Take It Or Lead It

To have an intern or not to have an intern – that is the question. But wait a minute – they are “free help” right? Who would say no to that?

 Before jumping on the intern bandwagon you would be wise to consider the Pros and Cons of having interns. At UKNY we have been fortunate to work with two really terrific interns over the past year and a half. In addition, some of our clients have had terrific success. Unfortunately, it does not always go so well. Based on our experience and that of our clients, here’s our take:

The Pros

• Much needed help! And an affordable option for adding to the staff – even if it is only for the short term.
• A “GenY” perspective, a fresh take on things or simply a member of the team who has few bad habits or tendencies to stick to the “way we’ve always done it”.
• A potential source for future employees.
• A way to bolster your image within the community and in campus recruiting efforts.

 The Cons

• Limited availability and dependability. Interns may have commuting issues or conflicts with class schedules or other part-time jobs.
• Performance issues. Because it is not a “real job” some interns do not take their internship commitment seriously and because interns are not employees, taking disciplinary action is difficult.
• Due to lack of experience, quality of work may not be up to standard.
• Affordable help is not “free help”. There are costs in terms of time investment in orientation, training and ongoing direction and management as well as resources and equipment.

 Interns excel when….

There is a dedicated, competent manager or mentor assigned to oversee the intern.

The intern is given a specific project with clear objectives and outcomes. Ideally, the project will allow the intern to work independently and with supervision.

There is a manager or mentor assigned to do initial and ongoing training.

The role of the intern is clearly communicated to the company and the department hosting the intern.

The internship program is attached to college credit. This provides some structure and gives the employer a bit of leverage should performance become an issue.

Senior management spends some time with the interns - even if this is just a meet-and-greet luncheon on day one or congratulation at the end of the internship.

The internship concludes with a project presentation, evaluation or review. Regardless of the format, it is important for interns to receive feedback on their performance.

There is an organizational structure to support future interns.

Have any of you had a terrific intern? Comment on this blog and let us know how you made it a success!