National Intern Day: Here’s Why Your Company Should Participate

Interns have been the unsung heroes of companies for years. They do a lot of work, sometimes without even being paid. (For the record: We believe ALL interns should be paid.)

That’s changing.

In 2017, WayUp started National Intern Day to recognize the hard work of interns across the country. Last year, over 500 companies across America participated. Plus, if paper bags can get their own day, then interns definitely deserve a holiday.

Interns do a lot more than bring energy and a fresh perspective to your company (though that’s no small feat). According to Entrepreneur, since interns haven’t been told yet (or convinced themselves) what they cannot do, they’re ready to solve any challenge a company may have.

So, don’t you think it’s about time you celebrated them? We do, which is why we created National Intern Day. Here’s why your company should pledge to participate in National Intern Day this year.

It’s Free

Let’s get this out of the way: There’s no cost to your company whatsoever to pledge to participate in National Intern Day. The cost of not participating, however, could be great.

Do you think your company can recruit and retain the most qualified interns if it doesn’t provide a positive intern experience? Think again. Employee appreciation is, after all, one of the key traits of any successful company.

Interns with negative experiences don’t live in a vacuum or disappear. They tell their friends, family members, fellow students, and professors, and they share their perspective on social media and sites like Glassdoor. This is how companies begin to lose out on qualified candidates, according to Forbes. Providing a positive experience, assigning meaningful work, and showing your appreciation are just a few simple ways you can ensure your company’s talent pool won’t dry up.  

So, don’t miss out on providing your interns with a summer they won’t forget. Here are a few ideas that can help make your celebration special.

Earn A Spot On WayUp’s Top 100 Internship Programs List

Apart from honoring your interns, you can nominate your company so that it’s eligible to be one of WayUp’s Top 100 Internship Programs. If selected, you’ll join a prestigious group that’s recognized for having one of the top college internship programs.

Why does this matter? Getting placed on this list is kind of a big deal.

In 2017 and 2018, the list generated media coverage from sites like CNBC, Forbes, and Yahoo! Finance. It’s also referenced by countless college students when they’re looking for roles.

What a great way to help attract top talent to your intern program and share what makes your program special.

Be Part Of The Social Media Conversation

Each year, National Intern Day continues to grow. In fact, for the past two National Intern Day celebrations, #NationalInternDay was the top trending hashtag on Twitter! Last year, National Intern Day also generated more than 1 billion impressions across social media—that’s nearly one-seventh of the global population!

Remember that social media is a great (and free!) way to attract qualified candidates. Millennials and Gen-Z reflexively follow companies on social media and routinely research potential employers on social networks. A great way to showcase your company culture is to share how you celebrate National Intern Day. Trust us, students will respond positively.

Participating In National Intern Day Is So Easy (Really)

Here’s how to participate in National Intern Day:

• Pledge: Sign up to join thousands of companies who have pledged to celebrate hard-working interns on July 25, 2019.

• Nominate: Nominate your company to be eligible for WayUp’s Top 100 Internship Programs list.
• Share: Use #NationalInternDay and tag WayUp to signal your participation and share the fun on social media!

If you’re looking for more reasons why your company should participate in National Intern Day, visit the National Intern Day site. And don’t forget to sign your company up at www.nationalinternday.com!