Apply Today!: TRSA Industry Internship Program

Posted March 13, 2020 at 1:26 pm



TRSA’s Next-Generation Executives Committee recently developed several documents to help TRSA members develop and implement internships focused on 10-week summer programs focused on the fundamentals of sales and marketing, management and engineering.

One of the documents that the Next-Generation Executives Committee members developed details the keys to a successful internship program. These include:

  1. Have a Plan. The quickest way to kill momentum for everyone involved is to not have a plan for their summer. Clearly outlining the 10-week schedule creates structure and clarity on day one of their internship. Like anything, the work you do on the front side will determine the success of your internship program. A good plan will also eliminate those wasteful and aggravating days that are associated with not having anything for them to do.
  2. Meaningful Work. Solving problems like refilling the coffee, re-painting the lines in the parking lot, or rearranging unorganized rooms will not provide value for you or your intern. It also almost guarantees that they will not be coming back to you for a permanent job after they graduate, which happens to be one of the biggest reasons to have them in the first place! Have a list of projects ready to review with them and explain why they are important to the company. Ask them which ones they feel most comfortable and confident completing. This will build trust and engagement and make for a much more meaningful experience for everyone.
  3. Assign a Mentor. Interns need someone that has been around the block to help them navigate the cultural waters of the company. Having someone they trust and know they can go to will help make them more productive and less timid. It is also important that the mentor you assign understands how important a role this is for the future of the company. Some might view this role as a babysitting position – it is significantly more meaningful than that and they should know it. It probably goes without saying, but make sure the mentor is a champion of your company’s culture.
  4. Provide Feedback. Do not wait until the last week to check-in. One way to make sure they are learning, and progressing, is to have them complete a weekly progress report. Interns will have a fresh perspective, and if they trust you, they will be candid when expressing their feelings for the company and areas that need improvement. They are not as concerned about keeping their job after their internship is completed.

These resources can be found on TRSA’s website by clicking here. The documents include the following:

Also included are detailed position descriptions and position project lists. If you are a student that is interested in applying for an internship in the linen, uniform and facility services industry, click here. The deadline to apply is April 17. For more information, contact TRSA’s Susie Gordon at sgordon@trsa.org.

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