Interns
November  9, 2004

Q: We are heading into our busy time of year but whatever extra we may make will be lost if I have to hire more employees to handle the extra business.  What are we to do? -- William, Andover

A:  One great, often overlooked, way to bring in extra help without busting the budget is to hire one or more interns.  Both undergraduate and graduate students either need internships for graduation requirements or use internships as a way to augment their resume and skills.  Their need is your gain.

According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses, 86% of all college students now participate in some sort of internship program prior to graduation.  For businesses, bringing in interns is a way to both jazz-up the office and get intelligent help.  Many large businesses hire interns regularly, and it is something we small businesses should do more.  It's smart and cost-effective.

But as anyone who has participated in an internship knows, not all internships are created equal.  As a graduate student, I participated in a year of public policy internships with the Coro Foundation.  Some were great and some were not.  The internships I liked best had two things in common.

First, there was a chance to really participate in the organization.  For the small business considering hiring an intern, that is the easy part.  You want interns to help ease the workload, so of course they will be participating.  Just be sure that the assignments you give your interns are more than the unwanted dirty work.  For interns to stay motivated, especially because they are either not being paid or are paid a nominal sum, the work must be interesting, stimulating even.  The point of an internship is to learn something, so you must keep that in mind as you assign the intern duties.

Second, I found the best internships allow the intern the chance to spend time with a mentor; someone high up in the organization, thereby allowing the intern see how things really run.  This part may be harder for the small business, but is no less important.  If you do hire an intern, be sure to schedule time for him or her to attend meetings, go to important lunches, and meet with the boss and managers, that sort of thing.  This sort of experience is what makes an internship especially valuable for the intern.  (Think Seinfeld.  Think Kramerica.)

A good internship is a win-win situation.  It is a chance for a student to gain valuable work experience, develop job skills, and add another notch on the 'ol resume.  For you, it is a chance to get a bright, enthusiastic, motivated staff member, someone with a unique perspective, who is responsible, and who is a bargain.

Should you pay your intern?  The experience of many business owners suggests that even if the student is getting school credit for working at your business, some sort of fee helps keep them around, and motivated.  Typically, $6 to $8 an hour is about right.  While paying an intern is probably not required, just understand that students are motivated by money too.  They will certainly want a letter of recommendation once the internship is over.

Where do you find interns?  Internships are usually coordinated through a school's student placement office, career center, or an Internship Director.

Finally, keep these tips in mind to ensure a successful, and profitable, internship experience for all concerned:

• Make a list beforehand regarding what the intern will be doing, what skills he or she will be expected to know, and what they can expect to learn.  Be honest with the people you interview regarding your expectations and the scope of the internship.

• Just as with hiring an employee, when interviewing interns, discover their strengths and weaknesses, get and call references, but look especially for a good fit -someone with whom you have chemistry.

• Remember that once you bring someone in, that person will be fairly new to the world of work.  Be positive and give plenty of feedback.  Supervise and teach.  Give them real assignments.

• Remember that they will be unavailable during midterms and finals.

For many students, internships are among the most memorable, useful learning experiences in college.  For the small business, it's a chance to get excellent help at a greatly reduced cost.  All in all, everyone wins when internships are handled right.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today's tip:  You know the value of good publicity.  It can take your business to the next level.  Well, nothing beats telling your story on Oprah.  If you think your business has valuable information for Oprah Winfrey's audience, then visit her Web site and click the "Be on the Show" link to see what stories the producers are working on and how you might fit in — http://www.oprah.com/tows/intheworks/tows_works_main.jhtml.
 

Back to "Ask an Expert"          MSCE Home

Batesville Memorial Public Library