Developmental relationships matter: Examining the joint role of supervisor support and mentor status on intern outcomes

U.S. organizations seek to provide interns with positive socialization experiences such that their internships may lead to job offer acceptances. This study presents a process model examining how developmental relationships shape interns’ experiences and outcomes. Utilizing a sample of 6,802 recent graduates from across 200 U.S. colleges and universities who completed an internship, the study found that supervisor support indirectly influences an intern’s decision to accept a job offer through learning and intern satisfaction. Findings further show that interns benefit from developmental relationships such as mentors since mentor status buffered the decrements in learning when supervisor support was low. This study contributes to the growing internship literature that draws upon early socialization and newcomer adaptation by examining the critical role developmental relationships play in the experiences of interns.