Interns Need Care and Feeding

 In Blog

When I offer up stories about my work with interns in my blog or enewsletter, the reactions I get from people afterwards is consistent. They want to know: “How do I get an intern?”

I tell folks to create and entry for their business on the internship section of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, website. And if they work in a field that I know would be new, different and compelling for the advisor I work with at Westfield State University, I ask him if he would like to be connected to my colleague; he most often says yes.

Beyond those steps, I also suggest that folks begin to develop their own connections to the common sources for interns, meaning professors and department heads in relevant fields at local colleges and university programs.

If you are an accountant, you want to meet heads of math departments, for instance. If you want an intern to write, take photos or create video, you want to meet those professors who lead communications departments.

It’s simple, basic networking, but when I suggest this to folks, their eyes kind of glaze over, or the phone line goes quiet. It’s a lot of work, is what they are hearing, and yes, indeed it is.

The truth is, having interns is even more work once they are on board. These students are not just a free commodity; they require an investment on the part of the supervisor.

New interns need to be trained in things such as the software you use, the policies and procedures you want them to adhere to, your personal style of doing business.

One mantra I put out there each new semester for my interns is a directive to read their email daily and respond to each individual email, even if the response is simply “Got it” or “On it.” I want reassurance that the tasks I’m issuing are on the students’ radar.

I also teach my interns about the importance of relationships, meeting new people and respecting relationships. I teach them about networking, and if they are willing I take them to area Chamber meetings and, in the past, I brought interns with me to meetings of BNI.

I teach interns about professional etiquette, and, sometimes, I have to be the heavy and reprimand or redirect.

So, you can see that having interns is not for the faint of heart. It is rewarding though, and I highly recommend it.

I have friends who are former interns, and at least three former students continue to work for me on a freelance basis.

Interns expand my horizons and allow me to feel like a trusted mentor. I expand their minds and worlds. We all win.

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