Creating and Running a Successful Internship Program for Your Business

Having a successful internship program is a great way to provide eager college students or recent graduates with a practical work experience that they won’t find in the classroom. There’s no denying that internships have received a bad reputation due to the negative stereotypes that tend to surround them (especially if they are unpaid) but I’m here to teach you how you can create a program that will enrich your business and the lives of the interns you bring onto your team. I’ve created an Internship Program for the Lucas Howard Group, a Real Estate Team in Grand Rapids, MI, that has become one of the most successful internship programs in the area. Our program provides opportunities for our interns to observe daily practices, contribute to our team on a meaningful level, and become immersed in our company culture and vision. And now I’m sharing how we’ve been able to do that with you! This covers everything you need to know to find the most determined and driven people out there, how I’m able to run a program with upwards of 15 interns while also doing my full-time job, and how you can ensure both your business and the interns you hire get the absolute most out of this opportunity.

Course Overview

  • 1

    Course Introduction

    • Before You Get Started

  • 2

    Lesson 1 - Internships Under FLSA Guidelines

    • Internships Under FLSA Guidelines

    • The 7 Factors of the Primary Beneficiary Test

    • Recap Quiz (optional)

  • 3

    Lesson 2: Creating an Effective Job Posting

    • Creating an Effective Job Posting

    • Intern Job Description Example

    • How to Create a Job Posting on Indeed (optional)

  • 4

    Lesson 3: Finding the Perfect Intern(s)

    • Finding the Perfect Intern(s)

    • Example Interview Questions

    • Recap Quiz (optional)

  • 5

    Lesson 4: Preparing for Their First Day

    • Preparing for Their First Day

    • An Introduction to Google Sites (optional)

    • Offer Letter Template

  • 6

    Lesson 5: The First Two Weeks

    • The First Two Weeks

    • Recap Quiz (optional)

  • 7

    Lesson 6: Projects & What to Work On

    • Projects & What to Work On

    • Social Media & Design Team Overview

    • Video Production Team Overview

    • Copy of Our Social Media/Design Intern Weekly Progress Chart

  • 8

    Lesson 7: Optimizing Your Program

    • Optimizing Your Program

    • Recap Quiz (optional)

  • 9

    Lesson 8: After the Internship

    • After the Internship

  • 10

    Course Conclusion

    • Before You Go

    • Program Package

    • A Copy of our Internship Packet