How to onboard and support interns—and maximize their experience

As much of a summer staple as the backyard cookout or beachfront vacation, summer interns are preparing to join companies across the U.S.

If you’re bringing on interns this summer, but perhaps not sure where or how to begin, a good starting point is learning from those who already have programs, protocols and policies in place.     

Stephanie Garcia, chief people officer at Real Chemistry, recently shared this trove of guidance for all your intern-related needs.

Getting started

Garcia suggests first figuring out what specific tasks an intern could feasibly accomplish—and then sussing out the “experience you would like to provide.”

“Having an intern is so much more than an extra pair of hands,” she says. “It provides them with an experiential learning program and an opportunity to contribute to meaningful client/customer-focused work. By envisioning an ideal summer intern experience, you can work backwards from there to make it a reality.”