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Summer consists of a few essential elements: Barbeques with family and friends. Time spent at the pool. And since we’re in the talent industry, we can’t forget about summer interns. Yes. Interns!
Interns are summer staples for many organizations. Your team may have brought on an intern or two this season. If that’s the case, you know how important they are to the flow of your organization. They help keep the office humming while people are on vacation. They add fresh perspectives to projects you’ve been working on. They are potential future hires for your organization. Plus, they’re always eager to help, which is sometimes hard to come by!
There are many benefits to having a summer intern. But ask yourself this...
At the end of their time with you, could your intern spell out the benefits of working for you this summer? And are you confident that your intern will have made meaningful contributions to your organization during that time? If you’re unsure, you may need to put more thought and effort into planning a great summer internship experience for them.
Summers fly by. Don’t risk the chance of losing valuable contributions, or a potential future hire, by haphazardly throwing an internship program together. Instead, intentionally plan out their day-to-day activities and interactions. Implement different ways to develop their skills, broaden their perspectives, guide their future career decisions, build meaningful relationships, and nurture them as a young professional.
If you’re thinking about winging it - know you’re minimizing the impact and value your intern could be providing to your organization and vice versa.
Remember, a good, valuable internship requires work to make it a success. If you’re having trouble identifying what you need to craft a great summer internship - check out our latest blog, “How to Craft a Great Summer Internship Experience.” We provide a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to creating an engaging and well-thought-out internship program. And don’t worry if they’ve already started. You still have 2 ½ months ahead of you. Make the most out of your summer together! Tweak as you go to maintain a positive, productive internship flow.
To give you more insight into what interns are looking for, here are two articles that break down the specifics of an ideal internship.
If you need proactive talent sourcing or would like a talent solution customized to your unique needs, then please complete this quick, 30-second form to let me know and request more information. Our WorkMonger team will be in touch to discuss how we can help find that special candidate your organization has been looking for. Either way, we’re here for you!
Together, John Troy WorkMonger & TrulyHired CEO
How to Craft a Great Summer Internship Experience
This summer, don't let the heat drag your performance down.
Before the Internship
You're eager to get started on this effort, but don't jump the gun. Set aside time to map out what you want out of the internship. Determine what you need from this program to add value to your organization and your intern.
First, take a look at your organizational design. What areas are weak and need backup support? Which departments are expanding and have growing needs?
2. Prioritize Value to the Intern
Your internship program should bring value to the intern and instill a sense of pride and work ethic.
Looking for a way to ease the onboarding process? Ask current employees to step up and help serve as their mentors. Then, once you've confirmed the hire, ask your new intern to help craft their own experience.
3. Set Expectations Early
Communicate clear expectations with the intern before the first day.
You've crafted a plan, found the perfect fit and you're ready to hit the pavement running. Take a breath and a step back first.
As soon as the internship starts, hold a meeting with your new intern. Together, lay out all your plans and expectations for your time working together. Don’t forget to ask your intern what their goals and objectives are for their time working with you as well.
2. Schedule Check-Ins
During the internship, schedule routine check-ins to monitor your intern's progress and address any concerns. During each check-in, answer any questions, monitor learning progress and offer advice for improvements.
3. Establish a Feedback Schedule
Once everyone is up and running, remember that your work as a supervisor is far from over.
4. Give Explanations as Needed
One thing to remember is that, in most cases, your intern will be unfamiliar with the way your organization works and might not know how to use the printer, access company files or use the group messaging platform.
5. Keep Morale Up
Your intern is much more than a warm body sitting behind a desk because you need someone in the graduate office.
After the Internship
There's a chill in the air and everyone is heading back to school. The internship is coming to a close, but there's still work left to do.
Do you have an alumni association where past interns can connect? If not, it takes mere seconds to start one on social media.
2. Stay In Touch
Industry data shows that 60% of internships lead to a full-time job offer. Even if the timing isn't right to bring your intern on right now, it's important to keep in touch for down the road.
3. Wrap Up with Confidence
As mentioned above, don't skimp on the offboarding process. Use this time to offer genuine advice to the intern. Recognize areas of growth and offer support for areas of weakness.
Everyone could use a little backup support in the office. We hit busy seasons, life gets hectic and it's hard to juggle all of our responsibilities.
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