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Are Interns Right for Your Small Business?

Nicola Gordon-Thaxter

August 10, 2015

Some small businesses owners may believe they are too small, and lack the recruitment resources to hire interns.

However, small businesses can gain a lot from running an internship program. 

If designed correctly internships will benefit both business and intern.

Plan ahead

Before creating an internship program, small businesses should decide what they want to achieve and what their interns can learn.

They should clearly define the tasks that will help reduce their workload whilst giving interns appropriate experience.

There are many benefits of an internship program.

Benefits for the small business include:

1. Accessing a concentrated pool of talent

Interns are usually university students or graduates.

Therefore approaching universities is like tapping into a one-stop-shop of upcoming talent. Instead of placing expensive ads hoping to attract suitable candidates, small businesses can target their efforts by approaching a university. 

Additionally, some interns are already trained; if businesses hire their interns through sites such as internships.com they can take advantage of the Intern Certification Program (ICP) which teaches interns the basics of office skills.

2. New eyes

Interns are usually young, enthusiastic and can look at your business problems in a fresh way.

They are also comfortable using technology, helping small businesses to provide innovative solutions to their clients.

3. Savings on recruitment costs

Interns can be groomed to become knowledgeable permanent staff of a small business.  This will save money on recruitment.  A word of warning on saving recruitment costs by having an unpaid internship program: 

If a small business decides to conduct an unpaid internship they must adhere to the strict requirements laid down by the Department of Labor.

4. Access to interns' networks

Interns have vast social networks which small businesses can tap into; a great alternative to expensive recruitment advertising.

5. Great PR

Hiring interns and treating them well while they gain work experience can boost a small business' reputation.

Benefits for the Intern

1. Skills and Experience

Interns learn a wide-range of workplace skills including communication and how to deal with senior managers.

They also learn teamwork and how to operate in the open-plan environment many offices use to encourage togetherness.

As the article “Students don’t thrive on collaboration” looks at, forced collaboration doesn’t always work, but in fact, some can thrive in a smaller business as opposed to a larger corporation because more time can be devoted to them.

2. Improved grades

Interns may get credit for their internship at their university, giving them the chance to improve their grades.

3. Foot in the door

Internships provide an opportunity to gain entry into a company which may be influential in the intern's chosen field.

4. Improved employability

Companies prefer to employ candidates with experience and internships provide experience. Interns may even get a permanent role at the small business providing their internship.

5. Keep up to date with industry developments

Working at a small business helps interns stay current with developments in their sector and gain access to influential players.

Interns can be right for small businesses if they decide in advance what they want to achieve and how their interns can also benefit.

With careful planning, interns can assist small businesses and provide innovative solutions for their clients.

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