How To: Start an Internship Program at your Small Business
Summer is officially here! OK, maybe not the summer weather in certain areas, but college students are technically out of school and returning home to their parents’ cribs. It’s the perfect opportunity for students to play X-Box, lounge by the pool or do pretty much nothing for 3 months…..OR complete an internship at a local small business in their field of study. We’re hoping most are choosing the latter. Now’s your chance to capitalize on all this fresh talent looking for experience in your area.
Here are some tips on starting an internship program at your small business:
1. Check with your state. Here in Michigan, there are state laws about paid and non-paid internship programs including how many hours students can work, how late they can work, etc. Be sure to contact your state’s department of education to view the appropriate legal guidelines.
2. Discuss with your Leaders. Have recommended salary, high-level responsibilities and an overview of what the intern will gain from the experience ready to approve with your executives. My exec team responded very well to my proposal to begin an internship program mainly because it was a creative, low-cost solution for tackling an overflowing workload.
3. Develop action items prior to posting. Where are the areas you need help? What will the intern be responsible for? Make these decision prior to interviewing so your candidates can decide if the experience is the right fit for their goals.
4. Understand college credit. It’s a common misconception that internships are always in exchange for college or university credit. Yes, an internship is a learning experience, but whether or not educational credit is obtained is strictly between the student and their school’s internship program.
5. Recruit through local universities. Often times, colleges and universities will have departments set up specifically for managing internships, which includes placing the right student in the right position. Ask for their help!
6. Review expectations on the first day. Go over clear expectations of what you will expect from the intern on or before Day 1. How will the intern be graded/evaluated? In my opinion, your intern deserves to know before they begin the job.
7. Make it worth their while. Sure, the extra body in your office is a big help, but this internship is ultimately for the student to gain valuable experience. Have conversation with interns about their interests, career goals and future plans and tailor their job duties accordingly if possible.
8. Internships are not just for summer. Summer internships are popular for obvious reasons, but flexible-scheduled and part-time internships can happen throughout the year. The internship program that I started at my company began in the fall during our busy season, which was a huge help to our marketing department.
Working with interns are a great way to get fresh ideas into your discussions. I highly recommend bringing them on within your departments as needed.
What did I miss? What other tips do you have about starting an internship program? Any other questions for me?
This is a great list! I’ve worked in jobs previously where there was no real road map for the interns, and therefore, it made it difficult for them to take ownership over anything. If they don’t take ownership over their tasks, they don’t feel invested in the outcomes, which negatively impacts the company or organization.
Thank you for the kind words, Erica!