Being thoughtful and intentional as you design your internship opportunity can mean a more successful and satisfying experience for all involved. We encourage you to consult the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ resources on internship best practices as you are building and conceptualizing your opportunity: 15 Best Practices for Internship Programs.
How to Write an Effective Internship Posting:
- Keep it simple.
- Use keywords that attract students.
- State the payment details.
- Review internship postings for examples.
- Include an overview of the job, including potential projects and tasks that could be assigned.
- List expected outcomes for the position.
- Include a list of required skills and qualifications.
What is an average hourly wage?
An hourly wage for an intern will vary widely, depending on the industry in which you work, the major or skillset of the student you are recruiting and his or her level of experience. Internships can range from minimum wage for some roles and up to $22 or more an hour for more technical skillsets. An hourly wage cannot be less than minimum wage.
How many hours a week should an intern work?
As much as possible, an internship should be flexible in nature, as it is generally something a student pursues while also taking classes. During the academic year, internships are typically part-time, between 10-20 hours a week; not to exceed 20 hours a week (September-May). Summer internships, or those during a semester in which the student is not enrolled in courses, can require up to 40 hours a week. Please note that we strongly encourage internships that require more than 20 hours/week of students to be paid on an hourly or stipend basis, regardless of industry. Offering an unpaid full-time summer internship will likely result in no applicants, as most students cannot commit that amount of time to an unpaid opportunity.
How many weeks or months is a typical internship?
An average internship is 3-4 months coinciding with a student’s typical semester or summer. A key factor in determining proper internship length is that an internship should be long enough for a student to get into the rhythm of the position and complete deliverables that are valuable to you and them.
| Season | Beginning Date | End Date | Avg. # of Hours / Week |
| Fall | Mid Aug.-Mid Oct. | Mid-December | 10-20 |
| Spring | Early February | Mid May | 10-20 |
| Summer | Mid May- Early July | Mid August | 20-40+ |
How can I find the best possible intern?
Maryland is fortunate to have an excellent source of colleges and universities from which employers can recruit intern candidates.
Intern hires can be recruited through any program or platform for MTIP funding. Internships should focus on opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in addition to digital arts. We encourage employers to contact and post their intern positions with multiple institutions along with engaging in on-campus recruiting programs.
MTIP administrators are available to offer guidance to employers on recruiting best practices, as well as coaching on how to run a successful internship program.