How To Hire Interns For A Small Business

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Before entering the working world, many students or young adults choose to pursue internships. Internships are programs where individuals work on projects within teams to learn important skills that will serve them well when applying for future jobs. Those working an internship are called interns.

Interns are trainees who have agreed to work for an organization for a brief period of time. This period of time is typically paid. The intern’s main goal is to gain relevant work experience for their resume, but they may also pursue internships for college credit or to better understand an industry they are interested in entering.

Why Hire an Intern?

Hiring an intern might seem like a burden to a company. After all, you have to train a new employee for only a short period of time. However, there are a number of benefits to hiring an intern for your organization.

• New perspectives. Interns bring a fresh mindset to the business. When given a chance, they can challenge the status quo and help teams see things from a different perspective. They may even be able to suggest a different way to handle certain processes, which can be beneficial for the company as a whole.

• Intuitive with technology. As younger generations age into the consumer market, it’s important for companies to have a good understanding of their digital presence. Interns can help provide a younger perspective on things like social media or digital technology popular with their peers.

• Potential as a future employee. Internships can be viewed as trial periods that show a company the potential of the intern. By seeing their motivation, skills, and work ethic, you may decide they are a valuable asset to your team and choose to hire them once they graduate.

• Extra hands. One of the greatest benefits of an intern is that they can help you or your teams complete projects you may have been struggling to complete while arming them with the necessary skills for a well-rounded resume. With real, meaningful work, you will help not only your teams run more smoothly but benefit your intern, too.

• Brand advocacy. If your intern falls in love with your company or your brand, you’ve now gained an invaluable brand ambassador who will speak highly of your company. This is, of course, dependent on them experiencing an excellent internship with a manager who helps guide them in the first direction.

Interns are a worthwhile investment for your company and teams. Interns give you the benefit of assisting with existing work at a lower cost. It’s also a great way to give individuals on your teams the opportunity to build their managerial skills and even boost morale within your team, who may feel rewarded by helping local, young professionals.

How to Hire an Intern

Now that you know the excellent benefits of hiring an intern, you may be wondering how to secure interns at your business. Here are a few steps you should consider following when hiring an intern.

1. Determine what you need. The idea of hiring an intern usually arises when there’s a project-based need. As the employer, you should establish exactly what your intern will work on, focusing on what expertise or skills it will help them deliver. The project or projects you choose for them to work on should only last a short period of time.

2. Choose a schedule. Because interns are typically pursuing a degree, it’s important to recognize they may need flexible schedules. However, some interns may not, especially if this is a summer internship. Before hiring an intern, determine what type of schedule works best for your hiring needs and company.

3. Adhere to FLSA Internship Guidelines. Internships must abide by federal labor laws and any statewide requirements. These include things like avoiding discrimination, sexual harassment, and tax laws. If you are considering an unpaid internship, there are strict requirements set by the FLSA for you to comply with.

Even though interns will be temporary or part-time employees, it’s important you have a comprehensive job description, especially if the job is required to complete their degree. Be sure you are clear about your expectations and have achievable goals so that the intern has something concrete to work towards during their employment period.

Intern Recruitment

Once you have your job description in place, you’ll want to actually find the interns you’re looking to hire. There are a few different places to do this, such as starting with academic institutions. Depending on the type of work or industry you’re in, you may want to explore study-specific schools or one with a broader candidate reach.

• Schools. Take a look at your local area for universities, colleges, or trade schools where you can advertise your internship. Universities typically have structured internship programs that may provide students with college credits. Trade schools are also a great option for finding local students who may be interested in an internship, depending on your industry.

  Community colleges may also have internship programs, but even if it’s not structured, they are still a great place to find student interns. Consider reaching out to the career center for more guidance on how to best advertise the opportunity. Colleges may also have physical or digital places where you can advertise your internship.

• Job Boards. If your options are limited or you’d simply like a broader reach, consider advertising your opportunity on job boards. There are job boards that have targeted audiences for student job placements. Universities and colleges also sometimes have their own job boards that may be managed through their university career center.

• Evaluate candidates. Once you have a good candidate pool, it’s important to review intern resumes. Expect their resumes to be light on experience. However, make sure you understand if they have the skills necessary to perform the tasks you need help with. This can come through in a skills section or educational experiences.

Another thing to remember is interns should be interviewed before hiring in the same way you would vet any other employee. Focus on the intern’s goals and discuss what skills or experiences they hope to take away from an internship experience. The position on your team should directly help them grow the skills needed to pursue a career in their field of choice.

Hiring Interns FAQ

1. What should I know before hiring an intern?

   You should know why you need an intern and what projects they can specifically help you with.

2. Are paid interns considered employees?

   If an intern is pursuing a job at the company with the expectation that they will then be hired on a permanent basis, then they are considered an employee under the FLSA.

3. How do I hire my first intern?

   Determine your needs and expectations and then reach out to local academic institutions or post on job boards to get your opportunity attention from potential candidates.

Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia where she has written 140+ articles that have reached over 1 mil viewers as of June 2023. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research.