The Club Manager's Guide to Developing a Club Internship Program
 
Intern #4 (GS)An intern is a student or recent graduate who works as an apprentice or trainee to gain practical experience in an occupation. Most hospitality and recreational sports-related schools and university programs require students to complete internships (often referred to as externships or co-operative programs) as part of their graduation requirements. This practical experience helps students better grasp classroom theories.

The goal of a quality internship should be to provide a valuable education and hands-on background through a supervised work experience. As a club manager, it is your responsibility to provide not only work experience but also an education during your intern's tenure with your club. The purpose of this publication is to assist you in designing an internship program that will benefit you, your club and, most importantly, the intern.

CMAA would like to acknowledge CMAA members Paula L. Frechette, CCM, and Nicholas J. Smith, CCM, for their assistance in developing "The Club Manager's Guide to Developing a Club Internship Program."
 
Starting an Internship Program

When designing a new internship program for your club, you must follow five initial steps to make your program successful:

Step #1 Gain commitment from the club and its management staff.

Step #2 Determine the type of program that best suits your club.

Step #3 Determine your recruiting methods.

Step #4 Develop relationships with students and schools and follow up with them.

Step #5 Implement program evaluation and improvement/enhancement procedures.
 
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