Design meaningful work 

• Connect assignments to the organization’s mission and current priorities.
• Combine ongoing responsibilities with one or more projects the student can help advance or complete.
• Explain why an assignment matters, who will use the work, and what a strong result looks like.
• Increase responsibility as the student demonstrates readiness.
• Avoid structuring the position around repetitive clerical work alone. 

Orient the student to the workplace 

• Introduce the organization, team, culture, systems, and key partners.
• Explain professional norms that experienced staff may take for granted.
• Review attendance, communication, technology, confidentiality, safety, and conduct expectations.
• Show the student how their role fits within the organization’s larger work. 

Set goals and create shared expectations 

• Discuss what the organization needs and what the student hopes to learn.
• Identify a manageable set of learning and performance goals.
• Document major responsibilities, priorities, deadlines, and feedback practices.
• Revisit goals as projects or organizational needs change. 

Provide regular feedback 

• Hold consistent supervisory check-ins, preferably weekly. Early on, it may be beneficial to have 2-3 check-in meetings per week.
• Give informal feedback while work is underway rather than waiting until the end.
• Conduct a deliberate midpoint conversation about strengths, progress, and needed adjustments.
• Ensure the final evaluation does not contain avoidable surprises. 

Expand professional exposure 

• Invite interns to appropriate meetings, briefings, hearings, panels, and events.
• Introduce them to colleagues in different roles or departments.
• Explain career pathways and how professionals entered the field.
• For hybrid or remote roles, intentionally create live interaction and relationship-building opportunities. 

Close the experience well 

• Review accomplishments and learning.
• Assist the student in developing bullet points for their resume based on their experience, deliverables.
• Discuss development priorities and possible next steps.
• Plan handoff or documentation for unfinished work.
• Invite feedback on the internship program.
• Recognize the student’s contribution and discuss references or future opportunities when appropriate.