NFIB

Hiring an Intern
10/ 22/ 2003

by Vicki Gerson

If your company is looking for a way to bring in extra help next year without straining the budget, consider hiring an intern. Often as part of their business and marketing programs, undergraduates and graduate students need to work as an intern in order to graduate. Best of all, many of these interns must work without pay! And, even if they require compensation, it's often at a reasonable rate.

Keep in mind that thousands of interns find jobs -- and why not have one of those jobs be at your company? In the early '80s only one in 36 students completed an internship. But in the last three years, almost 86 percent of students in college programs completed internships.

What employers can expect: In a weak economy, interns are an answer to tight budgets. They allow employers who have had to lay off workers the opportunity to have responsible people do the jobs. Interns are available year-round.

Interns realize that just because they have an internship, it is not a job guarantee. They may only be at your company for a few months. When the economy is strong, you may be struggling to fill the job openings you have. Hiring one or more interns upon their graduation allows you to get the work done and find good employees already trained in your business.

If you hire an intern, it is expected that your role or your manager's role should be one of teacher. You need to explain how the intern's job activities fit into the overall workings of your business. By teaching the intern your business, you can also screen how this intern would be as a prospective employee.

If you don't wind up permanently hiring the interns you use at your business, don't lose touch with them. They may become a valuable resource while working at another company. In addition, if the intern becomes an independent contractor, he or she may be available for special projects.

What interns expect: College students who accept an internship look upon the job as a way to supplement their formal education with practical training. A good internship allows the student to gain work experience and develop job skills and allows recent college graduates to mention -- during the job interview and on their resume -- what they did in their internship and what kind of skills they learned.

How to find good interns: One way to find an intern is to check with local colleges and universities. They are always seeking employers for their students. In addition, call a college or university near you and ask if you can give a presentation about your company to a relevant class or during a career fair. Other than being a great way to advertise your business, students who are interested in what you have to say will contact you directly about working for you.

As an employer today, keep in mind that your competitors may be hiring college graduates who have held internship positions. You may want to take this step too. In addition, you can streamline the interviewing process by hiring the interns you've had in the past, or by speaking to fellow business people for the names of qualified interns.

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