Employer Resources

Internships are one of the most effective ways to build a strong talent pipeline while supporting student development. Hosting an intern allows you to evaluate potential future hires, strengthen your campus recruiting efforts and bring fresh perspectives into your organization. When hiring for full-time roles, many employers find that onboarding is quicker and retention rates are higher among former interns.

You can post your internship opportunity on Handshake, Creighton University’s online career management system for students and employers. You may also attend a Career Fair to recruit interns. Additionally, we recommend the following resources to help you develop, post and maintain an internship.

• Creighton’s Internship Handbook for Employers: Starting and Maintaining a Quality Internship Program  
• A sample internship description you can use as a template
• Intern Nebraska’s Designing Your Internship Program  
• The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Best Practices for Internship Programs

Paid vs. Unpaid Internships

Creighton University strongly recommends that employers compensate interns whenever possible. Paid internships typically lead to stronger engagement, and students receive a more valuable real-world experience. If you choose to offer an unpaid internship, it is important to provide a substantial educational experience and be aware of legal standards. Under the Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act, six criteria define an unpaid intern. For more information, please review the U.S. Department of Labor guidelines.

Academic Credit for Internships

Some academic departments encourage or require students to receive academic credit for an internship, while others do not award credit. The decision is made by the student and a faculty member from their academic department, not the employer. Employers cannot require a student to complete an internship for academic credit only. If a student receives academic credit, they pay related tuition and fees and complete academic work in addition to their responsibilities with the employer. Students who work at an internship for credit are also eligible to be paid during the internship, which Creighton recommends.