Chatham Interns Are Highly Competitive
Written by Mercy Nyoni, Graduate Associate for the Internship Program | Reviewed by Hannah Su Hepler. Director of Career Development
This report examines the key strengths of interns based on assessments by their employers, with a particular emphasis on employers who were engaging with Chatham students for the first time. Impressively, 79 out of 86 first-time employers indicated their interest in hosting another intern from the school in the future, indicating a high satisfaction level with the interns' work. The interns' evaluations were carried out using a 1 to 5 scale, with each number representing a distinct level of competency.
1: This rating represents the lowest level of competence, indicating that the intern demonstrated minimal ability or understanding in the given area.
2: This rating indicates slightly better competence but below average, showing room for significant improvement.
3: This rating reflects an average level of competence, where the intern meets basic expectations but may not excel.
4: This rating represents above-average competence, indicating that the intern performs well and often exceeds expectations in the area.
5: This rating indicates exceptional competence, where the intern demonstrates outstanding ability and mastery of the skill or competency in question.
The assessment focused on key competencies including Communication, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, and Technology. A comparison between mid-term and final evaluations revealed a significant increase in percentages, indicating that interns benefited from experiential learning and mentoring during their internships.
After carefully evaluating the progress of our interns, Career Development is pleased to report that students have grown from these internship experiences. Notably, communication skills have shown significant improvement at level 5, with a corresponding decrease in lower ratings. Furthermore, critical thinking abilities have demonstrated marked enhancement at level 5, signifying improved problem-solving skills. The interns' leadership capabilities have unequivocally displayed growth, indicating heightened confidence in taking initiative and guiding others. Additionally, the interns' professionalism has consistently reflected a strong work ethic. Moreover, their teamwork has clearly showcased effective collaboration skills, and their technology proficiency has consistently demonstrated technical expertise throughout the program.
Consistent improvement across all competencies suggests that the school's curriculum and support structures effectively prepare students for the workforce. The high percentage of employers willing to host future interns further supports the value interns bring to their roles, indicating that students not only meet but often exceed workplace expectations. The data from the evaluations highlights the effectiveness of the school's preparation of students for real-world challenges. The observed improvements across competencies from mid-term to final assessments underscore the growth and adaptability of the interns, making them valuable assets to any organization. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from employers affirms the school’s role in cultivating skilled and professional graduates.
In addition to evaluating the core competencies, the employers were also asked to compare their Chatham interns to interns they had hosted from other schools in terms of preparedness and work performance. This comparison was rated on a scale of 1 to 5, where:
1: Indicates poor performance, suggesting that the intern was significantly less prepared or performed worse compared to interns from other schools.
2: Reflects below-average performance, indicating that the intern under performed relative to peers from other institutions.
3: Represents an average level of performance, showing that the intern was on par with those from other schools.
4: Indicates above-average performance, meaning the intern was better prepared and performed better than most peers.
5: The highest rating, signifying that the intern was exceptionally well-prepared and performed the best compared to interns from other schools.
These results highlight that the majority of employers perceive Chatham interns as highly competitive, with significant levels of preparedness and work performance. The strong ratings suggest that the school's programs and training are not only effective but also superior to those of other institutions, equipping students with the skills and work ethic necessary to excel in professional environments. This positive feedback underscores the value and quality of the educational experience at Chatham, affirming the school's reputation for producing well-prepared and high-performing graduates. Below are the direct quotes from Site Supervisor.
Chatham University interns are professional, insightful and prepared.
Due to our intern's success this Summer, I would be eager to work with another Chatham intern.
I have had many interns from the local universities. Chatham was clear on the expectations. The follow up emails with surveys were nice. It was all online which is easy and convenient for me.
While I do not have any prior experience with this School or program, I did have a positive experience with your student.
The insights from the site supervisor were further strengthened by sending out a survey to students. The students expressed their appreciation for their internship experiences, emphasizing the hands-on learning, networking opportunities, and the chance to see their theoretical understanding come to life in a practical setting. Some students also highlighted the mentorship they received as a pivotal part of their growth during their internships. A significant 77% of the students confirmed that this experience was meaningful and related to their major field of interest.
My internship brought me insight into what I can do with my degree. I was in between different graduate programs and with my internship, I realized that this is the career I want to pursue in the future. It was very beneficial for me aside from just job experience.
I am very glad that I pushed myself to peruse such a unique and once of a lifetime opportunity in Spain. It allowed me to make a lot of connections with people from around the world and it helped me broaden my understanding of the world! I am forever thankful that Chatham and my professors supported me to pursue this opportunity as it has impacted my life greatly by allowing me to be a more outgoing, open-minded, and adventurous person! I would highly encourage anyone who has interests of studying abroad to reach out to me or the department of International Affairs for more information on how you can also take on this opportunity! Do not pass this up, believe me!
I really enjoyed my internship it was a great experience that helped me live through what it would be like working in academic research/doing a PhD. It also helped me improve my communication and problem-solving skills. I think it is helpful to see your internship as a "This is what my life would look like if I did this for a living" with obviously more responsibilities of that of an intern.
I could not have imagined a more beneficial experience that would encourage me to further my career goals of becoming a physical therapist. I was fortunate enough to also be able to observe the business practices and responsibilities of owning a private practice from the owner herself.
Students expressed their love for their internship experiences. They emphasized the hands-on learning, networking opportunities, and the chance to see their theoretical understanding come to life in a practical setting. Students gained offers to intern at the same company again, letters of recommendation, and additions to their professional network. Lastly, students highlighted the mentorship they received as a pivotal part of their growth during their internships.