10 Things I Know About ... Hiring An Intern
Smith
10. PICK A SUPERVISOR. You want to have one individual to assign tasks, answer questions and oversee projects.
9. HAVE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT. A simple, one-page form should spell out expected responsibilities and projects, time frame and weekly schedule. It should be signed by the on-site supervisor, intern, and academic coordinator.
8. SEE HOW THEY FIT. You have a great opportunity to observe interns in your work environs — their initiative, their communication skills, their professionalism, and their "fit" with management and co-workers.
7. LOOK AT GRAD SCHOOL RANKS. These are students who are generally more mature and ready to take on longer-term intensive projects, with more hours per week devoted to the job.
6. READ THE RESUMES. Take note of relevant coursework and job experience. For example, a course in grant-writing and fundraising may be a perfect match with an internship involving development of a non-profit's new annual fund campaign.
5. LOOK BEYOND THE RESUME. If appropriate, request a professional portfolio to help you assess a candidate's skills. Look at writing samples, graphic design or video production demos, brochures and annual reports.
4. LOOK FOR LANGUAGE SKILLS. A student with a second language or multiple languages may be a valuable asset to your client base.
3. NOTE WORK ATTITUDE. Whether paid or unpaid, it's appropriate to expect the student to regard the internship as "real world" experience and to have an outlook reflecting that professionalism.
2. CREATE MORE THAN A DESK JOB. Provide opportunities for an intern to attend staff meetings, trade shows and conferences. Give them a wider perspective on your operations, along with a greater sense of commitment to your organization.
1. BE FLEXIBLE. If you interview a prospect for one department and find their talents exceptionally strong in a different area of your business, consider re-directing their work to match your company's needs with their strengths.
(Susan Smith is internship coordinator for Clark University's COPACE Division. Email her at susmith@clarku edu.)
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