Leadership: Opening the door for Summer Internships

 

By Janie Clark

 

Small business owners can have the biggest hearts, so why not consider a college intern?

 

It used to be that interns spent the summer stifling yawns at the copier in the basement, but in today's marketplace, the internship is the primary entry point to full-time employment. In fact, the synergy is so good that BusinessWeek  created an annual ranking of the best U.S. companies for undergraduate internships.

 

Universities are great places to hunt and most departments have both internship programs and clear guidelines. The internship description gets posted to the department listserve, where students and review their options and apply. 

 

You can also post on sites like Workforcehrjobs.com, Interweb.com, or even Craigslist.

 

"Interns expect to get some useful OJT during their internships," says Kim Martin, a professor in the department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas. "What they need to know from you is what is expected of them, and what they can expect to learn."

 

Start with an internship job description, she says, which should include the skills they need coming in to the internship, and what skills they can expect to pick up during their tenures at your firm.

 

While summer is not the time to find an intern, as most of the students have already been placed, it is a good time to start planning for next year. Traditionally, summer internships are posted mid-March.

 

"If you can pay anything, you're more likely to get applicants, of course. But pay is not required," she says.

 

However, be forewarned. Your intern is not unpaid labor or indentured servitude. And the US Department of Labor steps in to make sure with a litmus test.  All six of the following criteria must be met to establish that an employee relationship does not exist and minimum wage laws don't apply.

 

1. The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to that which would be given in a vocational school;

2. The training is for the benefit of the trainee;

3. The trainees do not displace regular employees, but work under close observation;

4. 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;

5. The trainees are not necessarily entitled to a job at the completion of the training period; and

6. The employer and the trainee understand that the trainees are not entitled to wages for the time spent in training.

 

So what can you both gain from the experience?

 

Interns are looking for resume material experience. They're looking for challenging assignments that build transferable skills.  They want exposure to leaders of industry. They want to experience how they fit in the real world area of their studies, and they want hands-on experience at the entry level.

 

Your company can provide all that and win.  Consider these benefits to adding an internship program to your small business.

 

1. New perspectives. What a great way to open dialogue with someone from outside your network that can add a fresh perspective.

 

2. Too cool for school.  It's probably been awhile since you were in college. Your intern can help you gain insight on academia in your industry that has changed since then.  Hey, you might learn something!

 

3. Get organized. Your intern needs you to do some planning before he or she arrives. Your efforts to identify and create job descriptions, training and development for your intern can translate to new hires and expansion down the road. Every generation has its own work-style. You'll be ahead of the pack in understanding this new generation and how to attract them to your workplace.

 

4. Being there. Why wouldn't you want to help a young professional by providing hands- hands-on coaching and mentoring?  Here's your chance to help them understand the nature of your business and the many hats you wear as a successful entrepreneur.

 

Janie Clark writes on business, marketing, and communication strategy. Follower her blog, B2B Bingo. When everything lines up just right... it's Bingo! Email Janie Clark janiepc@cox.net.