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 school and university programs require students to complete internships (sometimes referred to as externship or coop) as part of their graduation requirements. This practical experience allows students to apply classroom learning while developing their professional skill set.
One objective of a club internship should be to provide valuable “on-the-job” education in the form of a supervised work experience. As club managers, it is our responsibility to provide not only the work, but also added value during the students’ time at our clubs. The goal of this publication is for club managers, faculty and students to better understand how a well designed internship program can be of benefit to all involved.
Starting an Internship Program
Step #1 – Securing Commitment From Club Leadership
Step #2 – Determining the Type of Program That Best Suits Your Club
Step #3 – Developing Relationships and Recruiting Methods
Step #4 – Defining Expectations
Step #5 – Implementing Program Evaluation and Improvement/Enhancement Procedures
Sample Forms:
• Student Internship Goals and Objectives
• Intern Performance Assessment
• Alternative Intern Evaluation
• Weekly Experience Review
• Final Review by Intern
• Club Post Intern Evaluation