‘Fox Across America’ host Jimmy Failla discusses how new federal government internships are paying over $60k on ‘The Bottom Line.’
According to career experts, bringing on summer interns can have numerous positive benefits for small businesses.
“Internship programs allow small businesses to expand their workforce and provide interns with hands-on learning opportunities. Interns can support current employees by taking on meaningful tasks and projects,” said Jill Chapman, director of early talent programs at Insperity.
What can interns do for your business?
When assigning tasks to interns, it’s important to consider the timeframe of their internship.
“Since a summer internship has a specific timeline, most of the projects assigned to interns may be short-term,” Chapman explained. “To make the most of the learning experience for both the intern and the benefit to their team, organizations can assign a summer-long ‘capstone’ project or proposal. Interns can present their project to their manager or the entire team and receive feedback. The business may even choose to implement the project after the summer internship ends.”
Summer interns can enhance their education by gaining hands-on experience. (Fox News / Fox News)
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How can businesses support the learning objectives of their interns?
Chapman emphasized the importance of providing feedback to interns to help them develop their skills. Their work should be reviewed by more experienced colleagues.
“For the business, interns can handle projects and routine tasks,” Chapman said. “These assignments often inspire new ideas. By assigning these tasks to interns, employees have more time to focus on complex projects.” This creates a “win/win” dynamic where interns gain skills from their work and learn from experienced colleagues, she added.
Internship programs also expose both current employees and interns to different perspectives.
“Internship programs bring people of different generations and backgrounds together, fostering the exchange of perspectives and ideas. This benefits everyone involved,” Chapman explained. “Current employees can benefit from seeing the business and their work through the fresh eyes of interns, while interns get to experience office culture for the first time.”
A capstone project completed by an intern over the summer can maximize their learning experience. (iStock / iStock)
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How do internship programs create a talent pipeline for businesses?
According to Chapman, internship programs help businesses develop a talent pipeline and can lead to future employment opportunities for interns.
“One of the biggest advantages of internship programs is that they expand the talent pool for small businesses, while interns gain an advantage in the job market,” she said. Many businesses offer full-time positions to interns who meet performance standards, or prioritize former interns when hiring. “Even if interns don’t end up working for the company they interned for, they gain valuable experience to include on their resume and discuss in future interviews,” Chapman added.
Students can bring fresh perspectives to your business.
How can summer interns bring creativity to your business?
Derek Ellington, head of small business banking for Wells Fargo, explained how interns can inject enthusiasm and energy into a business. They offer fresh eyes and different perspectives, and introduce new ideas and viewpoints.
“Since summer interns want to make a good impression, earn recommendations, and enhance their resumes, they are motivated to bring a can-do and creative attitude to their work. This enthusiasm can revitalize and inspire employees,” said Ellington. Additionally, summer interns can help alleviate the typical workload of employees and prevent burnout, train potential full-time employees, and promote your business as an attractive employer among potential job seekers and schools with internship programs.
“When you have an intern, a current employee often has the opportunity to mentor and manage them, which enhances their leadership skills. This is beneficial for the business,” he added.
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How can companies find interns?
According to Michelle Reisdorf, district president for Robert Half, networking and active involvement in the community, particularly through partnerships with local universities, can be effective in finding interns.
“Attending career fairs is another great way to connect with potential interns,” Reisdorf suggested. “You want to promote your brand and attract employees of all ages.”
