TRY BEFORE YOU BUY – INTERNSHIPS CAN PAY OFF
Feb 18, 2002

We are all in need of help at one time or another, whether it is for temporary or permanent placements in our organizations. Have you ever considered hiring an intern from a local college or university? It’s a great idea and the benefits are countless. Within our very near reach, amongst a vast number of schools in the tri-county area, students are ready, waiting and willing to fill intern positions in their respective fields. For employers, internship programs function as pre-employment programs. Ninety days is the typical time period, so a company has a chance to evaluate a person before an offer is made (if the position is permanent). This cuts down on hiring, advertising, interviewing and training costs. The internship serves as a try-before-you-buy period and skill sets, communication, and organizational assessments can be made before hiring for a long-term commitment. Some students can even intern for credits as opposed to earning a salary, but that determination is set by the institute and the employer. For the students, it is an excellent chance to gain work experience in their related fields and complement their studies while still going to school. They acquire hands-on experience to handling tasks and approaches, work on-site with teams and departments, and develop skill sets that cannot be learned by simply reading a book. They can then list the internship as credible job experience on their resume, or it may also lead to permanent employment in an already familiar work environment. A very important note to mention is the importance of mentoring the students – it is absolutely essential. If you put them into a worksite and don’t give them someone from your company who is interested in their experience, the entire value for them and you is of no value. Choose an employee who can be their guide, who helps them fit in and introduces them to team members, and reviews their progress during the program. Most employers who invest in internships see the return from the amount of time and energy put into it.