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Being a great intern manager starts with creating a memorable and positive onboarding experience. Just like with a new full-time hire, setting up interns for success from day one makes a lasting difference. For many, this internship might be their first real taste of professional life, and they could be both excited and a bit nervous. Your guidance can make their first day—and the day that follow—smooth and inspiring. Here’s our take on an intern onboarding checklist to help you kick things off right!
Take nothing for granted and make sure you prepare ahead of time – both for yourself and for incoming interns. The last thing you want is to encounter roadblocks on Day One and have your interns sitting around for an hour or more (and passing the time with Tetris) while you deal with unforeseen hiccups. Don’t be that manager.
Your prep should cover two areas: making sure you and other managers are ready to welcome interns, and ensuring your interns have all the details they need for their first day. Managers should be familiar with:
For interns, reach out in advance to clear up any potential confusion or uncertainty. Well before their first day, remind them of essentials like:
The big day has arrived! As a manager, it’s time to put on your warmest smile and guide your interns through a smooth, welcoming start. Use Day One to handle orientation and knock out administrative tasks with ease. Your interns may feel a bit overwhelmed, so this is your moment to step in and make their transition as seamless as possible.
Focus on these four key areas for their first day.
1. Be the Intern’s Tour Guide
Your interns need to know the general layout of the office. It’s terrifying for professional newbies to be lost in a place full of strangers. Put on your best tour guide voice and show them around. Show them everything, including:
✅ Key department areas
✅ Where to find managers (including you!)
✅ Restrooms (for obvious reasons)
✅ The all-important pantry
And, of course, show them where they’ll be seated!
2. Be the Administrative Hero
Make sure your interns aren’t left adrift in a sea of admin tasks! Here’s what you should have ready:
✅ Workstations set up and ready
✅ Basic stationery on hand
✅ Company email access activated
✅ HR onboarding paperwork prepared
✅ Access cards or any other necessary peripherals
Be there with them every step of the way. By this time, their company emails and computers should be set up. Let them have a feel of it (and we don’t mean playing the Google dinosaur game) for a moment before showing them where they can stock up on stationery. Once they’re comfortable, escort them to HR for any necessary paperwork and ensure they have their access cards. You definitely don’t want them locked out after lunch!
3. Make Warm Introductions
A checklist for this section:
Here’s your checklist for a welcoming Day One:
✅ Introduce them to colleagues
✅ Assign a work buddy
✅ Organize a group lunch
✅ Gift some company swag
✅ Include them in after-work activities
Think back to your own first day—it’s nerve-wracking! Your interns want to feel they belong, not stand out awkwardly. Announce their arrival, get the introductions going, and keep things light. Friendly faces make all the difference, so steer clear of any overly probing questions on Day One.
Assigning a work buddy is a great way to help them settle faster. A familiar face can calm their nerves and help them adjust to their role.
Some additional awesome gestures include gifting your fresh-faced interns some company swag like lanyards or mugs, as well as organising a group lunch later that afternoon. If your workplace has a culture of after-work activities, bring them along too! Lastly, if you’re able to spare the time, sit your interns down and tell them about your company, its culture, and the values that make you guys who you are.
4. Be a Supportive Manager and Get Down to Business
Once the intros and setup are done, it’s time to align your interns with their responsibilities. Here’s your checklist:
✅ Provide a structured work plan
✅ Clarify roles and duties
✅ Set up regular check-ins
✅ Address any questions
✅ Encourage them to grow
Once they’re all strapped in, discuss your game plan with the interns. Refresh them about their roles and duties and remind them who they can approach and talk to if they need help along the way. Then, let them know about the entire training programme and how it’s all gonna work, especially if there are upcoming projects you intend to assign to them in the coming months.
If you intend to hold regular check-ins and meetings with them, let them know in advance so they’re not caught by surprise when you drop by their desk in two weeks’ time. Schedule them on Google Calendar, set up recurring events, and make sure everyone’s in the loop.
Finally, use this time to answer any lingering questions they may have. The first day can feel overwhelming, so make yourself available to ease any worries. Give them an encouraging start, and they’ll be set to dive in with confidence!
The first week can set the tone for the entire internship, so make it count! Remember, interns are newcomers, so keep your door open for questions and guidance. Make them feel welcome, valued, and empowered—when they know they matter, they’ll be motivated to give their best. A little support now can inspire them to achieve great things alongside your team!
Glints TalentHub is our complete talent solution that covers all aspects of talent acquisition, management, and development. Our team can help you access the extensive talent pool across Southeast Asia and build great teams quickly and affordably. Simply schedule a call with us and our dedicated experts will be thrilled to guide you in your journey towards building a borderless team.
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