Your summer interns may be starting to trickle in, so it’s important that Maine employers know about programs and initiatives. Since many of these students and young professionals are experiencing a summer in Maine for the first time, here are five tips to make the season count for your interns.
Give them real work — and tell them why it matters
Busywork is forgettable. By taking the time to explain how the task you are giving them has an impact on the company’s mission, you’ll not only get more quality work; you will also empower your intern.
Plug them into Maine Career Catalyst
Connecting them with interns or others in your office is great, but you can help them expand their network even more and deepen their roots in Maine by participating in Maine Career Catalyst. This is free for any Maine employer hosting at least one intern, apprentice or co-op student.
The program complements your existing program with professional development (both in-person and virtual), social events and networking. (To participate this summer, send an email  to hannah@educatemaine.org to get your interns enrolled.)
Play matchmaker
Help facilitate a lunch or coffee meetup with another intern in the office or even an intern at a neighboring business. It helps them to feel part of the team and build lasting relationships. We also recommend facilitated mentorship conversations between interns and staff.
Tell them what Maine has to offer
Your intern is weighing a future in Maine against a lot of other options. At Live + Work in Maine, we have learned that selling Maine is one of the strongest approaches you can take. Here are a couple of great ones to mention in your benefits package:
Student Loan Repayment Tax Credit: If they live and work in Maine after graduation, they can claim up to $2,500 per year — up to a $25,000 lifetime cap — on their state taxes to offset student loan payments. Eligible for associate, bachelor’s or graduate degrees earned after 2007 from any accredited college, anywhere. Maine is one of just a handful of states offering income tax credits on general student loan payments that aren’t tied to a specific field.
The Maine lifestyle: Showcase the way of life for Mainers. Encourage your interns to explore Maine this summer and show them that there are vast career opportunities within the state— think lunch breaks by the sea or a quick scenic hike after work. A fun idea to consider might be providing them with a state park pass when they start their internship.
Live + Work in Maine: Make interns aware of the resources Live + Work in Maine offers. Our organization showcases networking groups to help interns plug in post-grad, hosts events to help folks find community, operates a Maine-focused job board and shares relevant content about Maine.
Plan the off-ramp early
Schedule the final feedback conversation (the “where do you see yourself next year” check-in and the “let’s stay in touch” follow-up) before their last week sneaks up on you.
The door you leave open in August is the one they walk back through after graduation. And if they don’t end up with your company long-term, you will hopefully leave with helpful feedback — a fresh perspective is always useful.
Teamwork
If we want to keep young talent in Maine, it’s going to take a team approach. We encourage employers to get creative with their internship opportunities and experiences — and use Maine to your advantage.
