Celebrate National Intern Appreciation Day July 25, 2024

Interns are temporary employees hired by firms to accomplish little, day-to-day activities that help them function efficiently. It is critical to observe National Intern Day each year to demonstrate your appreciation for the hard work that interns provide to your firm. 

National Intern Day is a lively event that honors interns’ hard work and accomplishments. 

It takes place yearly on the final Thursday of July, which in 2024 is July 25. This particular day is observed throughout the United States and demonstrates the vital experience interns offer to their employers.  The day promotes the value of internships as a springboard for young people joining their chosen areas.  It’s an opportunity for businesses to express thanks to their interns, recognizing their work and the unique views they provide. 

Internships play an important part in molding these young people’ future professions by giving them real-world experience and the opportunity to learn and grow within their field. Find out more about how your team may commemorate National Intern Day.

What is National Intern Day?

National Intern Day, founded by WayUp in 2017, has provided a chance for thousands of companies to recognize and appreciate their dedicated interns. The holiday has drawn public attention to entry-level applicants’ obstacles and disparities, encouraging investment in internship programs and interns themselves. 

National Intern Day also coincides with the announcement of WayUp’s annual coveted Top 100 Internship Programs List, which recognizes businesses that went above and beyond for their interns this year. 

After all, the leaders of tomorrow are the interns of today, and the decisions made by businesses today will directly impact our future.

History of National Intern Day

National Intern Day launched in 2017, courtesy to the brilliant minds at WayUp. Liz Wessel and JJ Fliegelman found a gap. 

Many young people were scurrying, hoping to land their first internships and employment. What is their solution? The WayUp platform aims to make this process easier.

What’s their next big idea? A day dedicated only to cheering on interns and noting their accomplishments on the calendar. The last Thursday in July was chosen, and National Intern Day was founded. It was an instant success, attracting over 1,000 firms to the celebration. Everyone was involved, from little companies to the major leagues. 

This day is about more than pats on the back. It focuses on the intern hustle: learning, adjusting, and striving. Companies express thanks for these young achievers’ new ideas and enthusiasm. There is even an “Intern of the Year” award, since who doesn’t enjoy friendly competition?

Discussions regarding intern rights and fair compensation are also encouraged, which aligns with WayUp’s objective to empower young professionals. 

National Intern Day has grown from its humble origins to become a beacon for recognizing and appreciating the achievements of the future workforce.

Why is it important to celebrate National Intern Day?

Interns handle day-to-day jobs and clerical duties, freeing up your other workers’ time and energy to focus on higher-level work items. This leads to increased production and efficiency for your firm. It is critical to congratulate your interns to communicate your gratitude, so they feel appreciated and continue to deliver good work. 

Celebrating interns also helps you create a great image for your firm by demonstrating that you value all of your employees. Candidates searching for internships may become more interested in working for your firm after seeing how well you handled previous interns, which may result in more motivated and high-quality interns applying.

Ideas for a Strong Internship Program for 2024

Whether they work as year-round workers or summer interns, your interns should always feel valued and appreciated, even on non-National Intern Day days. Here are ten recommendations to help you create an excellent internship program that your interns will remember.

• Create mentorship programs in which interns are paired with full-time workers who can coach and support their further development. 
• Send engagement questionnaires to your interns, ideally at the start, finish, and midway of your internship program, to get employee input and make improvements.
• Create intern meet-up groups to enable your interns to network and learn from your organization’s previous, current, and upcoming interns.
• Plan frequent lunches where business leaders and subject matter experts may impart knowledge to your interns. 
• Provide career development opportunities such as networking gatherings and mixers. 
• To entice prospective interns to join your firm, provide them with an internship welcome kit complete with corporate merchandise.
• Allow your interns to demonstrate their work in a showcase presentation to all workers. 
• Create an intern resource group where interns may exchange links to manuals, podcasts, webinars, and other materials that have benefited them during their internship.
• Organize continuing virtual challenges such as learning and development challenges, core values challenges, and treasure hunts to increase intern engagement and connect them to your corporate culture.
• Conduct exit interviews at the internship’s conclusion to better understand the internship experience and how it may be improved.

Celebrate Intern Appreciation Day with Unforgettable Branded Swag from SwagMagic

Intern Appreciation Day is just around the corner, and what better way to show your gratitude than with some amazing branded swag from SwagMagic? Our user-friendly platform makes creating a memorable experience for your interns a breeze. We’ve got you covered, from branded swag stores where they can choose their own goodies/gifts to fully customizable swag kits. Don’t let this opportunity slip by—book a call with our swag experts today and let us help you craft the perfect branded swag experience for your hardworking interns!

Interns are the lifeblood of any organization, and Intern Appreciation Day is the perfect time to show them how much you value their contributions. With SwagMagic, you can create a truly unforgettable experience that will leave a lasting impression. Our wide range of branded swag options, from custom swag stores to globally delivered swag kits, ensures that your interns feel appreciated and motivated to keep up the great work. Don’t wait any longer – take the first step towards building a stronger, more engaged intern community by exploring SwagMagic’s offerings today!