Guest commentator: Kelly Jung, Assistant Director, Hurford Center for the Arts and Humanities, Haverford College

In my role, I work with numerous undergraduates searching for careers in the arts, culture, and creative industries. One of my core responsibilities is to train our students to be workplace-ready. However, it’s equally important for employers to spend time and effort thinking about designing a meaningful summer experience for students. 

Here are some suggestions based on my experience working with Gen Z and how to welcome them into your office:

Don’t Make Assumptions and Set Clear Expectations

We all have our prejudices and assumptions of Gen Z (both good and bad) – but put that aside. Your college experience is probably very different from your interns’, as many of them went through college during the pandemic. In some areas, your intern might exceed your expectations in their capabilities and skill sets, and in other areas, they might not have a clue (You would be surprised by the number of students who say networking gives them the “ick”!) If you have expectations of your intern, no matter how small or obvious it may seem to you (dress code, email etiquette etc.), have a conversation before being disappointed.

Train Your Intern

Make sure you spend the time and effort on training your intern, allowing them time to practice until they can hone this skillset. Whether that’s using new software, managing data, or crafting concise memos and emails, teach them. As you see the intern develop their skill throughout the summer, you’ll feel proud and your intern will gain a lot of confidence in the workplace.

Exposure

When interns return to campus and share their internship experiences, oftentimes their highlights include going to events and meetings. Even when the meeting or event might not directly correlate with the work they are tasked with, inviting them to meetings and external events will be a great opportunity to expose them to the industry itself.

Give Them A Chance to Fail

Yes, it’s easy to look at your undergraduate intern and assign them a mundane task that doesn’t require much expertise. But, I would encourage you to give interns projects where they can have a bit of agency and creative input. For instance, you could give them an opportunity to present in a larger staff meeting, or task them with reviewing and improving your social media strategies. Whatever it may be, when they are asked to step up, of course, there is a chance to fail, but also it means interns have an opportunity to grow as well. 

Share Your Story

I realize that for many professionals, working or interacting with younger students can be challenging. You might even feel nervous about connecting with them or overcoming a generational gap. One easy way to connect with them is by sharing your story and being open to being vulnerable. As exciting as internships can be, it can be a stressful experience as well. Having a supervisor or a mentor at a company who is honest and open about their career experiences can be very encouraging to the students.

Every college intern is obviously different. Each one comes in with different levels of professionalism, commitment, skillset, and passion. But in one way or another, they are still young adults being shaped and molded. The kindness and attention you pay this individual may yield a significant impact on their life trajectory. Whether it’s taking them out for a coffee chat, asking them questions about their career interests, or giving them constructive feedback on their work, realize that you are shaping the future of another individual while you manage them for a couple of months this summer.