National Intern Day in 2026 is Thursday, July 30. It is an annual day dedicated to celebrating the hard work, fresh perspectives, and contributions of interns. For small businesses and entrepreneurs, that fresh perspective can help uncover new opportunities, improve systems, and move important projects forward.
Felena Hanson interviewed two Hera Hub members, Jenna Stenderup & Naliyah Edwards, about their experience working with a team of interns from San Diego State University. They shared their best practices in preparation, motivation, and management. Stay to the end of the video for an invaluable tip from Naliyah on how to attract great interns!
A strong internship should not only be a resume builder but also be a valuable learning experience. Interns benefit most when they receive meaningful assignments, clear expectations, regular feedback, and opportunities to understand how a business operates. The goal is to help emerging professionals build confidence, skills, and professional connections.
Research shows that internships significantly increase a graduate’s likelihood of securing a degree-level job, receiving multiple job offers and earning a higher starting salary. 63.1% of 2024–25 interns converted into full-time employees. Of those receiving offers, 88.3% accepted them. In a recent survey, 87.8% of interns said they learned skills they would not have learned in the classroom. Source
By investing in interns today, we help develop the talented, innovative, and community-minded leaders of tomorrow.
Connect with Felena, Jenna, and Naliyah:
