Small Businesses

Are you a small business looking for an intern? Confused about how to reach out to Generation Z, or who to contact at a local college? Not sure if you have all the skills it takes to host a successful internship?

The SBDC and the Small Business Internship Initiative can help! We provide:

  • Confidential guidance at no cost in determining whether hosting an intern is the right option to help grow your business.
  • Assistance in preparing internship descriptions, guidance with conducting interviews, and supervisory skills.
  • Access to students at 11 local colleges and universities all in one spot.

The Small Business Internship Initiative is a collaborative program created to help small businesses learn about, attract, and host high-value internships and connect area small businesses and college students.

Small Business Eligibility/Requirements

In order to be eligible, businesses must be for-profit and meet the U.S. Small Business Administration Size Standards based on NAICS. 

They must work with the SBDC to develop and offer traditional or micro-internships that:

✓ Are structured experiential learning that take place within and under the supervision of businesses

✓ Have a defined beginning and end timeline

✓ Are an in-person/on-site or remote/virtual or a combo of both – hybrid experience

✓ Are a benefit to both intern and business

✓ Are paid (through a wage/payroll process*) internship, sometimes also with opportunity for class credit

*All internships offered through this initiative are required to be paid by the small business host. Traditional interns are paid as employees and the small business is responsible for payroll, taxes and all required paperwork. Micro-interns are paid by the small business as independent contractors according to IRS guidelines. Rates and amounts are up to the small business and our SBDC Business Consultants can provide guidance and information to help! Some of our partners offer internship funding or reimbursements for eligible businesses. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Small Business Internship Fund is one example. 

Once they are ready to go, we share available internship opportunities with Career Development partners at Clarks Summit University, Johnson College, Keystone College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College, Mansfield University, Marywood University, Misericordia University, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Penn State Worthington Scranton, and The University of Scranton. Those are the partners we share with, but college students applicants from all institutions are welcome to apply! 

Click here to schedule a time to talk about hosting an intern.
or
Contact us at 570-941-7588 or sbdc@scranton.com today!

Value to Small Businesses

  • Grow Your Business. Hosting an intern can help you expand the capabilities of your business and reach your goals!
  • Test Drive Talent. Welcoming students into your business is a great strategy – your talented intern can be your next permanent hire!
  • Be Competitive. Adding a skilled intern’s perspective to your team will keep you a step ahead of the competition!

Learn more about the value of hosting a great internship at your small business! The Small Business Internship Initiative offers confidential guidance at no cost, from tools to marketing to skills!

Value to Students

  • Get Paid. All paid opportunities, with the option of credit based on student interest/school approval.
  • Gain Experience. The chance to take on more responsibilities and experience entrepreneurship firsthand – one-on-one guidance and education from small business mentors.
  • Stay Local. Access to unique, local internship opportunities.
  • The possibility to explore career options you didn’t know existed!

Grow Your Small Business with a Summer Internship – Virtual Information Session

Could hosting an internship propel your business forward this summer? Join The University of Scranton SBDC and their Small Business Internship Initiative for a 30-minute session to learn about what a paid educational internship is, different types of internships (traditional, micro, hybrid or virtual!), and what makes up a great internship. Determine whether you’re ready to host an internship this summer and learn more about the Small Business Internship Initiative. You’ll also learn about the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Internship Fund resource.

View the On-Demand Recording Here

Internship Video Series

We have broken down the information in our “Grow Your Small Business with Internships!” presentation into shorter, more digestible videos. Each of the videos below presents a different topic that is important to know when considering whether hosting an internship is right for your small business.

Additional videos are on the way, on topics from “Making the Decision to Host an Internship” and “Creating Your Internship Posting”. In the meantime, please feel free to contact us at 570-941-7588 or info@smallbusinessinternships.com.

Here are some of our past small business internship hosts & the internship opportunities they offered: