Are you looking to bring on an intern but not sure where to start? Onboarding can be a daunting task, especially for those who have never done it before. However, with the right approach, you can set your intern up for success and ensure a smooth transition for both of you.
Intern onboarding goes beyond just filling out paperwork and showing your intern around the office. It involves creating a supportive and inclusive environment that will allow your intern to thrive. But, what does a successful intern onboarding process involve?
In this blog post, we will cover the essential steps you need to take to onboard an intern. From nailing down the paperwork to keeping your intern engaged before their start date, we’ve got you covered. Plus, we’ll share some tips on how to onboard an intern remotely, which is especially relevant in today’s remote work environment.
So, let’s get started! Learn how to welcome your intern with open arms and set them up for a successful internship experience.
Intern Paperwork
Once you’ve hired an intern, the next step is to get their paperwork in order. While it might not be the most exciting task, it’s a necessary one.
Here are the essential intern paperwork items you need to complete:
1. Work Authorization
Before your intern can start working for you, they must provide proof of work authorization. This includes either a U.S. passport or other acceptable form of identification, such as a birth certificate or driver’s license. If your intern is not a U.S. citizen, they will also need to provide a work visa.
2. Confidentiality Agreement
It’s crucial to have your intern sign a confidentiality agreement. This ensures that they understand the importance of keeping company information confidential and not sharing it with anyone outside the organization.
3. Emergency Contact Information
It’s always a good idea to have emergency contact information on file for your intern. This includes their name, phone number, and email address, as well as the name and contact information for their emergency contact.
4. Job Description
Your intern’s job description should outline their primary duties and responsibilities. It should also include the expectations for their performance and the objectives they need to meet during their time with your company.
5. Code of Conduct
Your intern has to understand the company’s code of conduct. This includes acceptable behavior in the workplace, how to report concerns or incidents, and expectations surrounding use of company property and resources.
Completing all necessary paperwork can be time-consuming. Still, it sets the tone for a positive intern experience and protects your company from any legal issues that may arise.
Intern Onboarding Template
After you’ve hired an intern, the next step is to onboard them effectively. A well-planned onboarding process helps new interns settle into their roles faster, understand their responsibilities and company culture, and become productive members of your team quickly. Here’s a template you can use to onboard your interns:
Before the Intern Arrives
- Communicate with the intern to notify them of the necessary paperwork to fill out before their first day.
- Ensure the intern has an understanding of the company culture and values.
- Arrange for necessary equipment, including a computer, office supplies, and a phone, to be ready for the intern on their first day.
First Day
- Set up a meet-and-greet with other team members and managers to introduce the intern to their colleagues.
- Provide them with a tour of the office and an explanation of your organization’s hierarchy and structure.
- Go through company policies and practices.
First Week
- Set short-term goals for the intern. This involves assigning tasks that are small enough for the intern to complete but meaningful enough that they feel accomplished.
- Going through critical documents such as the company’s vision, mission, and goals.
- Conduct check-ins and answer any questions or concerns the intern might have.
Ongoing Onboarding
- Provide the intern with opportunities for professional development, such as training programs.
- Offer them periodic feedback on their performance and encourage them to provide feedback as well.
Key Takeaways
- Effective onboarding is vital to the intern’s success in your organization.
- The intern onboarding template provides a guide to help you create a positive onboarding experience.
How to Welcome an Intern
Bringing interns on board has become a new norm for many organizations, but onboarding and welcoming them might be challenging, especially if you have never hosted an intern before. In this section, we will discuss some tips on how to welcome your interns to make them feel at ease and more integrated into the team.
Start with a warm welcome
Your intern’s impression of the organization begins with how you welcome them. Here are some tips for making their first day special:
- Greet them at the door: Meet your intern personally; don’t make them wait in the reception area.
- Introduce them to the team: Introduce your intern to all the employees and ensure they have someone to show them around the office.
- Prepare a welcome kit: A welcome kit demonstrates the organization’s appreciation and gratitude for the intern’s service. It can include a handbook, company swag, and necessary stationery.
- Set up their workstation: Ensure their computer, access card, and phone are ready for use.
Provide an Intern Orientation
An internship orientation is essential to ensure that your interns understand the organization’s mission, values, and culture. Here’s how you can provide them with the orientation they need:
- Schedule the orientation: Make time to provide proper training, especially on the first day.
- Explain the organization’s structure: Help your intern understand where they fit in the organization chart and who they will report to.
- Review job responsibilities: Provide a clear overview of their daily tasks and responsibilities.
- Answer their questions: Encourage your interns to ask questions, clarifications, and additional information about their role in the organization.
Foster a Positive Work Culture
It’s crucial to create a positive work culture that fosters intern’s engagement and encourages them to participate in organizational activities. Here are some tips you can implement:
- Assign a mentor: Assign a staff member who has experience working with interns to act as their mentor. A mentor assists with work-related questions and advice on assimilating into organizational culture.
- Give them opportunities to network: Encourage your intern to participate in organizational events and meetings, where they can engage with other members, gain exposure to more significant opportunities, and build professional networks.
- Provide opportunities to learn: Assign specific training sessions or workshops that align with their interests and goals.
Welcoming an intern is vital for creating a good impression and fostering a long-term relationship. The tips above can help you start off on the right foot and prepare your intern to have a meaningful and productive work experience. Remember, the ultimate goal is to make your institutions and your interns’ experience a mutually beneficial one.
Internship Onboarding Meaning
Are you wondering what internship onboarding means? Let’s break it down:
- Internship: A temporary position within an organization where a person gains practical experience related to their field of study or career.
- Onboarding: The process of integrating new employees or interns into an organization and preparing them for their roles and responsibilities.
In simpler terms, internship onboarding is the process of bringing in and preparing new interns for their roles within your company. This process should offer them the necessary training and support to familiarize them with the company’s culture, policies, procedures, and expectations.
Here are some important aspects to remember when creating an internship onboarding process:
Develop a clear onboarding plan
A comprehensive onboarding plan allows new interns to understand what to expect from their roles and your company. It should include essential elements such as:
- A detailed orientation program for their first day
- An overview of the company history, mission, and organizational structure
- Training on the company’s technology, tools, and equipment
- Clear performance goals and expectations
- A mentorship program or support system to help interns feel more comfortable in their roles
Provide consistent communication
Interns will need direction and support to thrive in their roles. Consistent communication helps them stay on track and enables them to ask questions when they’re unsure about their responsibilities. Suppose you’re working remotely due to pandemic related restrictions, ensure your interns have the tools they need to communicate beyond the regular office lines. Provide options like phone calls, emails, or instant messaging.
Create a welcoming environment
Making interns feel welcome is crucial for their success. Cultivate a positive work environment where they’d feel comfortable and appreciated, this would help them acclimate to the company’s culture and values quickly.
- Assign a welcome excursion for interns to be introduced and familiarized with their team members.
- Encourage open communication from top to bottom. When executives engage with interns and are approachable and accessible, it opens up the floor for discussion.
Feedback loops are crucial
Finally, it’s crucial to establish a feedback loop to know how your interns are performing and feeling about their roles. Ensure you’re actively seeking their opinions and concerns.
Interns who feel heard and appreciated are more likely to perform exceptionally and return if given the opportunity.
In implementing successful internship onboarding, the above steps will be a great start for your company structure.
What Happens in Intern Onboarding
Internship positions are essential in today’s fast-paced work environment. Companies hire interns to assist in various tasks, in exchange for valuable work experience and, in some cases, academic credit. Typically, internships last between three months to a year, depending on the organization’s needs and the intern’s availability.
In this section, we will explore what happens during the intern onboarding process. Onboarding refers to a series of activities and formalities that take place when a new intern joins an organization. This process is crucial in ensuring that the intern has a smooth transition into the company and is comfortable with their new role.
The Welcome Pack
The first step in intern onboarding is providing the intern with a welcome pack. The welcome pack should contain essential information about the company, its culture, and expectations for the intern’s role. This pack should include:
- A copy of the company’s mission and values statement
- An organizational chart
- A welcome note from the CEO or Manager
- A list of current employees
- A copy of the handbook and code of conduct
- Any relevant training materials
Office Tour
To help the intern familiarize themselves with their surroundings, they are often given an office tour. During this tour, the intern meets the staff and gets a tour of the office facilities. This tour can help the intern feel more relaxed and comfortable in their new work environment.
IT Involvement
In today’s digital age, IT involvement is vital in intern onboarding process. IT involvement ensures that the intern has all the necessary equipment and software to carry out their assigned tasks. This may include providing them with a workstation, computer, email access, and other digital resources.
Assigned Mentor
An assigned mentor is a critical aspect of intern onboarding. The mentor acts as an advisor, providing guidance and support to the intern throughout their time at the company. Under the mentorship program, an experienced employee is paired with the intern to help them acclimate to their new role.
Training Sessions
The final step in intern onboarding is training sessions. Training sessions provide the intern with the knowledge and skills they need to carry out their assigned tasks. These sessions may include workshops, seminars, and online courses.
In conclusion, intern onboarding is a crucial process in ensuring that interns are comfortable and prepared for their new role within the company. A proper onboarding process can help ease the intern’s transition into the work environment and lead to a successful internship experience.
How to Remotely Onboard Interns
Onboarding interns can be a daunting task, but doing it remotely adds a whole new level of complexity. Here are some tips to help you successfully onboard your remote interns:
Provide a Virtual Tour of Your Company
Although your intern is not physically in your office, it’s essential to make them feel like part of the team. Providing a virtual tour of your company can help your intern understand your company’s culture and get started on the right foot. Here are some elements you might want to include:
- A welcome message from the team members they’ll be working with
- A short video or photos of the office environment and facilities
- Instructions for accessing team communication channels and software
- An overview of the company’s vision and mission
Introduce Them to Your Team
Introducing your intern to team members they’ll be working with is a crucial part of the onboarding process. Schedule virtual meetings with your team members to help your intern put faces to names and establish relationships. Encourage your team members to extend a warm welcome and be available to answer any questions the intern may have.
Assign a Mentor
Assigning a mentor can be a great way to help your intern integrate into your team and become comfortable in their new role. Mentors can provide guidance, answer questions, and share their experience and knowledge with interns. They can also help your intern get to know your company culture and answer any questions they may have about your company.
Clarify Expectations and Goals
It’s essential to clarify your expectations and goals early on in the onboarding process. Clearly outlining the intern’s tasks and responsibilities can help them stay focused and motivated. You’ll also want to set specific goals and objectives for the intern so they can see the progress they’re making and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Communication is Key
One of the biggest challenges of remote intern onboarding is communication. It’s crucial to establish clear communication channels to ensure that the intern understands their tasks and responsibilities. Regular check-ins with the intern can help you keep up-to-date with their progress and identify any issues early on.
Give Regular Feedback
Providing regular feedback to your intern can help them stay on track and build their confidence. Positive feedback can inspire them to continue to do great work, while constructive feedback can help them improve their performance. Make sure to provide feedback in a timely manner, so they can apply what they’ve learned to future assignments.
Celebrate Successes
Finally, don’t forget to celebrate successes with your intern. A small gesture of recognition, such as a public shout-out or a thank-you note, can go a long way in boosting their morale and motivating them to continue to work hard.
By following these tips, you can successfully onboard your remote intern and help them become a valuable member of your team. Good luck!
Keeping Your Intern Engaged Before Starting
It’s essential to keep your intern engaged, interested, and excited about their upcoming internship before their first day. By doing so, you create an environment that promotes their development and encourages them to become more involved in their work.
Start With a Welcome Email
A welcome email is a great way to reach out to your intern before they start their internship. In the email, thank them for accepting the position and provide them with an overview of what they can expect on their first day. Additionally, you can attach a document with detailed information or links to helpful resources.
Set up a Pre-Internship Meeting
A pre-internship meeting can provide your intern with an opportunity to get to know their team and ask any questions they may have about the company or their internship. It can also provide a chance for you to introduce the intern to team members, show them around the office, and orient them to your business.
Share Resources
Sharing resources like company videos, articles, or books that relate to the intern’s position can help them prepare for their internship and feel more engaged. Encourage them to read the company website or blog, industry news, or articles about the company history to get a better understanding of your company values, goals, and processes.
Encourage Communication
Encouraging communication before they start their internship can help make your intern feel valued and part of the team. Make sure your intern has your contact information and that they know who they can reach out to with questions or concerns. Also, consider setting up a communication tool like Slack or Microsoft Teams to facilitate team conversations.
Provide Opportunities for Growth
Before starting their internship, try to provide opportunities for your intern to learn new skills or gain experience in areas they are interested in. Consider offering online training courses or volunteering opportunities where they can develop their skills. Additionally, encourage them to attend webinars or industry events to keep up with the latest trends and technology.
Offer a Social Event
Creating a social event before starting the internship can help break the ice and allow your interns to meet their team members in a more casual environment. Consider organizing a lunch, a virtual coffee meeting, or a team-building activity.
Keeping your interns engaged before starting their internships will help them feel valued and part of the team. Utilizing tools like a welcome email, pre-internship meetings, sharing resources, encouraging communication, and providing opportunities for growth, as well as a social event before they start, can make the onboarding process smoother, more personal, and more enjoyable for your interns.
