Ensuring Diverse and Structured Projects
Well-designed projects balance structure and challenge, helping interns grow while delivering focused, high-quality outcomes for your team.
Step 1: Clarify Expectations Early
Align project design with both business needs and intern goals.
Discuss:
- The intern’s career interests
- Learning objectives
- What they hope to gain from the internship
Tip: Document agreed learning objectives so you can revisit them during midpoint check-ins.
Step 2: Define a Clear Project Scope
Clear scope prevents confusion and keeps work focused.
Confirm:
- Project goals
- Key deliverables
- Timelines and deadlines
- Weekly or bi-weekly milestones
Be explicit about what is in scope and what is not to avoid scope creep.
Step 3: Offer Diverse Tasks and Stretch Opportunities
Blend core responsibilities with growth opportunities.
Include tasks that encourage:
- Problem-solving
- Creativity
- Critical thinking
- Independent analysis
Where possible, rotate interns across different aspects of a project to broaden exposure.
Step 4: Support Ongoing Learning
Enable interns to build skills alongside project work.
This may include:
- Internal workshops or training sessions
- Industry resources or events
- CareerBridge modules
Encourage interns to apply new learning directly to their projects.
Step 5: Encourage Autonomy and Ownership
Empower interns to take initiative within defined boundaries.
Provide opportunities to:
- Make decisions within their scope
- Suggest new ideas or approaches
- Take ownership of outcomes
Autonomy builds confidence, accountability, and professional maturity.