Choosing an Intern
We require that you conduct an interview (e.g. via Skype, Google Hangout, etc.) with your prospective intern. The interview can simply be a casual conversation. It will help you evaluate your intern's level of preparedness, qualifications, motivation, and communication styles. It will also offer the opportunity to collaboratively fine-tune the project plan and project outcomes based on the project's needs and your intern's background and skill set.
Mentoring an Intern
Mentorship is be critical for a successful internship project. Please remember that in many cases, you will be working with students in a different part of the world, so an effective communication and guidance will be crucial.
Communicate: Communicate with your intern often, whether it is to provide feedback, offer training, or check on the intern’s progress. By keeping the line of communication open you will build trust, respect, and a positive relationship that facilitates the successful completion of the project.
Mentor: Schedule a regular review meeting with your intern. Mentorship is a critical and essential part of an internship experience, and an attribute that differentiates from regular employment. As a mentor, it’s important to give your intern honest feedback on professionalism and career preparedness.
Connect: To foster learning outside of your intern’s job duties, encourage your intern to develop relationships outside or his or her immediate team. Allowing your intern to gain a broader understanding of your project team, industry, and potential career paths can help generate new ideas and make him or her a more effective contributing member. Inviting interns to participate in project team or working group meetings is an great way to build a connection between the intern and the rest of the community.
Revisit: Periodically revisit the learning objectives and expected outcomes established at the beginning of the internship. Discuss what the student has learned and how it can be applied in the future. Be flexible to adjust the project scope, learning objectives, and outcomes based on the intern's background and skill set.
Additional resources on mentorship can found at these external sites:
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Mentor guide for Google Summer of Code
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