How to Hire the Perfect Intern

Every company wants a great asset, and what they don’t know is that they could find a diamond in a rough with the right intern. They would know they have hired the right intern when they offer a permanent job to the intern, and the intern accepts the offer. But first, let’s look at how to hire the perfect intern.

read also : The Best Way to Manage Intern

Resume and Interview

Since internships are temporary positions for students/recent graduates, do not place too much weight on the resume. You won’t find much information in it.  You should prioritise the cover letter and see the efforts they have placed in drafting it. During the interview, check these points::

• Are they dressed appropriately?

• Have they researched the internship opportunity?

• Do they understand the company’s vision & mission statements?

• Do they make an effort to explain how they will fit into the company’s culture and how they will add value to your organisation?

• Do they have any relevant experience?

• Are they self-driven?

Pay close attention to the interview, treat it like you’re interviewing for a full-time/senior position.

Compensate your interns

It’s important to pay your interns with the right amount of allowance be it for providing knowledge or for sourcing the future Manager. This also defines the company culture as this lets the interns know that the organisation is not looking to hire interns to do free work for them. It also lets them know that they are valued.

A compensation acts as a big motivation for them since it’s their very first salary. Offer them a compensation right when you decide to hire them, before they need to ask you for it.

An Internship is a learning opportunity

An internship is a very valuable learning experience, so an internship program must be structured so that your intern will receive valuable learning opportunities. The intern should assigned a series of tasks or a specific project to work on. This will give them insight about your industry and also help you understand their potential and skillset.

The old traditional work of filing and making copies is no longer relevant. We are talking about a new generation who are ambitious, so show them the company culture.

Encourage them to share their own ideas and ask questions. This will inspire them to work towards a permanent position so they will eventually add value to your organisation.

Always give feedback to your interns

Provide feedback to your intern on a regular basis, this will help them as well as your organisation in identifying the intern’s strengths and weaknesses. They can then work on improving themselves.

It also helps the interns in measuring if they’re heading towards the right direction or not. Feedback should be a two-way communication, as it is important to receive a new perspective on the work practices of the organisation.

Do not isolate the interns

The intern should sit right with their supervisor and team. Do include them in your meetings and team lunches. Expose the intern to different parts of the organisation to broaden their horizons.

Encourage them share new ideas on different parts of the organisation, so you will know which position they will fit in the future. The worst way to train or grow an intern is to isolate them.
 

Keep in touch with interns, past or present

Stay connected with your interns, be it former or present. For the former interns, they are the ones you were unable to hire in the past, maybe due to limited positions. So if there’s an opening in the future, they should be your next choice.

After all, they are a part of your talent pool. Keep in touch with them through social media networks or hold an annual intern reunion, keep them updated with company updates so they will stay in the loop.

It is always easier to recruit an old intern than hiring a new one and training them, because you already know that your old intern is the perfect fit for your organisation.

A great internship is a win-win scenario for the intern and your organisation. We should give the next generation an opportunity to grow, so nurture and develop their talents. Do it not just for the organisation but also the industry.

One last tip – Don’t think twice about hiring an outstanding intern. If you meet a talented student, go ahead and ask them to join your organisation. The return on the investment shall be in multiples.

This article is based on How to Hire The Right Interns? by Payal Sondhi