What does an Intern do?
Interns are usually employed on a contractual basis by companies with formal programs to offer young people relevant industry experience. Interns are assigned a supervisor or mentor who oversees their activity for the duration of the placement and provides feedback on their performance and progress. The Intern’s job is to complete tasks as assigned and ask questions to improve their knowledge of the industry.
In some cases, an Intern may play an observatory role within the company. They can shadow professionals in the field and assist them with small tasks or be asked to get them coffee or complete office lunch orders. However, many larger companies are now providing more relevant experience to Interns, encouraging them to take on responsibilities that contribute to the business’s success and help prepare them for work after graduation.
Intern skills and qualifications
It’s rare to require a specific skill set for an Intern since the parameters of their career are simply to provide them with work experience that helps them develop skills for the future. However, there is a range of general soft skills that Interns can possess to be better candidates:
- Communication
- Organization
- Attention to detail
- Self-motivated
- Currently attending a post-secondary program
Intern experience requirements
Since an Intern is an entry-level position typically available to students, there are no formal work experience requirements for this role. However, as an employer creating the job description, you may want to specify which type of college program you are looking to hire students from. For example, if you are hiring Interns for a media company, you might want to specify that applicants should currently be enrolled in a Film, Media or Journalism program. This ensures that all candidates for the role have a basic understanding of the industry and will be available to hire after they graduate.
Intern education and training requirements
In most cases, the only educational requirement for an Intern is that they have successfully received their high school diploma or equivalent and are enrolled or have recently graduated from a related post-secondary program. Some companies that do not pay Interns require that the individual complete the internship for school credit. Be clear about whether you require applicants to be current students in your posting or whether they can be recent graduates seeking real-world experience.
Intern salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Marketing Intern is $16.07 per hour, the average salary for a Business Intern is $18.16 per hour and a Pharmacy Technician Intern earns an average salary of $19.51 per hour. Wages for all internships vary drastically depending on factors such as location, industry, company, duration of the placement and whether the internship is worth a school credit.
Intern salary expectations
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Common salary:
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Typical salaries range from
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Job description samples for similar positions
If the Intern job title doesn’t meet your needs for creating a job description, check out these samples for similar positions:
Intern job description FAQs
These are the most common questions employers have about writing job description sto attract Internship candidates.
Why is an Intern beneficial to a company?
An Intern benefits your company by providing an entry-level opportunity for fresh talent to enter the business straight out of school. By encouraging young people to apply to your company following their internship, you ensure you retain the top talent coming out of schools across the United States. Internship programs can also boost company morale by providing a chance for upper-level staff to get the assistance they need.
What is the difference between an Intern and an Extern?
An Intern is a legitimate position within a company on a contractual basis. This person behaves like a traditional employee, reporting to work during standard hours and completing tasks independently under directions from a supervisor. In contrast, an Extern gains an understanding of the industry by shadowing a professional for a shorter period, like a day or a week. They do not complete the work themselves but simply observe others in the workplace. This is not typically a paid role.
Who does an Intern report to?
An Intern reports to a supervisor who the company assigns to oversee their development throughout the Internship program. This is likely a department head or department manager who understands the parameters of the industry and knows what skills are necessary to succeed in an entry-level position at the company. At the completion of the internship, the supervisor can recommend whether the company should hire the Intern for any open positions.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
