Interns

Some colleges encourage students to work, for a small stipend oreven for free, through internship programs. Student interns tradetheir time and talents for learning marketable job skills. Everyyear, colleges match millions of students with businesses of allsizes and types. Since they have an eye on future career prospects,students working as interns are usually highly motivated. Does yoursmall business have anything to offer an intern? Actually, smallcompanies offer ideal learning experiences for interns since theytypically have a great variety of job tasks and offer a chance towork closely with senior employees.

Keep this in mind: In most cases, offering routine secretarialor “gofer” work won’t get you an intern; colleges expect theirinterns to learn specialized professional skills. Hold up your endof the bargain by providing meaningful work. Can you delegate adirect-mail campaign? Have an intern help on photo shoots? Ask herto put together a client presentation? Get involved in a technologyimplementation?

Check with your local college or university to find out abouttheir internship programs. Usually, the school will send you anapplication, asking you to describe the job’s responsibilities andyour needs in terms of major, skill level and other qualifications.Then the school will send you the resumes of students they thinkcould work for you.

The best part of hiring interns? If you’re lucky, you’ll find agem who’ll stay with your company after the internship is over.