Writing Duties for an Internship vs. a Job

Why the Difference Matters

Job descriptions and internship descriptions should not sound identical. While both can involve meaningful work, internships should clearly emphasize learning, mentorship, and professional development in addition to contributing to the organization.

A strong internship description:

  • Helps set appropriate expectations
  • Clarifies the educational nature of the experience
  • Encourages mentoring and supervision
  • Better aligns with university and internship program standards

Key Differences

Job Duties

  • Focus on operational responsibility
  • Emphasize independent work
  • Include ownership/accountability
  • Require prior expertise
  • Support organizational operations

Internship Duties

  • Focus on learning and skill development
  • Emphasize guided experience and mentorship
  • Include participation and collaboration
  • Build foundational experience
  • Support both organizational needs and student growth

Recommended Language

Strong Verbs for Job Descriptions

Use when describing employee responsibilities:

  • Manage
  • Lead
  • Develop
  • Execute
  • Supervise
  • Coordinate
  • Analyze
  • Maintain
  • Implement
  • Direct

Example: “Manage social media accounts and develop monthly marketing campaigns.”

Strong Verbs for Internship Descriptions

Use when describing student learning experiences:

  • Assist
  • Support
  • Learn
  • Observe
  • Collaborate
  • Participate
  • Contribute
  • Shadow
  • Research
  • Draft

Example: “Assist with social media content creation and contribute ideas during marketing campaign planning meetings.”

Side-by-Side Examples

Job Description

  • Develop marketing strategies
  • Coordinate client meetings
  • Analyze financial reports
  • Maintain inventory records
  • Supervise team operations

Internship Description

  • Support marketing strategy research and planning
  • Observe and participate in client meetings
  • Learn to analyze financial data using company tools
  • Help organize and track inventory information
  • Collaborate with staff on daily operations and projects

Best Practices for Internship Duties

When creating internship descriptions:

  • Include opportunities for learning and mentorship
  • Describe projects, exposure, and collaboration
  • Provide meaningful, career-related experiences
  • Clarify supervision and support structures
  • Balance educational value with organizational contribution

A Good Internship Description Should Answer:

  • What will the student learn?
  • Who will supervise or mentor the intern?
  • What skills will the intern develop?
  • How will the intern contribute to the organization?
  • What professional experiences will the intern gain exposure to?

Sample Internship Duty Statement

“Collaborate with the communications team to draft social media content, analyze engagement metrics, and contribute ideas during campaign planning meetings while gaining hands-on experience in digital marketing strategy.”

For questions about developing internship descriptions or experiential learning opportunities, please contact Michael Taylor at michael.taylor@centre.edu.