Ways to Make the Most of Your Interns
If interns are willing to work with your company, you must be doing something right. They want to learn the culture and have the chance to study how you run things. These are young bloods who might dominate the industry in the future. Since they started with you, it will be a huge honor if you become a part of their success. Unfortunately, not all companies treat interns the right way. They end up doing secretarial jobs and even becoming the personal assistants of some employees. You can’t keep doing things this way. You should make the most of their presence. Here’s how.
Give them real work
If you have interns who study marketing, allow them to work alongside your marketing department. Ask them which areas they want to learn more about. If they want to know more about social media management, let them sit with your social media manager. You must also hold them accountable for their actions, just like any other employee. You want them to understand what the work culture is, and accountability is a part of it. When they become an actual part of the workforce, they won’t be surprised about this reality.
Allow them to attend meetings
Unless the meeting involves top officials and confidential information, these interns must be welcomed. They can even have a voice on the table. If you’re brainstorming ideas, these interns might have something significant to contribute. Again, they are young and enthusiastic people. They have a lot to share and they see the world from a different perspective. Giving them a voice empowers them. They also feel more motivated to work hard and achieve their goals.
Don’t hesitate to hire someone who deserves it
After months of being an intern, the next step for these people is to return to their universities and report their experience. They will then graduate and continue in the real world. Therefore, you shouldn’t hesitate to hire them when they have shown an excellent performance. The reason why you don’t usually hire fresh graduates is due to the lack of experience. You’re uncertain about what they can do. These excellent interns have proven their worth. You should hire anyone who deserves to be a part of your company. You also don’t want to lose them to other businesses who might see their potentials.
Listen to their feedback
Towards the end of the internship, allow these interns to share what they have learned. If they have feedback about the company’s operations, try to listen. Don’t be too proud to say that they know nothing about how you conduct things. Again, they have a different perspective and they’re worth listening to. Ask questions and let them respond. Be open to suggestions and be grateful for their contributions.
If you maintain an excellent internship program, you will have more applicants in the future. You will also be the first to hire young bloods to join your team. It will be an overall positive experience for everyone involved.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image from https://www.wmata.com/about/careers/images/student-image-from-college-intern-8-5-x-11-flyer.jpg
2nd image from https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/3-ways-to-maximize-your-company-s-internship-program.html
