Creating a Memorable Intern Experience

Engaging and Supporting Your Intern Cohort for Success

• Author

  Arlen Marmel

• Date Published

  Sep 26, 2024

If you're here, you know the value of internship programs but it can be hard to engage your interns continuously. It can be especially hard to break down barriers and get those interns to connect with each other quickly.

We're all about supporting engagement in the workplace here at Luna Park, including your intern cohort. Here are some ways to support your new cohort at your company to foster a positive experience.

Engagement Strategies for Interns

• Clearly define your onboarding process for interns: summarize your company culture, their role in your company or department and incorporate them into as many processes as possible.
• Sign them up for our Slack Tools:
  • Intros: a great way for your interns to meet department and cross functional team members. Foster connections and have interns meet a new team member each week (depending upon your preference).
  • Set up an Intern Only Slack channel with prompts from our Watercooler Convos to spark connection. Topics can be configured to specific areas of interest or customized. You can share topics such as, 'What has been the most memorable part of your internship?' to provide interns an opportunity to share their favorite aspects.
  • Ice Cream Shout Outs are a great way to give credit to your intern. They are a fun, engaging way to show gratitude to your team while fostering a positive working environment.
• Incorporate them into your weekly team meetings.
  • Start your meeting off with a quick Icebreaker to get everyone smiling and excited for your team meeting.
  • Play our Opportunity Knocks game with your department to welcome the new hire in a meaningful and fun way.
  • Take it a step further and swap your weekly team meeting for a 60 minute Live Hosted Event that can cater messaging to your new interns. Live events are hosted by an actual comedian and are full of puzzle games that are sure to leave your team buzzing with excitement.
• Empower managers by encouraging them to schedule experiences with their teams and interns some great options:
  • The Best Half Hour: Our trimmed-down, curated collection of games that showcase the essence of Luna Park's magic! Through a blend of puzzles, trivia, and various interactive challenges, this series embodies what makes Luna Park truly special.
  • Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?: In this version of the classic TV Game Show, we take you back to the classroom to see just how much you remember. Collaborate and compete with colleagues to see who truly Is Smarter Than A Fifth Grader.
  • I love the 2000s: Put your team's childhood knowledge to the test in this nostalgic game.
• At the end of their internship, customize a Jeoparky experience that they will never forget!

Professional Development Tips

Creating a memorable internship experience involves a combination of thoughtful planning, meaningful engagement, and personal development opportunities. In addition to welcoming the interns into your organization in an engaging way, you should also be focusing on their professional development. Here's a few quick tips to pair with your engagement practices:

• Provide a mentor - Pair interns with experienced mentors who can provide support, advice, and feedback. Regular 1:1 meetings with their mentor can help interns feel more engaged and supported. Encourage these mentors to also use games, such as Ice Cream Social or Mapquest, to break the ice in their 1:1 meetings.
• Set goals: Set clear and attainable goals for their internship and check in weekly on their performance.
• Inclusion: Involve your intern in team meetings, brainstorming sessions, to foster collaboration and allow them to contribute to the work.
• Celebrate their success at the end: Celebrate their achievements and send them off with a farewell Jeoparky. If applicable, provide your accomplished intern a letter of recommendation or completion certificate.

The Value of a Positive Internship Experience

When you create a positive internship experience you are opening your doors to great potential candidates. A well-structured internship program can serve as a talent pipeline, helping to fill future positions with individuals who are already familiar with the company culture. Your company will be looked at as a valuable employer by interns who had positive experiences and would love to return back to an organization that gave them a warm welcome.

Internships don't need to be scary for the intern or your company. Take the time to plan them right, drive engagement and connection with your team and allow those interns to shine in their limited time at your organization, by creating an unforgettable experience with Luna Park.