Now that we’re in October, it’s the halfway point for most fall internships. It’s also the middle of the fall semester for college students. As midterms are used to check student’s knowledge at the halfway point during a semester, a simple mid-internship review can be used to check in on the intern’s experience.
Here are some questions internship supervisors can ask their intern to see how they’re doing:
Do you have any questions or concerns about (insert project name here)?
If the intern is working on a long-term project or projects for your organization, now is the time to check on them to see if they have any questions. Some interns may be apprehensive to ask for help or clarification, so asking them directly about the things they’re working on will give them the opportunity to speak up. Plus, this will give internship supervisors the chance to get an idea of the progress the intern has made on the project(s) they’re working on.
Use this question as a springboard to provide the intern with feedback about their work. Be upfront about expectations and thoroughly explain what the intern can do to meet them. This will help to ensure that the finished product is exactly what you are looking for.
What are you enjoying at this internship?
This question will allow the internship supervisor to get an idea of what they’re doing right during the internship. Make note of what the intern shares so that you can implement similar experiences/qualities with future interns. If there is a specific task/project the intern really enjoys, make sure that you continue to offer those opportunities to them during the remainder of the internship.
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“An internship is mainly a learning experience. The more chances the intern has to learn, the better.”
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Is there anything you’d like to work on/learn about?
Now that the intern has been with the company for a couple of months, they may discover new projects/tasks/ideas that they would like to learn more about. Depending on the level of the request, internship supervisors should strive to make sure that their intern has the opportunity to experience the things they’re interested in. An internship is mainly a learning experience. The more chances the intern has to learn, the better.
Is there anything I can do to make your internship better?
It is crucial to make sure that your intern is happy with their experience. Give them a chance to share any problems they may have, and absolutely avoid being defensive. Carefully take note of what the intern shares and ensure that changes get made.
However, what if the intern’s problems are things you cannot change? For example, what if the intern simply realizes that they don’t enjoy working in your company’s industry? It’s perfectly normal for internships to cause interns to realize what they do not what to do. However, that doesn’t mean that the remainder of their internship has to be miserable. Work with the intern to determine where their interests lie and try to provide them with new tasks. Introducing the intern to new things can potentially help them better determine their interests.
