Founded by WayUp in 2017, National Intern Day highlights outstanding interns and internship programs every year. Yello is proud to be part of National Intern Day since our merging with WayUp in 2021. To that end, we hope National Intern Day serves as a reminder to employers to recognize how investing in a diverse internship program can be an investment in their own future.
Offering a standout internship program that fairly compensates interns and provides unique learning and growth opportunities has become increasingly important for employers looking to build their talent pipeline and position themselves as an employer of choice. In the data we’ve collected from hundreds of employers about their internship programs, a few key trends stand out:
- Internships remain an incredibly effective way for employers to familiarize and develop a pipeline of qualified candidates for early talent roles. Many nominations highlighted an outcomes focused approach with a focus on providing full time employment opportunities to their interns.
- 99% of employers that nominated their programs offer paid internships, with many offering additional perks like EAPs (Employee assistance programs), mental health resources, health and wellness benefits, housing stipends, relocation assistance, and even 401K matching in some cases.
- Employers are more frequently involving intern alumni in their programs, including alumni-led panels and having alumni mentor current interns and serve as an exclusive professional network. Leaning into your alumni network can be a great way to provide guidance and nurture current interns.
- Organizations continue to put a heavy focus on gathering feedback during and after their programs to make improvements and remain attractive employers for Gen Z talent. This allows them to tailor their programs to the needs of their interns and provide better development opportunities.
We hope National Intern Day continues to serve as a reminder to employers to recognize how investing in your internship program is an investment in your own future.
We received hundreds of thoughtful nominations this year getting a spot on the Top 100 List was extremely competitive. In addition to the Top 100 Internship Programs List, we’re pleased to announce the winners of 5 specialty awards that we introduced last year:
- #1 Program Winner
- DEI Champion Award
- Intern Growth Award
- Innovation Award
- Small but Mighty Award
It’s our pleasure to reveal 2024’s #1 Program Winner: Synchrony Financial!
Synchrony Financial’s internship program is dedicated to every element of the intern experience, from networking opportunities to a supportive peer environment to gaining hands-on experience in real-world business scenarios. Interns have access to a wellness coach and fully paid and furnished housing, as well as a dedicated intern space to connect with each other.
Synchrony’s program balances career and personal development so well, in fact, that their pathway to full-time employment is close to 100%!
We’re also excited to announce this year’s other winners:
GE Appliances, a Haier company – DEI Champion Award Winner
GE Appliances’ internship program demonstrates their commitment to DEI through a variety of efforts with measurable outcomes. With 8 employee resource groups focused on providing diverse perspectives, interns have the chance to partake in mentorship programs and networking and volunteer events. Their Inclusion and Diversity Week promotes training and discussion about timely topics that affect employees (including interns). To top it all off, they even provide local housing and have a network in place for those without vehicles to commute to work together.
Unilever – Intern Growth Award Winner
With a structured program for interns to develop technical and soft skills, nurture their curiosity about career possibilities, and mentorship opportunities, Unilever upholds a culture of continuous learning. Interns at Unilever have the opportunity to create personalized career development plans with their mentor, join an exclusive alumni network, and receive continued support through post-internship check-ins.
Endeavor (WME, IMG, On Location, 160/90) – Innovation Award Winner
Endeavor offers interns the chance to not only work in the entertainment industry, but to make their mark on it. Their interns have the opportunity to work with sports broadcasters, fashion designers, and grammy award-winning musicians. Interns also get to work alongside talent representatives, marketing agencies, and global clients in a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and teamwork, preparing interns for real-world challenges. Plus, they get to attend company-sponsored events like Dodgers and Mets games.
Keiter CPAs – Small but Mighty Award Winner
Despite being a small organization, Keiter CPAs offers a multitude of opportunities for their interns. Working alongside firm leadership and clients, interns are treated as firm members. They offer an extensive onboarding process, hands-on development opportunities, industry and soft-skill training, and even a helicopter ride around Richmond, VA! The buddy program also ensures that interns have a friendly point of contact for day-to-day questions and familiarizing themselves with the firm culture.
