you to ensure that this strong reputation continues. If you have any questions, please call us at 413-545-2224.
