| Each summer, college students across the country get | | | | offering paid internships, or at least a weekly stipend, |
| a taste of the real world by participating in internships. | | | | as Laing suggests, as additional enticement. |
| It's worth it for companies to put time and effort into | | | | Finding the right intern for the summer, even if it means |
| developing a summer student program that benefits | | | | interviewing a dozen candidates, is worth it in the long |
| your business. This worthy investment can help reduce | | | | run. |
| overhead and boost productivity. What’s | | | | Interns are there to help you and your company. If |
| more, who knows? Your best interns may end up | | | | your hire turns out to be sub-par, you'll have to run |
| being your next new employees. | | | | after them and clean up their mess. |
| Choose Your Intern Wisely Finding the right summer | | | | Create a Rewarding Experience Smaller companies |
| intern for your company is half the battle. If you know | | | | may be at a disadvantage when it comes to finding |
| what kind of intern your company needs -- for | | | | the best and the brightest. Interns are often attracted |
| instance, a student studying engineering, journalism, or | | | | to the large, established name-brand companies |
| biology -- you can target certain schools that specialize | | | | because that name can puff up their resume. To |
| in a certain field. Creating relationships with career | | | | compete against bigger companies, smaller firms need |
| counselors at colleges and universities that offer | | | | to take the time to create an internship that will benefit |
| degrees on those topics is a great way to find top | | | | the student's career. Filing and coffee runs won't |
| quality intern candidates. | | | | attract the caliber of students you want to spend the |
| Some ways to become involved with a school's | | | | summer months with. |
| career centers are: Participate in career fairs Hold | | | | Walker suggests assigning a person in the company to |
| informal brown-bag lunches on campus with students | | | | manage and mentor the interns. It takes time and |
| and professors Serve as a guest lecturer Tony Laing, | | | | effort to find, train, and manage your interns, but if you |
| senior graduate student services coordinator at the | | | | do it right you'll have skilled employees. Having several |
| New School in New York City, says he has had the | | | | projects planned ahead of time for the summer intern |
| most success placing qualified interns at companies he | | | | is also a good idea. These may be projects that |
| has the most experience with. If Laing knows what | | | | regular employees don't have time to do but are still |
| kind of student would be successful working with a | | | | important to the company, Walker said. |
| particular company it makes it easier for him to | | | | "Creating projects with set goals will be the most |
| suggest qualified candidates. | | | | effective for the intern," said Laing. "Have an outline so |
| Most students working an internship for credit already | | | | that the interns know what they are going to be doing |
| have some skills and knowledge under their belts, | | | | for the amount of time they will be there." Laing also |
| according to Susan Walker, associate director of | | | | notes that companies should understand that |
| internships at Middlebury College in Vermont. | | | | undergraduate and graduate students have different |
| "There should be an understanding that the intern | | | | levels of abilities that should not be applied |
| brings some skills to the situation and can perform | | | | indiscriminately to assigning internship duties. Whereas |
| work right off the bat," said Walker. "The intern is there | | | | most graduate students have already held down full |
| to contribute to the organization but also to enhance | | | | time jobs in a particular field, undergraduates are |
| his or her professional skills as well." It makes sense to | | | | usually less experienced when it comes to the working |
| spend a little time getting to know the intern | | | | world. |
| coordinator, and familiarizing them with your business. | | | | Summer interns can help your company by being a |
| Finally, make sure you conduct in-person interviews | | | | flexible helper for your staff. |
| with potential interns before you hire them. This may | | | | Because they are not an expert in just one area of |
| sound obvious, but Laing and others repeatedly | | | | your business, they can easily be transferred to |
| stressed the importance of a formal interview. Interns | | | | different departments in the company to lend a hand. |
| may seem like temps in one way, but because | | | | This not only helps smooth the workflow during |
| they’re on a career track, they are often | | | | summer vacations, but gives the student a broader |
| exposed to sensitive business matters and clients -- | | | | understanding of the company as a whole. |
| the same as a salaried employee. | | | | The opportunity to attract a young, eager, and |
| "The key is having an interview with prospective | | | | enthusiastic intern is not something a business should |
| interns to find out what their skills are and what they | | | | squander. |
| want to get out of the internship," said Laing, "It also | | | | With a little guidance and an outline of job duties and |
| doesn't hurt to offer a small stipend." All internships | | | | expectations, your summer intern could end up being |
| offer some sort of reward, but with a proliferation of | | | | your next hire |
| internship programs, companies should consider | | | | |