Want to help your intern achieve their full potential during their internship? A great induction will stack all the odds favour of a great internship! Good inductions increase retention and engender a stronger sense of commitment. They also assist increase motivation and are vital in establishing good communication, starting the employee/intern off with the right information and direction to maximise productivity as quickly as possible. Not to mention, a good induction will tick off your legal obligations for training new team members in OH&S. Here are some handy hints from Australian Internships on how to kick start your internship induction process:

1 - Plan ahead

It is likely that your intern is nervous and excited about their first day – for many candidates, the negotiation and application process takes months so their emotions and expectations are high! A good induction and warm reception to the workplace will help set them at ease and keep their motivation level high. Before your intern arrives, make sure you have planned accordingly; this includes allocating or setting up a suitable workstation, equipment, log in and passwords, uniforms, etc…

2- Company & Workplace Induction

Interns, as with new staff should be provided with a formal induction to all company policies and procedures and an overview of their role/department. A great tip is to set up a buddy system for the intern with a team member from the same department. Take the time to go through topics such as office culture, dress code, start and finish time, health & safety, business policies, specific business expectations, etc. Remember that for many interns this may be their first time working in an Australian workplace, so be kind and keep in mind that they may have lots of questions.

3 - Role & Department Induction

Although your intern is aware of the nature of the role and an overview of specifics has been outlined in their Training Agreement. Day one is a perfect time to discuss specific department/ role requirements, procedures and reinforce the key accountabilities, relationships and objectives of the role. Setting out key performance objectives from the start, it will ensure that your intern has a clear understanding of what is expected, while also setting the framework for what constitutes success in the role.

4 - Sights, Sounds & Key Players

Introduce interns to key contacts such as managers, supervisors and team members at the beginning of their internship, ensure that their calendar is planned ahead of time and that meetings are scheduled with key people within the organisation who may be important. Show them the sights and sounds of the office by providing them with a tour. Check-in with the interns at the end of the week to gauge their thoughts on the role, while also using the opportunity to provide any pertinent feedback.

5 - Allocate tasks and Key Responsibilities

Your intern is eager to learn and grow in the workplace! Once the induction is finished, start allocating them with tasks and key responsibilities. Keep them busy (but don’t overload them). Interns are young, dynamic and enthusiastic professionals who want to get their hands dirty in the workplace – allocate tasks and provide training to maximise their experience and your return!

Navneet Sharma - IT Networking

Degree: Master of Telecommunications and Network Engineering from Latrobe University

Available from: ASAP

Location: Melbourne

Ramesh Luitel - Civil Engineering

Degree: Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Eastern College of Engineering (Nepal)

Available from: ASAP

Location: Newcastle

Bilal Yousafzai - Electrical Engineering

Degree: Bachelor of Sciences in Electrical Engineering from University of Engineering and Technology (Pakistan)

Available from: ASAP

Location: Brisbane

Amrit Bhandari - Accounting

Degree: Master of Professional Accounting from

Federation University (Melbourne)

Available from: ASAP

Location: Darwin

Contact us to learn more about Hosting an Intern

NIWRA KRETZCHMANN

MARKETING INTERN

Introduction

My name is Niwra, I’m originally from Brazil and I have chosen Australia to a life-changing experience on my 30’s. Graduated in Advertising and Master in Applied Consumption Science, with many years of experience mostly in digital agencies at Data Analytics department in Brazil, I’ve joined AI team to enhance my career in an international environment and also to inspire students like me to chase their dreams.

How would you best describe your work?

I’m part of the AI’s marketing team. I assist digital marketing strategies, implementation and analysis. It includes the creation of content for social media, blog and website; email marketing planning and optimization; SEO strategies and advertising campaigns (search, social ads). I also provide support on business reports, pipelines and analysis to management team, through insights and recommendations to decision making.

What do you like most about your work?

What I like the most about AI is the diversity and the relationship we have with each other. We are a mature team, which value respect, everyone’s backgrounds and encourage learning and personal development. I feel safe to share my ideas and I perceive my importance for the company.

Your message to the interns?

Great things never come from comfort zones. Open up yourself to new opportunities, believe in yourself, work hard, show what you are capable for and have fun.

KALPA GAMAGE

Age: 25

Field: Electrical Engineering

City: Melbourne

Nationality: Sri Lanka

1. Why did you choose to complete an Internship?

After completing my Master of Professional Engineering, I decided to do an internship to gain exposure into the Australian workplace culture in my field of study. Internships are a great way to gain hands on experience and it provides a valuable opportunity to explore and develop skills in the professional industry. I believe it is a stepping stone to kick start the career.

2. What have you learned the most during your internship?

An internship is the perfect place to learn and grow as a professional. Through this internship, not only I was able to get involved in projects and work on tasks which helped me enhance my technical skills, but also I was able to have a good insight into the company culture and improve the necessary traits required in a professional setting. I was very fortunate to have an excellent supervisor in my host organization who provided me with valuable career advice and guidance which would be extremely beneficial for my future career.

3. What benefits do you feel AI contributed to your internship and time in Australia?

Australian Internships was tremendously helpful from day one itself, and I admire the fact that the entire process was highly structured and organized. They assisted me in securing an internship placement which was well suited to my career interests even amidst the Covid-19 pandemic situation. My internship program supervisor, Imante, has been immensely supportive and was always available throughout the entire internship period.

4. What advice would you give future interns?

Your internship experience is the best place for you to grow personally and professionally. Develop a passion for what you are doing and take the most out of the opportunity to learn anything and everything you can. Most importantly, Australian professionals are always more than happy to help, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.

5. What do you enjoy most about Australia?

I am mostly amazed by Australia’s quality of life and the unrivaled natural beauty. The diverse landscapes ranging from scenic beaches, skylines, mountains and rainforests are simply breathtaking. Furthermore, the multicultural lifestyle and the easy-going nature with the friendliest people makes Australia even more great. This truly is a beautiful country to live in!

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