[Foundations] Turning a Work Experience into an Internship (Before)

Students working in part-time or seasonal hospitality roles can convert that experience into a true internship — even if it's not required for their program. With actionable advice for students and employers alike, this episode outlines the structural elements that turn "just a job" into a meaningful foundation for a future in management.

Key Takeaways:

• A job offers experience, but an internship adds structure, mentorship, and learning objectives that prepare students for leadership roles.
• Converting a job into an internship benefits both student and employer — helping with career clarity, recruiting, innovation, and engagement.
• A successful internship should include rotations across departments, ideally under different managers to expose students to varied leadership styles.
• Interns should shadow managers, attend meetings, and complete a real project addressing a company need — all elements that deepen understanding of operations and decision-making.
• Done well, this approach creates a win-win: students grow professionally, and employers gain fresh insight and a potential future hire.