When is National Intern Day?
National Intern Day takes place on the final Thursday of July each year and celebrates interns and their achievements. It began in 2017 as a way for companies to show appreciation for the valuable work interns complete during their time with an organization.
How to celebrate National Internship Day
There are many ways to celebrate this intern appreciation day. Consider the suggestions below to show your interns you’re grateful for their contributions.
1. Buy them lunch
Purchasing free food for your interns and other employees can show your appreciation and bring the office together. You could have lunch or breakfast delivered to the office or take your interns to a restaurant.
You may also invite their team if they’ve worked directly with a specific department. For instance, if you have a marketing intern, you could invite the entire marketing team. Leadership or their direct managers might also get involved to answer any career or industry-related questions.
2. Throw them a party
Bring in sweet treats to give your employees a break from work and encourage them to relax and mingle. This can boost company culture and let employees from different departments get to know the intern.
You might provide a gift bag containing items, such as office decor, company-branded merchandise and a thank-you card signed by employees.
3. Offer them career advancement opportunities
Because interns are usually interested in learning more about their field or industry, use National Intern Day to offer advice or career advancement opportunities. Host a resume writing workshop where you and other leadership members help them build or review their resume.
Advise them on what hiring managers look for in resumes, including skills, experience and certifications, and teach proper interview etiquette during the workshop.
Consider offering free mentorship opportunities, which allow interns to meet with a member of your team to learn about their role and ask questions. Shadowing an employee can be a great way to gain more knowledge about the field and to develop new skills to apply to future roles.
4. Take them to off-site activities
You might take your interns to an entertainment venue for the day or for an afternoon. Interns can even bond with employees at a team-building retreat with workshops.
Off-site activities such as going bowling, playing laser tag, seeing a movie or singing karaoke are other potential options. Interns may appreciate that you’re getting to know them outside of the office.
Why is it important to celebrate interns?
Celebrating interns helps boost morale and build a positive image for your company by showing you care for your employees. Candidates typically look for companies that value their employees, which may lead to more driven and quality interns applying for full-time positions.
Frequently asked questions about National Intern Day
How do I congratulate an intern?
Appreciation for interns doesn’t have to be confined to a single day in July. You might regularly review your interns’ performance and acknowledge small achievements, such as learning a new skill or offering an innovative solution.
You may deliver this feedback during an exit interview or throughout the program in real time.
How do I say thank you to an intern?
Some employers may thank their interns by offering to write a letter of recommendation for future opportunities or professional connections for employment elsewhere.
How can I make intern celebrations more inclusive?
Ensuring celebrations of all types can be shared with every employee helps make them enjoyable for the entire team. Creating a planning committee, asking for employee feedback and making activities optional can encourage inclusive workplace celebrations.
How can I start an internship program?
If you’re thinking about creating an internship program, consider the legal obligations, establish your program’s basics and post a job description.
