How to hire a human resources internship

How to hire a human resources internship, step by step

Here's a step-by-step human resources internship hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a human resources internship job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new human resources internship
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a human resources internship do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a human resources internship, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A human resources internship's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, human resources interns from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of human resources interns and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Human Resources Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Human Resources Internship	Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.	$12-20
   Recruiting Coordinator	A recruiting coordinator's tasks include posting job vacancies, coordinating candidate travel, setting up schedules for interviews and handling last-minute scheduling changes, preparing offer letters, and conducting background checks on aspirants. The coordinator assists in the company's recruiting and talent acquisition procedures and strategies by hiring job-seekers to fill in vacant positions and to supply the company's workforce needs and goals... Show more	$16-28
   General Internship	A general intern is responsible for supporting the business operations by performing administrative and clerical duties under the supervision of a direct manager or tenured staff. Interns shadow employees from different teams to have a good grasp of the services and processes offered by the company, understanding each group's functions, and analyzing how the business works for the clients... Show more	$21-40

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Resources Intern
   • PowerPoint
   • Customer Service
   • Internship Program
   • HRIS
   • Payroll
   • Data Entry
   • Background Checks
   • EEO
   • I-9
   • Phone Screens
   • Reference Checks
   • Performance Management
   • Data Analysis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the background process while maintaining the applicant tracking system (ICIMS).
   • Maintain and manage all confidential documents including offer letters, I9 documentation, vendor and equity agreements.
   • Integrate efforts on actions and programs where joint OPM functional effort are necessary to accomplish recruitment and enhance organizational effectiveness.
   • Ensure the completion of all new hire paperwork and entry into HRIS, timekeeping, and e-Verify systems.
   • Improve the presentation process by reformulating overhead projection slides to PowerPoint slides for orientation, open enrollment and other benefits information.
   • Assist in payroll process using KRONOS system.

   More human resources internship duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your human resources internship job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A human resources internship salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a human resources internship in Tennessee may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level human resources internship usually earns less than a senior-level human resources internship. Additionally, a human resources internship with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average human resources internship salary

   $15.72hourly

   $32,702 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level human resources internship salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average human resources internship salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$39,931	$19
   2	New York	$39,167	$19
   3	District of Columbia	$38,229	$18
   4	Massachusetts	$37,259	$18
   5	Colorado	$35,452	$17
   6	Virginia	$35,280	$17
   7	Utah	$34,952	$17
   8	Arizona	$33,525	$16
   9	Pennsylvania	$33,444	$16
   10	Minnesota	$33,417	$16
   11	Maryland	$33,096	$16
   12	Michigan	$32,483	$16
   13	North Carolina	$31,204	$15
   14	Rhode Island	$30,858	$15
   15	Texas	$30,274	$15
   16	Illinois	$29,877	$14
   17	Oklahoma	$29,806	$14
   18	Nebraska	$29,557	$14
   19	Kansas	$29,236	$14
   20	West Virginia	$28,884	$14

   Average human resources internship salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	KLA	$65,753	$31.61	12
   2	Schneider Electric Industrial Services	$53,443	$25.69	6
   3	W. R. Berkley	$51,969	$24.99	7
   4	AMETEK	$51,309	$24.67	6
   5	Arnold Worldwide	$51,267	$24.65
   6	SAP	$51,065	$24.55	26
   7	Intel	$48,724	$23.43	3
   8	Silicon Labs	$48,489	$23.31
   9	LG&E and KU	$47,986	$23.07
   10	Arrow Electronics	$46,653	$22.43	2
   11	Valmont Industries	$45,893	$22.06	2
   12	Stantec	$45,407	$21.83	105
   13	The Boring Company	$45,138	$21.70	1
   14	Avid	$44,404	$21.35	2
   15	Steel Dynamics	$44,145	$21.22	28
   16	New York Air Brake	$43,940	$21.13	1
   17	Sanmina	$43,895	$21.10
   18	Precision Castparts	$43,591	$20.96	20
   19	Fortinet	$43,575	$20.95	4
   20	Student Conservation Association	$43,515	$20.92	1

4. Writing a human resources internship job description

   A human resources internship job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a human resources internship job description:

   Human resources internship job description example

   Here at Avis Budget Group we're more than just rentals-although over 70 years of experience and 11,000 locations in 180 countries has taught us a thing or two about that. We're shaping the future of the mobility industry with our innovative, customer-focused solutions. Our globally recognized brands - Avis, Budget, Budget Truck and Zipcar - connect people to more. This means more convenience, more options and more time on the road for our customers. But we also connect our employees to more: opportunities, benefits, support, collaboration and most importantly-power to change the future. Sound your speed? Come join our family.
   
   Here at Avis Budget Group we're more than just rentals-although over 70 years of experience and 11,000 locations in 180 countries has taught us a thing or two about that. Shaping the future of the mobility industry with our innovative, customer-focused solutions, our globally-recognized brands including Avis, Budget, and Zipcar connect people to more. This means more convenience, more options, and more time on the road for our customers.
   What you'll do:
   Interview and hire field hourly employees. Partner with the Talent Acquisition team to facilitate open houses. Coordinate with Talent Acquisition team on disposition of candidates in ATS system. Ensure the timely completion of pre-employment checks of new hires and partner with location managers to address outstanding actions. Coordinate and provide support to locations on new hire on-boarding - including touch bases with new hires, ensure completion of I9s and tracking Learning completion. Provide analysis on talent acquisition progress by job/location. Identify sourcing and recruiting strategies by location and develop tool for tracking and reporting. Run various reports, provide analysis, if applicable, and disseminate to locations and Area Leadership. Oversee payment of retention and referral bonuses Other duties as assigned.
   
   What we're looking for:
   Ability to work 24 hours a week Active enrollment at college/university pursuing a degree in Human Resources, or a similar field Bi-lingual Spanish is preferred
   
   Skills you should bring to the table:
   Proficiency in MS Office Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing Strong interpersonal, organization, and time management skills Ability to multi-task and work independently in a fast paced environment and act with a sense of urgency Contribute positively to the organization, both individually and as part of a team
   
   The fine print:
   
   Avis Budget Group is an equal opportunity employer - M/F/Veterans/Disabled.
   
   Drug screening is a part of our hiring process. This advertisement does not constitute a promise or guarantee of employment. This advertisement describes the general nature and level of this position only. Essential functions and responsibilities may change as business needs require.
   
   Avis Budget Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
   
   Dania
   
   Florida
   
   United States of America

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right human resources internship for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with human resources interns they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit human resources interns who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your human resources internship job on Zippia to find and recruit human resources internship candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit human resources interns, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new human resources internship

   Once you have selected a candidate for the human resources internship position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new human resources internship. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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