Scholarship & Internship Helper.

5 REASONS TO HIRE AN INTERN

 

• Refer to this article on LinkedIn for benefits of hiring interns. Here

• Interns can bring new ideas to a company and can question old ways to prevent your company from getting stuck in way you have always done things. Interns often can be good at questioning certain processes and can see improved ways of doing things that people that have been working with the company for a long period of time might not be able to see. 

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• They are tech-savvy. Interns are well practiced with social media platforms, computer programs, and other technology to help your business grow. Even if you are a young entrepreneur, it is always good to get a second set of eyes to help. 

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• It's a trial run. Ever hire an employee that didn't work out for whatever reason? You can hire an intern for a lower wage while seeing if they will work in your work environment. This generally leads to less money lost in hiring the wrong person. In this trial run, you can see their work ethic, personality, and other things that are important to consider when hiring. You can then choose to bring them on as a full-time employee down the road. Give them meaningful tasks that will help them give them a good feel for their industry as well help your company run smoother. Make sure you don’t violate the The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which states that “the employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainees, and on occasion the employer’s operations may actually be impeded.”

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• ​They are trying to prove something. Interns are working with the hopes of you hiring them after they finish their degree. Becasue of this they will work like they are trying to prove themselves to your. If you are struggling to keep up with the work load you have in your business, they can help you catch up. They do not cost as much as hiring a full time employee with a degree yet they will still have a basic understanding of the things that need to be done. A candidate that accepts an internship is hoping to accomplish something to add to their resume or in future interviews. ​

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• Your interns will spread the word about your organization. They will share their internship experience with their classmates, friends and family members, and on social media (so make sure it is a good experience!). This is essentially free advertising for your company. 

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You shouldn't hire an intern for any of these reasons:

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• Free Labor. Interns should not replace paid employees. It is important to provide training and mentorship to the intern. They are there to learn skills that will help them in their future career and will report back on their experience. The internship experience you provide will help them decide the direction they would like to go for their career. ​

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• You don't have goals for the program or are too busy. Interns need a supervisor and mentor—someone that will be able to dedicate time to training them. Your time helping the intern is an investment to hopefully bring on a qualified employee that will have experience working with your business. Just because you need help does not mean you should hire an intern. 

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