What does an Intern do?

Interns are high school or college students and recent graduates looking to gain experience with a company in a field that piques their interest and possibly leads to future employment. They work for a select amount of time in departments and locations to better understand what the job entails. Depending upon their placement and program, they perform various tasks, from shadowing staff, to administrative assistance, to tackling in-depth projects with fellow interns.

Interns need a well-written resume, transcript, and letters of recommendation to prepare and submit with their application. Depending upon where they apply, there may be additional requirements including PowerPoint presentations or writing samples. Because organizations might hire from the intern pool, it is in an intern's best interest to maintain a professional and friendly demeanor to establish rapport with appropriate team members.

What responsibilities are common for Intern jobs?
  • This position is based on a full-time work schedule.
  • Analyze program data to ensure appropriate progress and effectiveness.
  • Prepare reports, presentations, and documentation (using MS Office Suite tools).
  • Perform general office tasks (paperwork, filing, answering phones, data entry, etc.)
  • Provide staff support related to projects within their work area.
  • Develop and implement new design concepts and design improvements.
  • Learn the ins-and-outs of our daily routines and procedures.
  • Identify gaps in existing business processes and drives improvement initiatives to address.
  • Desire to participate in professional development and take on new responsibilities.
  • Negotiate with vendors to drive optimized cost/value of the project.
  • Create value and have a positive impact on our business.
What are the typical qualifications for Intern jobs?
  • GED or high school degree.
  • Strong command of English language, experience with writing protocols, and good communication skills.
  • Strict attention to detail and enthusiasm for collaboration.
  • Solid time management and problem solving skills.
  • Able to work in an environment using cloud systems.
EducationBachelor's Degree
Work/Life Balance
4.0 ★
Salary Range--
Career Opportunity
4.0 ★
Avg. Experience8+ years

Intern Salaries

Average Base Pay

$46,747 /yr
Same as national average
Not including cash compensation
See More Insights
$33K
Median: $47K
$67K
See More Insights
Glassdoor Estimated Salary

Intern Career Path

Learn how to become an Intern, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.

Intern
$46,747/yr
Senior Intern
$52,983/yr
Lead Intern
$52,983/yr
Intern

Years of Experience Distribution

0 - 1
15%
2 - 4
7%
5 - 7
3%
8+
75%
Not including years spent in education and/or training

Intern Insights

Read what Intern professionals have to say about their job experiences and view top companies for this career.
ScotiabankScotiabank
Summer Intern
Nov 7, 2022

“wide onboarding session that really helps you get familiarized with the bank and i found it quite organized and fun!”

LabcorpLabcorp
Intern
Sept 23, 2021

“It was a pretty stable and consistent job that had a great balance between independence and cooperative assignments.”

We the People (Ireland)We the People (Ireland)
Intern
Sept 28, 2022

“It was the perfect introduction to the industry and everyone was really supportive and encouraging.”

TMF GroupTMF Group
Summer Intern
Jan 10, 2021

“I had a summer to fill and good work experience opportunities were few and far between.”

AerogenAerogen
Intern
Feb 26, 2021

“My manager was very encouraging and motivating and let me know when I was doing a good job.”

Chacon Diaz & Di Virgilio Wealth ManagementChacon Diaz & Di Virgilio Wealth Management
Intern
Jul 12, 2021

“Guillermo and James are amazing and intelligent people who really look to better you as a person.”

Northwestern MutualNorthwestern Mutual
Intern
Nov 1, 2022

“It's very laid back in terms of everyday work and the pay is really good.”

Weber ShandwickWeber Shandwick
Digital Intern
Nov 17, 2021

“Great place to start my career as there is great exposure and got to learn a lot.”

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Intern Interviews

Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of an Intern

The most similar professions to Intern are:
  • Grad Assistant
  • Student
  • Research Assistant
  • Client Services Representative

The most common qualifications to become an Intern is a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree and an average of 0 - 1 of experience not including years spent in education and/or training.

Related Careers

Grad Assistant
$84,183
No skills overlap
Student
$34,760
No skills overlap
Research Assistant
$37,424
No skills overlap
Client Services Representative
$46,298
No skills overlap

Intern jobs