Employers

Program Requirements 

The internship program at NYIT provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical learning gained in the classroom to fields related to their career interests.  Students are instructed by NYIT Career Services staff members on resume writing, interviewing skills, professionalism, and other career-related issues. In the short term, internships should integrate with and complement the student's classroom learning; in the long term, internships should aid the student's transition to the working world as a postgraduate professional. 

 

Internships Must Be:

  • Offered at a worksite that has the proper infrastructure to ensure a safe, properly guided learning experience. The position must  provide an on-site work location, which means that the work-site may not be in someone's home, nor can the position be an on-the-road position.
  • At a company or agency that is registered with the appropriate Department of Labor. The site must also have a published/working telephone number and if requested, promotional literature.
    Supervised, so that students may receive feedback and mentoring.
  • Arranged around the student's academic schedule, so as not to interfere with the student's classes or other academic requirements (please note: we recommend no more than 20 hours/week during Fall and Spring terms, and full-time only during the summer or holidays).
  • Provide exposure to key business practices common to that industry. (Some "grunt work" is fine, but above all the internship should be a meaningful learning experience.)

Paid vs. Unpaid Internships

Internships must be paid, unless the employer can prove the following from the Fair Labor Standards Act (PDF) 

  • The training, even though it includes actual operation of the employer's facilities, is similar to training that would be given in a vocational school.
  • The training is for the benefit of the student.
  • The student does not displace regular employees, but works under the close observation of a regular employee.
  • The employer provides the training and derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the student. Occasionally, the operations may actually be impeded by the training.
  • The student is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the training period.
  • The employer and the student understand that the student is not entitled to wages for the time spent training.
  • If the position is unpaid, we recommend that a student intern no more than 20 hours weekly. For more information and guidance on this topic, call 212.261.1538.

Interns are not volunteers. NYIT defines volunteering as an activity performed for an organization legally holding not-for-profit status, for the benefit of the community and the volunteer, for no financial compensation, and in designated volunteer positions only. Volunteers may not replace paid workers nor constitute a threat to the job security of paid workers, and must choose to volunteer of their own free will. The community service NYIT volunteers perform shall allow them the opportunity to become civically engaged and address public problems. Students will not earn academic credits for their volunteer work. Volunteer opportunities can be shared on Career Net.

 

Hiring International Student Interns is Easy

Hiring an international student intern does not involve sponsorship or extra paperwork. From the employer's perspective, it is no different than hiring a U.S. student or permanent resident.

Developing an Internship Program/Position

  • Planning for success:
    • Know your purpose - why take on a student?
    • Learn the student's purpose. Identify learning goals and coordinate with pre-determined work goals. Draft a student/supervisor contract, see this sample agreement (PDF).
    • Orientation - Introduce your organization and expectations
    • Plan ongoing reflection, feedback, and evaluation
    • Know your purpose
      • Why hire the student? How does it fit into your mission?
      • What will they do, how and where will they do it, to whom will they report, how long will the projects take, how will all parties know when it will be finished?
      • What should a student do during down time?
    • Know the student's purpose
      • Get to know your learner. Major, career goals, skills, values, and interests. What do they know about your organization and why did they choose you?
      • What do they hope to learn from working or serving with your organization? About their major, career field, themselves personally and professionally?
      • Revisit the job description and modify accordingly. Draft the student/supervisor contract.
    • Orientation
      • Explain the mission of the organization
      • Explain the organizational structure
      • Outline organizational rules, policies, decorum, and expectations
      • Define intern's / volunteer's responsibilities
      • Monitor the intern's adjustment and understanding of what's expected
    • Reflection, feedback, and evaluation: to make sure your organization is getting the most out of your intern and the intern is getting the most out of their experience, especially meeting their learning objectives, utilize some of the following tools:
      • Journals and portfolios
      • Weekly/biweekly meetings
      • Phone calls/e-mails
      • Reports
      • Blogs/posts
    • More helpful resources:

Post your internship or volunteer opportunities in Career Net.