Internships are common in big corporations, but even small business are embracing the idea of bringing on board an intern. An internship is a mutually advantageous opportunity that allows the intern to gain practical experience of how small business work while providing additional assistance in the workplace.
Here’s provides all the essential information you require to recruit an intern for your company.
Reasons to why you hire an intern for Small Business
Before you hiring an intern to ensure that the mutual benefits for your company and the intern, as a small business owner, how can you guarantee that utilizing interns will be advantageous? How can you ensure that your company offers meaningful tasks that will provide the intern with valuable experience for their future full-time employment?
Here are a few justifications for recruiting an intern:
1. New viewpoints– Interns are often full of new ideas. They’ve just learned the latest best practices in the field and are ready to test them out. Having interns can have new perspectives into your business, which can spark creativity and generate innovative solutions.
2. Company enthusiasts- Your interns have the potential to become your most enthusiastic supporters, thereby aiding in the dissemination of information about your company.
3.Method of recruitment- If you have need of recruiting permanent employees in the near future, considering an intern as a potential candidate could be beneficial. By offering an internship, you provide yourself with a trial period to assess the intern’s capabilities and determine whether extending a permanent job offer is warranted.
4.Opportunities for leadership roles- Having interns provides an opportunity for your full-time staff to act as mentors and assume leadership positions. This can instill a sense of empowerment within them, while also allowing you to assess their managerial potential if you are considering promoting someone in the near future.
Guidelines for hiring an intern for Small Business
After devising your strategy for hiring an intern, the next step is to locate suitable candidates. Acquiring interns may not always be a straightforward task, but the subsequent suggestions can assist you in effectively recruiting an intern:
1. Collaborate with an educational institution- Establishing a connection with a nearby educational institution can provide you with an advantageous position when seeking potential interns. Take the initiative to introduce yourself to professors within your field at local colleges, as they may be inclined to recommend their students for internships. Additionally, many colleges offer job boards where you can advertise your intern positions. Furthermore, participating in career fairs held at local colleges and setting up a booth can enable you to connect with a larger pool of students who may exhibit interest in your opportunities.
2.Post online advertisements- When you are prepared to recruit an intern in your small business, you have the option to publish an advertisement on Indeed, similar to how you would for full-time positions. This approach enables you to connect with prospective interns from all over the country who are open to relocating. Ensure to incorporate relevant keywords in your advertisement to inform job seekers that the position is specifically for an internship.
3.Use the power of social media- Spread awareness about your internship program across various social media platforms to maximize its reach. Consider featuring your current interns on camera to provide their unique insights and experiences. Additionally, sharing a day-in-the-life post about your interns can inspire potential candidates to apply. Leverage your followers’ networks by encouraging them to recommend your internship to college students who are seeking valuable opportunities. Given their existing support for your business, they will likely be delighted to endorse your internship program to their acquaintances.
What to avoid when hiring an intern
1.Assigning too many tasks or projects to interns, as this can lead to them becoming overwhelmed and making errors.
2.Providing interns with a range of professional growth opportunities during their work tenure, such as observing various departments, is crucial as it helps prevent them from feeling overwhelmed and losing track of their responsibilities for each task.
During this week’s episode of The Small Business Radio Show, Robert J. Khoury, the Co-founder and CEO of Agile Rainmakers talk about Based in Chicago’s Gold Coast, Agile Rainmakers is a prominent advisory firm known for its high-impact solutions. With over twenty years of experience in the financial industry, Robert has held various positions including equity derivatives trader, portfolio manager, corporate strategist, recruiter, hedge fund executive, and private equity investor.
Rob has successfully created and overseen an extensive internship program catering to college students, which has had a profound influence on numerous students and his clients. Additionally, he has collaborated as a co-author on two highly acclaimed books, namely “Intern Management” and “How to Intern Successfully“.
So, Without any additional delay, please take into consideration the subsequent factors to assist in how to hire and use interns in Your small business.