Savvy business people and government managers have long recognized the many advantages young, typically college age, people can bring to an organization over the summer and other vacation periods. A recent AP article highlighted the new levels Silicon Valley biggies like Google have elevated the opportunities and perks they offer to young talent. As you might expect, the competition for interning with such companies is intense.
However, there’s no reason to assume that every talented student is only looking for superstar companies to spend their summers with. Bright, motivated youngsters are hungry for real world business experience. We know.  We’ve had the pleasure of a number of interns working for us.
“This is a commitment,” said Joanne Sanders, BOLT’s President. “Don’t expect to assign them to answering phones for the entire summer. They are coming looking for substantial challenges that will expose them to the demands of today’s work environment.”
Hiring an intern is something entirely different from other recruiting situations. “Motivated, talented people aren’t interested in wasting their time just to pick up a pay check at the end of the week. That’s why it’s important to define the tasks you’re looking for them to take on,” Sanders said.
While there are similarities with a temp-to-hire situation, interns are an entirely different animal. On the one hand as with a temp-to-hire, both employer and employee get to try each other out before committing to an employment relationship. However, unlike a typical employment situation, work for a student is often optional. If they don’t feel they are benefiting from the internship it’s usually easier for a student to simply not bother coming back tomorrow morning. That’s why it’s important for employers to identify what kind of work you want your interns to do well before you begin interviewing.
For your business to thrive in the future, you’re going to need a talent pipeline that will deliver your future leaders. That’s where interns can really help now and in the future. Not only are they inclined to bring their talents back to your company after successful internship, they also have a network of like-minded friends that can continue to supply your company with talent into the future.
Even though the summer season’s started, it’s not too late to explore what interns can do for your business if not this summer, then over future breaks. Sonoma State University has an excellent program that we at BOLT can personally recommend.
For more information, contact Sarah Dove at SSU,