Purposeful Work Internship Program: Information for Employers
In addition to posting full-time summer internships in Handshake, a select group of core employers collaborates through Bates’ Purposeful Work Internship Program to benefit from an annual source of talent.
What is the Purposeful Work Internship Program?
The Purposeful Work initiative at Bates helps students find meaning, launch careers, and maximize their time at Bates and beyond. The Purposeful Work Internship Program exposes students to real-world learning and helps employers create a talent pipeline.
What You Gain
1. Strong candidates. Bates students are problem solvers and strong communicators. Through the Purposeful Work Internship Program, students refine their applications, set goals, and reflect. Your Bates interns are ready to advance your projects and learn about your field.
In summer 2020, 95% of employers agreed or strongly agreed that their Bates intern added value to their organization. Click here for profiles of recent Purposeful Work interns.
2. Efficient recruitment and selection. Bates will do the recruitment work for you and bundle all Bates applicants for ease of your review.
3. Talent pipeline. Whether you are cultivating talent for future full time hires or seeking annual summer support, collaboration with the Purposeful Work Internship Program provides a dynamic college recruitment pathway. In summer 2020, 93% of employers responded yes to “Would your Bates intern be a competitive candidate for a full-time post-graduate job with your organization if one were to exist?”
4. Opportunity to mentor. Make a pivotal difference in the lives of diverse students exploring their career interests.
- “Professionally speaking, through this Purposeful Work Internship, I gained skills that will be undoubtedly helpful to me in the future as I hope to pursue a career in this field of work.” Josie Carter ’21, 2020 Intern with Casco Bay Regional Shellfish Working Group
- “My internship with NHLA was a masterclass in adapting to new situations and keeping myself
accountable in an independent environment.” Ben Seaman ’21, 2020 Intern with NH Legal Aid - “This summer was the first time I worked with such a prominent STEM research group and with an entirely unfamiliar research focus. In addition to bench-work, I co-authored a book chapter on induced pluripotent stem cells in the context of reproductive medicine. Though it was challenging, it was incredibly enriching and memorable.” Ivy Nguyen ’21, 2020 intern with Brigham and Women’s Hospital
What’s Expected
September-December: Come on board! Agree to prioritize recruitment from Bates and send in your full-time summer internship posting. Determine what you will compensate your intern, or talk to us about the possibility of your intern applying for Bates financial support. Core employers sign a brief employer agreement to get started.
January-March: Make hiring decisions. Interview candidates and make hiring decisions.
June-August: Mentor a Bates student. Supervise your intern for an internship of at least 200 hours (typically 8-10 weeks). Complete a brief online survey.
How to Get Involved
Contact the Bates Center for Purposeful Work, at purposefulwork@bates.edu.
Mike Mulach ’17 with his supervisor Brad Adams ’92 at TMCapital. Adams reflects: “He’s doing real analyst work. We treat him just like a financial analyst. They work very hard, they get real responsibility, and again it gives them real exposure in terms of what’s life like as a financial analyst in an investment banking firm.”
Ryan Novas ’11, Jane Spardel ’16, Rebeccah Bassell ’16, and Peter Gault ’11 of Quill. Gault shares: “Our Bates interns demonstrated a passion and commitment to education. Thanks to their creativity and critical thinking skills, they were able to produce fantastic educational resources.”