The New Department of Labor Guidelines On Internships
The New Department of Labor Guidelines On Internships
The New Department of Labor Guidelines On Internships
com/new-department-of-labor-guidelines-on-internships-1986582
Film buffs fondly recall the blockbuster hit "The Interns" starring Vince Vaughn and Owen
Wilson. But, not all internships take place at Google HQ, and not all internships are on the up-
and-up. That's why the government gets involved with guidelines issued by the US Department
of Labor on internships. No state is safe from the filing of lawsuits regarding the legalities of
internship programs and how interns are treated. If you are an employer trying to ensure you
have a safe internship program that follows the guidelines below, here are a few
recommendations.
You’ll read this below, but an internship should be a supervised learning experience. Interns
shouldn’t be left alone in the office and should always have a point of contact while on the job.
They should also know (and understand) how to contact their immediate supervisor and
understand how (and when) they will receive feedback.
All employers should schedule three evaluations with their interns. One should be held after two
weeks, another at the halfway point, and the last one at the end of the internship. Remember,
feedback is key in order to educate the intern so they can learn from this experience.
Remember, interns are like sponges. They are not employees (with specialized skills) and they
should be learning about different parts of your business. Rotational programs are a great way
to create a learning experience
The New Federal Guidelines on Internships could affect the number of internships companies
offer. Based on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which was created to ensure that all
workers be paid at least a fair minimum wage, the federal government is cracking down on
unpaid internships to discourage employers from the practice of having interns work for free.
According to The Department of Labor, the following six legal criteria must be applied when
making a determination if an internship is required to be paid.
1. The internship (even though it includes the actual operation of the employer's business)
should be similar to training given in an educational environment.
2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern, not the employer.
3. The intern should not displace regular employees but work under close supervision of
existing staff.
4. The employer that provides the training should derive no immediate advantage from the
activities of the intern and (on occasion) its operations may actually be impeded.
5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship.
6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time
spent in the internship.
In order for an internship to be academic worthy, students doing internships in conjunction with
their college coursework are expected to gain hands-on experience. The experience should
help them develop the knowledge and skills required to gain entry into their field. The new
federal guidelines could affect the quality of internships because one of the criteria states that
the employer derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern.
The distinction that the New Guidelines are looking to enforce is that internships are
for educational training rather than having interns do the work of regular employees. Many
employers spend considerable time training and mentoring their interns and do not derive much
benefit from having them complete an internship. Unfortunately, there are other organizations
that expect interns to jump in and do the work of a regular employee. An unfortunate (and
avoidable) result of strict adherence to the New Guidelines and interpreting the issue of
the legality of unpaid internships could make it more difficult for students to find internships in
the future.
http://www.newcollegeinstitute.org/content/File/Summer_Program_Guidelines_111215.pdf
https://www.eurosai.org/handle404?exporturi=/expo
rt/sites/eurosai/.content/documents/Guidelines-for-internship-programs.pdf
https://www.eurosai.org/handle404?exporturi=/export/sites/eurosai/.content/documents/Gui
delines-for-internship-programs.pdf
This publication was prepared by the INTOSAI Capacity Building Committee – Subcommittee 21 .
According to the strategic plan of INTOSAI 2005-2010 Goal 2, the main tasks of the Capacity Building
Committee (CBC) are to build the capabilities and professional capacities of Supreme Audit Institutions
(SAIs) through training, technical assistance and other development activities. The Subcommittee is to
develop advisory and consulting services by:
• Developing a database of experts and investigators in the public finance field. Professionals working
today in different SAIs, as well as recently retired SAI staff, may be available to perform consulting and
advisory duties;
• Encouraging joint and coordinated or parallel auditing programs. Joint programs are useful to validate
methodologies, generate guidelines, and improve processes;
• Encouraging internship and visit programs. The programs would facilitate the visit of professionals
from other SAIs to share or receive current knowledge in innovative audit areas. This publication may be
downloaded free of charge from the INTOSAI website http://www.intosai.org. Permission is granted to
copy and distribute this publication, giving appropriate credit, provided that such copies are for
academic, personal or professional use and are not sold or used for commercial gain. Catalogue No. ISBN
https://www.marinemammalscience.org/for-students/professional-development/guidelines-
for-interns/
Many find the opportunity to do an internship very rewarding and often such experience
enables the development of specific research skills. However, occasionally organizations
sponsoring internships fail to follow best practices. As such, we recommend the following
guidelines to early career scientists when considering an internship with an international non-
government organization. Not every non-government organization will be able provide all of the
information below; however, we believe groups that are accountable and transparent are more
likely to act with integrity. Generally speaking, organizations that follow best practices in
governance, professional relations and related areas are less likely to engage in unethical or
irresponsible activities. A first step would be checking if the organization is registered with the
government of the country in question.
Organizations should be able to provide contact information for one or more individuals who
have previously served as interns or who work in close association with the organization but are
not directly involved with intern recruitment or supervision. We strongly encourage prospective
interns to make contact with these references prior to committing to an internship. A brief
conversation with former interns or third-party persons associated with the organization will often
be the best insurance against a potentially disappointing, dangerous or upsetting experience
and may also help to provide interns with a clear sense of what will be expected of them during
their tenure.
What follows are seventeen guidelines for assessing how well an intern-sponsoring organization
meets widely recognized best practices. Following these guidelines is a list of eight warning signs,
or “red flags” to look for once the intern has enrolled in the program. The guidelines are based
on the criteria used by Charity Navigator, a 501c (3) organization based in New Jersey U.S.A.
that rates and evaluates charity organizations.
Does the organization have a fully functioning website, including a website in English?
1. Does the website clearly list the organization’s objectives and goals in a concise and
realistic manner?
2. Does the website include a list of diverse and independent voting board of directors,
comprised of five or more people, with biographies and contact information?
3. Does the organization provide a list of its key staff on its website, including each
individual’s qualifications and contact information?
4. If the organization accepts donations, does the website offer PayPal or other verifiable
and secure electronic transfer method for the payment of donations and fees?
5. Does the website include a list of projects and accomplishments that are that are
measurable and realistic?
6. Does the website include a list of current partner organizations, including contact
information, and regular donors?
1. Is the organization forthcoming with its financial records, including a yearly budget of
individual program income and expenditures, fund raising expenses and efficiency, and
administrative costs?
2. Does the organization have readily available copies of its institutional by-laws and
operating guidelines?
3. Does the organization have clear and concise written policies and procedures for each of
the programs it offers, including staff and intern safety, animal welfare (if appropriate),
and rules and regulations, that are readily available to its participants?
4. Does the organization have a written emergency response and preparedness plan that is
clear, reasonable, concise, and is readily available to its participants?
5. Does the organization keep a record of its board meeting minutes that is available upon
request?
3. Can the representative demonstrate that a thorough background check has been
conducted on key staff (i.e. education and credentials, criminal record check, reviews
from previous staff/volunteers/interns etc.)?
4. Can the representative provide a demonstration of the housing it offers for interns and
volunteers, an adequate rehabilitation facility if appropriate, and office headquarters?
5. Can the representative demonstrate that the organization is affiliated with universities,
local governments or other organizations? Does it offer academic credit from an
accredited university for the internship programs it offers?
List of warning signs or “red flags”, to look for while working with a non-governmental
organization as an intern
You may experience one of these indicators occasionally for a short period without concern;
however, you should be wary of multiple “red flags”, especially if they persist. Under such
circumstances, it is suggested that you seek independent advice from an experienced person
that you trust.
1. Does anyone in the organization ask you for money or out-of-pocket expenditures that
are beyond the agreed-upon fees that you paid, or demand money during “crisis”
situations where funds are lacking? Is there evidence that fees are used for purposes other
than for the organization’s stated purpose?
2. Are you consistently left alone, without appropriate supervision for extended periods of
time? Is it difficult to reach the staff when their assistance is needed? Are you and other
volunteers and interns kept isolated from members of the local community?
3. Are you placed in positions of authority over other persons or projects without any prior
knowledge, consent, or appropriate training?
4. Is there visible conflict among staff and members of the organization, to the point that the
environment is hostile? Do you consider that you are being manipulated by staff, or being
exposed to harmful gossip or rumors about staff or other volunteers/ interns?
6. Do the staff and/or board of directors exhibit evidence of yearly turnover, or are there
gaps in time where there is no directory of board members?
Make sure you know your rights as an intern before your internship begins, so that you don’t get
taken advantage of and expectations are set from the start.
ne of the greatest woes of an internship is that it is, more often than not, unpaid. Interns are
often the hardest working employees because they want nothing but experience or, perhaps,
opportunities in return for a job well done.
Employers know this and, unfortunately, sometimes take advantage of the situation by keeping
interns longer than necessary, making them work for peanuts (or nothing) and have been
known to give false promises of future positions without following through.
Certainly this is not the situation for all internship hosts; we’re just referring to the bad eggs
here. Luckily, for students everywhere, the U.S. Department of Labor has caught on to this
schemer’s dream.
As a result, they've established regulations that control whether or not an internship must be
qualified as paid or unpaid. If an internship qualifies as a paid position, interns legally must be
paid the federal minimum wage (at the very least) for the services they provide within the “for-
profit” or private sector. They must also be paid overtime. Both regulations fall under the Fair
Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor has developed six new criteria that an employer
must apply to determine whether an internship legally qualifies to work without compensation.
The following six standards must be met in order to establish that an intern qualifies to work
unpaid:
1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is
similar training which would be given in an educational environment;
3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of
existing staff;
4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities
of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;
5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and
6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time
spent in the internship.
Assuming the internship qualifies under all six factors as an unpaid internship, the FLSA does
not consider an employment relationship to actually exist.
Therefore, the intern no longer qualifies for the minimum wage and overtime requirements,
under the law.
Make sure you know your rights as an intern, so you don’t get taken advantage of. While there
are many amazing employers out there, with wonderful internship opportunities, there are
some employers that are either unaware of the laws or are willing to take advantage of
students looking for work experience.
https://usm.maine.edu/eng/guidelines-internship-professional-writing
1. A three-credit internship would entail about 8-10 hours of work per week, either on or off the
publication site, for one semester.
2. The student would perform duties that would involve him/her in the writing process. S/he
would be available to research, draft, and edit articles or press releases while learning other
technical aspects of journalism, such as layout and paste up.
3. Each intern will be supervised by a faculty advisor, who will coordinate writing assignments
with the employer. At the end of the semester, the student will write a report analyzing the
internship experience.
4. Student applicants for the Internship in Professional Writing will be screened by the Director of
Internships who will require the following materials:
a) A current resume
b) An unofficial transcript (available through MaineStreet)
c) Two writing samples
d) A statement of goals in professional writing which includes selection of at least two possible
internship openings for the semester
5. On the basis of the application materials, the Director of Internships will set up interviews with
potential employers for qualified students.
6. Each internship will be flexibly designed by the faculty advisor, the student, and the employer in
consultation together. When an employer and an intern have agreed to set up an Internship for
the semester, a written contract will commit both to a job description. Employer, student and
Internship Director will each keep a copy of the contract.
7. Credit (P/F) will not be granted until the final report is submitted to the Director of Internships
and the employer and Director verify that the contracted work was performed acceptably.
http://depts.washington.edu/bbintern/resources/56161715-Internship-Guidelines-for-
Employers.pdf
https://careerservices.bju.edu/students/internships-career-related-opportunities/steps-to-
securing-an-internship/
1. Self-Assessment
The steps in looking for an internship are not much different than that of looking for a job.
First, you need to do a self-assessment of your interests and career goals. The internships you
look into should meet both short-term and long-term goals. Also consider how far you are
able to travel to your internship and whether you need a paid position. These can be
important factors to consider as you focus on your options.
3. Gather Information
Remember that there are internships that are not posted, so if you are interested in a
particular location and company, you should contact them to get more information. You
should call their human resources department to ask if they offer internships. Make it known
what your interest is in the company and share your resume to express formal interest. If they
do offer internships, ask if they would be willing to set up an informational meeting with
you—this can be done on the phone, through email, or in person. Through this meeting you
would want to get the specifics of their requirements, the application deadline, and the
specifics of their hiring process for future reference.
NOTE: Pursuing an internship (either for credit or for non-credit) to gain career-related
experience is helpful in preparing for future full-time employment. If your major offers the
option for completing an internship for credit and you want to pursue it for credit, contact
your department chair or internship coordinatorprior to applying for internships. Your
department chair will assess whether or not an opportunity qualifies as a “for credit”
internship and if you meet the eligibility requirements to register for the applicable internship
course.
4. Apply
Once you know all your options and you have narrowed down the opportunities to those that
interest you, you need to begin the application process. Make sure you know what each
company requires and what qualifications they seek for the position. You will want to
highlight these qualifications in your cover letter and resume. Some companies will also ask
for a writing sample, a transcript, or a formal job application. Note what each company
requires in their application process and stay on top of each deadline.
5. Follow Up
After you have completed the application process, let a few days go by and then follow up to
make sure the recruiter received all the required information. If you submitted your
application a week or more before the deadline, follow up the day of the deadline to see if
you need to provide anything else to help them make their decision. Do not feel like you are
annoying the recruiter–your persistence will show how interested you are in the opportunity
and how diligently you will work on the job. However, do remember that it can take a month
or more to make these decisions in a company, so be patient.
6. Interview
The next step is interviewing. Remember, your internship could become your full-time
employment, so you want to be well prepared and give a good impression. Even if you do
not receive the internship, you may end up applying for a job with this company after
graduation; they will likely remember your first impression. After you interview, always
send a thank you note as a follow up. This is a great way to help you recap your interest in
the company.
7. Accept Offer & Withdraw Others
Make sure you consider all internship offers. Do not feel like you have to respond right away
to an offer. You should not keep a recruiter waiting for more than a week for a response (you
should ask them for a deadline). It is okay to be open and honest with them, letting them
know where you stand if you are waiting for another company to get in touch with you.
Notify the company you are waiting for that you do have an offer that you need to respond to
by a specific date. This may motivate the other company you are waiting for to reach a
decision. Finally, after accepting an offer, make sure you notify all the companies where you
interviewed. Thank them for the opportunity to interview.
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/internship-application-process-1986450
Getting an internship during the summer or during fall and/or spring semester
requires diligence and planning. Application deadlines may be early for some
internships and the process might require some time to get everything out before the
deadline. Organizations may require a formal application, resume, cover letter,
transcript, 2 or 3 letters of recommendation, as well as an essay on why you’re
interested in interning for the company or some other related question. Not all
internships have the same requirements.
Here are some things to check for when getting ready to apply for internships.
Application Deadline
Preferred Qualifications
Employers may prefer that students applying for the internship are a junior or senior
and that they have specific skills or courses completed. Although they indicate a
preference, they do not indicate these as a requirement to apply. If you are
interested in the internship and feel you possess the necessary skills, go ahead and
apply. You can always discuss your skills further with the employer if contacted for
an interview.
Check the internship listing very carefully to see what documents are needed to
apply. If transcripts and reference letters are required, be sure to allow ample time to
get these documents together. Be ready to send an error-free, grammatically
correct resume and cover letter to the employer. Provide all references with a copy
of your resume as well as any additional information on any special skills and
accomplishments they might not know about.
The employer may request that you attach your resume/cover letter to an email,
send it in the mail, or include it in the body of your email? Prior to sending out your
materials, be sure to follow the employers' directions exactly as stated in the listing.
Follow Up to Make Sure the Employer Has Received Your Documents
After sending out your application materials it is important to check to make sure the
employer has received everything they need from you. By following up with the
employer, you can also get an indication of when the employer plans on making a
decision and what the next step in the process will be. This also lets the employer
know that you are still very interested in the internship.
https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-for-an-Internship
If you don’t have much professional experience or you’re still in school, an internship
is an excellent way to build your qualifications. Because internship applicants rarely
have much in the way of professional experience, potential employers will be more
concerned with your skills and attitude. By looking in the right places, putting
together an impressive application, and preparing for your interview, you can get a
great internship that puts you on the right career path.
1.Search generic job sites. Websites that are used for job seekers usually include
internships as well.[1] Try sites like Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder, Glassdoor, and
ZipRecruiter.
In the search bar, type “intern” and any phrases that relate to your specific career
field like “finance” or “medicine.”
There will also be an option for setting a geographic location for your search so you
can find jobs near you.
2.Search intern-specific sites. There are sites that cater specifically to interns and
entry-level job seekers. Try sites like internships.com, LookSharp, Internmatch, and
YouTern.[2]
Look for message boards or sites that are specific to your preferred career field.
3.Attend career fairs. Colleges and high schools often hold career fairs that will
include a number of internship opportunities. These are a great option for finding
internships because you can make a personal impression on the recruiter and ask
questions about the position. If you are a student, ask someone in your school’s
administrative office or career services office when these take place.[3]
Ask the recruiter questions like what kind of work you’ll be doing during the
internship, what kind of opportunities it could lead to, and what the company culture
is like.
Most career fairs that aren’t held at schools will be for full-time jobs. If you do plan to
attend one of these fairs, ask the event organizer if any internships will be available.
Think of your conversations with recruiters as interviews. Bring a resume, dress
nicely, and exude confidence at the fairs so you make a good impression.
http://www.montana.edu/ce/internships/documents/App%20Procedure03.pdf
https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-apply-for-internships-in-IT-companies