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Creating & Executing an Effective Intern ConferenceFedCollege Corporate Conference

Kara Yarnot, SAIC

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About Me

@klyarnot

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Agenda

• Goals of Intern Program• What is an Intern Conference?• Key Components and Best Practices• Execution Tips• Questions

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Goals of Intern Program

Juniors

Top Students

NSBE Students

Accounting

Majors

Grad Students

Former Interns

Pipeline

Top Talent

Branding

Experience

Partnerships

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What is an Intern Conference?

• An intern conference can take many forms. Some examples:– Traditional conference style with general and breakout sessions– Experiential learning opportunity– Professional development and networking opportunity– Teambuilding opportunity– Executive interaction– Large- or small-scale event

• Best Practice: Find the right balance of all forms that is appropriate for your audience

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Key Components and Best Practices/Ideas

• Executive involvement

• Community/Team Building

• Exposure to company products / services

• Professional Development/Seminars

• Key Note speech• Lunches• Competition judging

• Assign interns to ‘teams’ for entire event, create points system, award prizes

• Create contest/competition related to company technology or product

• Social event – monument tours, field day event, beach party, bowling

• Facility tours• Hands-on experience with product /technology• Workshops with senior staff

• Networking• Resume Reviews/Mock Interviews• Presentation Skills• Reverse career fair

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Execution Tips/Lessons Learned

• Location– Space should include rooms for general sessions/meals and breakout sessions– Consider using company facilities, if possible– One conference for all interns at headquarters vs. regional conferences?

• Travel/Lodging– To reduce costs, schedule events to allow day-of travel– Consider having local interns stay at hotel with non-local interns– Arrange early check-in or baggage storage at hotel

• Intern Manager Commitment– Brief intern managers on conference agenda and goals– Include managers in breakout sessions, networking

• Leverage your conference to improve branding– One large, unique logo item is appreciated more than several small logo items– Distribute Flip Cameras to some interns and put footage on your career site– Invite execs/managers skeptical about intern program to attend a portion of the

conference

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Questions?