Should I hire an intern for my small business? We get this question a lot, even if you aren’t a large corporation with multiple divisions and locations, you should still consider internships. Having an intern can help you with a busy season of business, offer you a chance to pass along knowledge of your field, and provide an opportunity for someone to learn more about the industry they are interested in. Whether you are a sole proprietor, entrepreneur, partnership, or nonprofit – consider hiring an intern.
Here’s what you should consider when thinking about an intern:
What will an intern do?
Think about all the duties and responsibilities you would like help with. Think about the unique aspects of your business and if/how you can share that knowledge with someone else? Will you be able to expose them to opportunities that you wish someone had exposed you to? Write those down. This will turn into your job description for your intern. Based on your list of duties, consider how many hours a week you can keep an intern busy. There are students interested in part-time and full-time internships.
Will you pay the intern or not?
We recommend you pay your intern. Students are really trying to gain experience (and in some instances, an internship is required for them to graduate), and we feel it’s important to pay a fair wage. People work harder at things they are rewarded for. Consider the payoff for your business of having this work completed and new ideas flowing. Follow up with a local high school or college career services team to determine a fair wage, if you need ideas. There could also be grants you could apply for to help pay for an intern.
Consider high schools, colleges, universities, and trade schools both local and outside of your geographic area.
Expand your search to schools outside your area – odds are there will be a student who is looking for an internship in your area or is open to relocation for the summer. Schools offer help with advertising jobs directly to their students and can possibly recommend a few students who would be a great fit for your opportunity.
Get to know the career services team at the school you are interested in working with.
We work closely with lots of career services teams and their goal is students! Helping them navigate their career trajectory, so lean into their recommendations.
Hot tip: Consider international students as many find it hard to secure employment due to visa requirements. Most are eligible to work or can work without pay because they are on a student visa and are looking for opportunities to gain experience. Check with career services to find out how you can make that work.
- Set goals for the intern at the beginning of the internship. This is a great chance to determine what they would like to learn during this time. If you are able, incorporate their ideas into the work and goals. Offer an assessment of how they are doing with their internship halfway through. At the end of the internship, do an overall evaluation. Here is a free Intern Evaluation download that you can use. A lot of companies use internships to determine if they want to offer that person a full-time role after graduation. If that’s not in the cards for you, consider writing them a letter of recommendation.
Allowing students an opportunity to learn more about their craft or industry through a role with your company will be a win-win for them and you.
