A smiling Black woman with braids in a red sweater looking directly at the camera in a classroom

Maximizing Internship Opportunities on a Limited Budget

Interns as a path to hiring entry-level diverse STEM talent and nurturing the next generation of tech leadership

By Cindy McKenzie

Internships aren’t just about meeting short-term project needs; they’re a powerful strategy for fostering innovation, driving organizational success, and creating pathways for entry-level diverse talent. Whether offered through structured programs or short-term contracts, internships provide a versatile and effective means to develop and secure future leaders. Working with college students pre-graduation allows companies to assess skills, gauge cultural fit, and ensure a smoother transition into full-time roles. Even organizations without a formal internship program can benefit from hiring interns as contractors.

One effective way to access diverse talent is through our organization, STEM Advantage, a Southern California nonprofit dedicated to supporting STEM students from eight California State University campuses. STEM Advantage offers career development, mentorship, scholarships, and internship opportunities, connecting organizations to a robust pipeline of diverse candidates. If you’re an organization that wants to support students without a formal internship program, STEM Advantage has partnered with Odesus, a technology staffing and consulting firm, to streamline the process. Odesus handles payroll for STEM Advantage interns at a rate of $25 per hour. For a typical summer internship, the total cost is approximately $8,000—a highly manageable investment for most IT organizations.

As a retired CIO, I’ve seen firsthand how impactful internships can be. In my experience, computer science interns have been instrumental in completing projects such as data migrations, system upgrades, equipment rollouts, website development, and intranet or SharePoint site migrations.

To make the most of hiring interns through STEM Advantage, it’s essential to clearly define job descriptions, roles, training plans, and management structures. By doing so, organizations can ensure both immediate project success and long-term talent development. If you’re interested in hiring interns or working with your Talent Acquisition team to establish an internship program, STEM Advantage can guide you through the process.

For more information, contact leeann@stemadvantage.org. By investing in internships, you’re not just meeting today’s needs—you’re building tomorrow’s tech leaders.