Pandemic Impact on Internships: Did Business Interns Pivot Effectively to Meet Employer Expectations?

Abstract

This study explores pandemic impact on internships during the Spring 2020 semester when Covid lockdowns began. Using anonymized data from a Spring 2020 Business Internship course, this study details the breadth of the impact and uses employer exit survey data from intern performance reviews to assess how effectively business interns were able to pivot to successfully complete the internship and to meet employer expectations around key soft skills performance areas. Included in the conclusion are implications and practical suggestions for preparing students for success in the ever-changing landscape of internships.