101: Hiring An Intern
If you haven't hired an intern yet, you may want to consider it. There are still plenty of young people looking for work experience over the summer. Or maybe you're planning to take on an intern for your small company or startup in the fall. Either way, it takes planning and consideration. Here are three ways to maximize the internship experience for you and the new — if only temporary — addition to your team:
It's not just free labor. If you need more help, consider hiring temps or contractors. But for interns, you also need to be a mentor. "If you know you won't be a good intern supervisor, don't bring on interns," says Heather Huhman in an article at Forbes.com. Setting out goals for interns and outlining their programs ahead of time, is mutually beneficial. Set aside time each week to manage them and provide feedback.
Interns pack a business boost. An article by Charlotte Jensen at SmallBusiness.aol.com cites a five-year study by The Internship Institute, which shows that interns are an investment worth making. If managed correctly, "they can add significant productivity to the bottom line — up to 200-plus days per year," depending on the number of students. They also save on recruitment costs, as you can work with a potential new hire first, as an intern. And interns often bring new energy to a workplace, benefitting, well, everyone.
Find interns who love your industry. This seems basic, right? But remember, looking for an intern is more than finding a student with a compatible skill set to do the tasks you need completed. "You're passionate about your business, and you need someone who's going to share at least a little bit of that passion," says an article at BusinessInsider.com.
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