Internships: Creating High Impact Practices

High-Impact Internships offer more than just experience—they give students real projects, diverse exposure, and a chance to grow. When interns are engaged, challenged, and supported, they develop lasting skills while contributing meaningfully to your organization.

 

To build a high-impact experience, we encourage you to focus on four key elements: 

Purposeful Work

  • Assign projects that matter. Interns should contribute to real outcomes, not just observe. 

Professional Exposure

  • Rotate interns through teams or invite them to leadership meetings. This broadens their understanding of your organization and industry. 

Mentorship & Connection

  • Foster relationships through mentorship, team collaboration, and networking opportunities. 

Ongoing Feedback & Reflection

  • Regular check-ins and space for reflection help interns connect their work to long-term goals. 


These practices align with the NACE Career & Self-Development Competency, which emphasizes goal setting, self-awareness, and continuous learning. 
 
According to NACE’s 2025 Internship & Co-op Report, students who complete internships receive full-time job offers at a rate of 62%, and those offers are accepted at a rate of 78.6%—clear evidence that internships are a critical pipeline for talent (NACE, 2025).