5 Tips to Guide Interns (and Keep Them)

Internships in universities may be mandatory or optional depending on the degree, and can anywhere from a couple weeks up to six months. Internships allow interns to put into practice what they have learned but interns do not replace paid employees. Teach your interns well and guide them in order for them to become as productive and useful to your company as possible.

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Why Do Interns and Internships Get a Bad Rap?

Although less than 10% of internships are terminated (less than full time employees), interns are not always well perceived by companies.

Some companies employ interns in salaried positions in order to save money but this practice is illegal and it raises the question of whether the interns are actually being mentored by their supervisor.

Managers must not forget that it is their duty to train their interns. Mistakes can occur, but with patience and good coaching, everyone’s goals can be achieved and the interns will give their best.

Care must be taken to create internship offers and job descriptions that clearly list the tasks that the interns will carry out. Interns can become demotivated if they don’t understand their mission and objectives. It is important to explain to interns during their interview process exactly what is expected of them. If, after a few weeks, the manager and intern become disappointed with how the internship is going, it will be time and money lost.

If interns are often blamed for their lack of experience, it is not the fault of the interns but primarily the responsibility of their supervisor to train them. Be a good teacher whenever possible.

How to Help Interns Blossom

Develop Interns’ Operations Skills

Interns do not necessarily lack knowledge but know-how. Take advantage of the internship to train your interns to use your software and teach them techniques that will help them to work faster and save time. 

Supervise Your Interns

As a supervisor, you must supervise your interns. That means providing employee training but also letting them know if things are going well or not. When they are not, you must explain to them why they are not efficient and how to improve in order to support their professional growth. Discuss with your interns regularly what you expect from them and how they can fulfill their objectives. The company has a serious obligation to do this because to make an excellent future employee, the intern needs supervision that allows them to learn and train for their future job.

Get Your Interns Interested in Your Company

Teach your interns about the industry, the job and the company. Get them interested in the future of the company, its orientation, objectives, and specificities. This will give the interns confidence in their abilities, interest them in their work and motivate them to learn more. 

Listen to Your Interns

It is important that your interns feel free to express themselves about what bothers them. Establish from the start a relationship of trust to help you improve your old practices. You may be surprised at what your interns have to say: interns see your company with fresh eyes and their assessment could help the company to develop.

Conclusion

In conclusion, choose your interns well, supervise them, help them develop technical skills, and trust them! Teach your interns what you know and you can use them to the fullest. Your interns, on their part, will develop valuable skills because to succeed in an internship, they need to improve and evolve and consequently, you will have efficient interns!