Interns are a valued part of the team and should be welcomed like any new employee. Welcoming your intern begins their journey of feeling like they belong and matter at their internship site. Here are some ideas on how you could welcome your new intern. You can also try one of the other special ways you would welcome any new employee.

Warm Welcome

• Send out an e-mail to your employees and coworkers including a bio of the new intern and a list of the things they will be working on.
• Create a sign, welcome letter, or card to place on the intern’s desk, expressing how pleased your group is to have the intern joining the team.
• Send a group ecard that can be signed by the whole team and sent through email at openme.com.

Connect and Integrate

• Encourage your employees to personally introduce themselves to the intern throughout the first day or week. You can also facilitate these introductions and be sure to include the person who fixes or approves timesheets if it’s not you.
• Invite the intern to the next staff or lab meeting.

Casual Team Gatherings

• Take your intern to lunch or coffee away from the office atmosphere.
• Plan a casual event with all employees and interns to welcome the newest additions to your team. This can be through video chat as part of a coffee chat or lunch meetup.
• Invite your intern to team social events.