Division of Student Affairs
Enriching the Educational Experience (E3)
Georgia Institute of TechnologyLeadership
splash-colschool-left-001.jpg
INFORMATION ABOUT
 
 

Recruiting Interns


On-Campus Recruiting
Important Tech Contacts
Recruit Interns
Marketing Your Organization
Hiring Non-US Citizens
Frequently Asked Questions

The objective of the internship program is to provide students with meaningful assignments relating to their academic programs and to provide employers with a talented pool of individuals ready to learn and work.

The program should provide student with experience that enhances their education and career development.  The program should also foster positive relationships between the employer and Georgia Tech.

Why should your company participate in an internship program?

Effective internship programs allow employers to identify diverse and talented candidates, accomplish critical tasks and preview skilled individuals for possible career positions.  Quality internship programs also serve employers well in building positive reputations with key student populations.

Student Participation

All enrolled students in good academic standing are eligible to participate in the Internship Program.  Although the summer period is the most requested period for interns, students are allowed to intern during any period of the school year.  Internships may be full-time, part-time, paid, unpaid, short-term, or long-term.  However, most student interest will be for the duration of a semester, working full-time, in a paid position.

Program Design

Internship programs should be designed to give students meaningful experience while providing employers with high quality work.  Our goal is experiential learning; therefore, employers must ensure that students are given ample opportunity to demonstrate their ability to perform at the highest level.  Proper supervision/evaluation is required to ensure both parties are receiving maximum benefits.

Recruiting Interns

Probably the best way to recruit interns is to conduct interview on campus, as well as participate in the annual internship fair, held the second week of January.  Access www.career.gatech.edu for information and registration.  Career Services will help you schedule your recruiting visit, develop the criteria you will need to identify qualified candidates and utilize CareerBuzz

Offer Letter

Offer letters should proceed as they would for regular hires.  We request that Career Services be copied on all offer letters.  Questions regarding this process should be directed to the internship coordinator.

Job Postings

Employers wishing to post or advertise internship positions may use our on-line system, CareerBuzz.  To have an internship position posted on CareerBuzz, Register Here.

Job/Employer Changes

A student who has accepted an assignment with an employer should remain with that employer for the duration of the agreed upon period, typically one semester.  If an employer deems it necessary to terminate the assignment early, Career Services should be notified immediately.  Once the assignment is completed the employer is under no obligation to reemploy the student for future assignments.  However, should an employer choose to reemploy the student, Career Services should be notified.

Work Performance

It is incumbent upon the employer to keep the student informed of what is expected and how well the student is performing.  Prior to and during the work period, an immediate supervisor should review and document performance criteria with the student.  A copy of the evaluation should be forwarded to Career Services.

Salary

There is no established standard pay scale for interns.  However, Career Services can provide guidance as to the competitive nature of salaries.  While very few Georgia Tech students accept unpaid positions, employers should check labor laws prior to accepting a student for an unpaid internship.

General Suggestions

The following are types of actions employers may take to enhance the experience of student interns.  These are not mandatory steps, but they do help to improve the overall quality of the internship experience.

Internship Coordinator

A specific individual may be designated as an internship coordinator.    This person would be the contact for the school and the student in any matters pertaining to interning.  In smaller organizations, this could be the immediate supervisor and in larger companies this may be someone within Human Resources.

Responsibilities might include:

  • HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION:  Interns may need help from time to time getting settled in an area that may be unfamiliar to them, particularly on the first work assignment.  In subsequent work assignments, the student can normally handle this without assistance.
  • WORK ASSIGNMENTS:   Discussing with both the student and the supervisor the company’s plan for work assignments can be very helpful.  Meaningful assignments are critical to the success of any internship program.  Also, acting as an advocate for the student with the user departments can be beneficial to the relationship.
  • SOCIAL EVENTS:  Students like to get together, whether or not they are from the same school.  In larger programs, someone might plan picnics, dinners, or sporting events.

For more information contact:  Sonia McAllister at sonia.mcallister@success.gatech.edu
or 404-894-1923.