Google does not hire conventional people—and that includes interns.

When it comes to internships, Google makes sure that each hire is paired with a strong, patient, and objective mentor who is passionate about seeing that intern learn and grow.

This attention-grabbing opening kicked off Google Account Manager Darren Tseng’s presentation at the 2013 TalentEgg National Campus Recruitment Excellence Awards and Conference.

In the 11-week internship program at Google, every intern is given a primary project to work on, with the expectation that they will go above and beyond this task. While Google recognizes that students are still students, Darren said, they also believe that interns need to be held to a high standard in order to assess their strengths. By meeting high standards, interns can position themselves for a permanent position with the company.

Students are also encouraged to work with other teams in the company so that they have the opportunity to demonstrate initiative.

Darren had three insights to offer employers looking to provide a stimulating internship opportunity:

1. Make the internship an experience as a whole.

The intern will be going above and beyond for your company, so go above and beyond for them.

Students aren’t just looking for jobs. Many are hoping to launch a career. These candidates will only want to invest in a company that wants to invest in them.

2. The most active students are the hungriest ones.

Find the most passionate students by noting who reaches out to you directly.

Make yourself available for students to contact you – it can be frustrating when there’s no way to interact with a recruiter.

3. An integral part of an internship experience is fun.

Does the future of your company culture include fun?

A fun work environment is a common preference of students and recent graduates. Darren noted that many companies now offer fun activities like free meals and regular social events, and pointed out  that it is important to facilitate interaction between students. Darren adds that it’s good to remember that you’re not just selling a job, but also a corporate culture and its perks.

What makes Google stand out to interns?

Google gives interns the opportunity to take initiative and assigns them the responsibility of communicating with other departments to make their initiatives happen. This makes them feel valued and empowered—and allows the best candidates to stand out.

Reaching out as much as possible to other teams will expand the experience of an intern. This kind of commitment might require work on the weekend which isn’t the expectation but it sure is the way for an intern to prove that they will surpass expectations for the company.

How will you make your company’s internships stand out to Gen Y?

 

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