Internships

What is an Internship?

What is an Internship?

An internship is a hands-on learning experience that connects classroom knowledge with real-world work. Internships allow students to explore career interests, develop professional skills, build their networks, and gain practical experience in a field related to their studies or career goals. Internships may be paid, unpaid, or offered for academic credit.

For employers, internships provide an opportunity to engage emerging talent, gain fresh perspectives, and help prepare the next generation of professionals.

A Quality Internship

A quality internship provides meaningful, structured work experience that supports a student’s professional and career development. It should:

• Include a part-time or full-time work schedule, with at least 10 hours per week during the academic semester and up to full-time hours during academic breaks.
• Provide a clear job or project description, with no more than 25% of responsibilities consisting of clerical or administrative duties.
• Offer meaningful exposure to the student’s career field and/or organization, including its workplace culture, practices, and expectations.
• Support the development and achievement of learning goals through opportunities to learn, contribute to projects, and assist with essential organizational functions.
• Provide appropriate supervision, mentorship, and regular feedback to support the student’s growth and success.

A form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learning in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional workplace setting (NACE, 2024).

Internship Information for Students

What Can I Gain from an Internship?

Internships provide valuable opportunities to apply what you learn in the classroom, explore career interests, and gain experience in a professional setting. Through an internship, you can:

• Gain Real-World Experience: Apply classroom knowledge in a professional setting and gain practical experience in your field of interest. Firsthand experience can also help you better understand your preferences and career goals before graduation.
• Explore Career Paths: Discover different roles, industries, and work environments while gaining insight into the types of work and careers that interest you most.
• Build Your Professional Network: Connect with professionals in your field and develop relationships that may lead to mentorship, job referrals, or letters of recommendation.
• Develop Skills and Competencies: Strengthen essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, professionalism, and teamwork through hands-on experience.
• Enhance Your Résumé: Internship experience demonstrates relevant skills, initiative, and practical experience, helping you stand out to future employers.
• Bridge the Gap Between College and Career: Internships help connect academic learning with professional experience, making the transition from college to the workforce smoother.

• Increase Future Job Opportunities: Many employers use internships as a way to identify and develop future talent. Strong performance during an internship may lead to continued opportunities or employment after graduation.

  Internships provide students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience, develop social capital, explore career fields, and make connections in professional fields (NACE, 2024).

Candid Career+ Internship-related Videos

Internship Information for Employers

Benefits of Hiring an Intern

Hiring an intern can provide meaningful support to your organization while helping students gain valuable professional experience. A well-designed internship can benefit both the employer and the student by bringing fresh perspectives, additional capacity, and emerging talent into the workplace.

Interns can help organizations:

• Increase Team Capacity: Provide additional support that helps ease employee workloads and allows staff to focus on higher-level priorities.
• Advance Important Projects: Assist with short-term staffing needs, finite projects, and important initiatives that may otherwise receive less immediate attention.
• Bring Fresh Perspectives: Contribute new ideas, enthusiasm, and current knowledge in areas such as technology, social media, and emerging trends.
• Access Emerging Talent: Connect with motivated students who bring relevant skills and an interest in gaining experience in their field.
• Build a Talent Pipeline: Identify and develop potential future employees while helping prepare the next generation of professionals.
• Create a Cost-Effective Staffing Strategy: Meet organizational needs while providing structured, meaningful learning experiences for students.
• Strengthen Your Community Impact: Support student learning and career development by providing opportunities to apply their knowledge in a professional setting.

What Student Interns Expect

A successful internship is a two-way learning experience. While organizations benefit from the skills and contributions of student interns, interns also expect meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute.

Student interns generally expect:

• Meaningful Work: Opportunities to gain real-world experience and contribute to projects and responsibilities that are relevant to the organization. Interns should not be used primarily for errands or routine clerical tasks.
• Guidance and Mentorship: A supervisor or mentor who provides direction, regular feedback, support, and a positive example of professional behavior.
• Professional Growth: Opportunities to develop new skills, apply their academic knowledge, and gain experience in their chosen career field.
• Networking Opportunities: Opportunities to build professional relationships with colleagues and other professionals within the organization.
• Exposure to the Organization: Opportunities to learn about different roles, departments, and, when appropriate, interact with organizational leadership.
• A Thorough Orientation: An introduction to the organization's mission, goals, culture, policies, procedures, and workplace expectations, as well as the people and resources available to support the intern.

By providing meaningful work, clear expectations, and consistent support, employers can create an internship experience that benefits both the student and the organization.

Resources

• Internship Meaning and Definition: A NACE Guide
• 2023 NACE Internship & Co-op: Executive Summary (PDF

UH Hilo Internship Fairs

2026 Internship Fair

2024 Internship Fair

Mahalo to all organizations and programs that participated in UH Hilo's 2024 Internship Fair!

Upcoming Career-Related Events

Other Resources

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is an Equal Employment Opportunity institution. Title IX Coordinator: Shaunda Makaimoku/Jenna Waipa, eeoaa@hawaii.edu, (808) 932-7642.