So, you think you want to hire an intern? Here at Norton National, we’ve had some amazing interns, but we’ve also had our fair share of growth in the process. You are never going to get a perfect intern; there will always be growing pains—for both you and the intern. We have cultivated a list of our top five tips in hopes that you can have an incredible experience with interns too!
Do your research
Internship programs, independent or through a university, often have very specific rules, goals, and guidelines—so make sure you pick your poison wisely. There are also legal implications that come with hiring an intern. Make sure that you and the intern are on the same page about any and all expectations, especially when it comes to being compensated.
Hire someone teachable and be a teacher
Being taught is a large part of being an intern. Typically, interns should have a mentor to help them become accustomed to their workload. So, it helps to know what your teaching style is before you hire! Although interns are there to learn, that doesn’t mean they should be totally dependent on you!
“You should be able to have a bucket full of tasks at hand for them to work on and time for you to teach it to them” (Maddy Gassmann, Norton National).
Follow your gut
Be confident with who you choose and choose someone who is confident! This may be hard to determine in an interview, but if they are unsure of themselves, that’s a red flag.
“You are the expert in your industry when you are hiring. You know enough to teach someone, so you should know whether an internship with someone is going to work” (McCall Peck, Norton National).
Know your office atmosphere
As with any interview, the impression left can speak volumes. That being said, it should be enough time for you to judge whether or not this person is the right fit for your company. Interns may not have a full-time position, but they still affect the culture you’ve cultivated in your company; don’t hire someone you feel will be too stiff for the chill vibes in the office. More than that, make sure you hire someone whose values will match yours and your company’s. You don’t want to spend eight hours a day with someone you constantly disagree with.
Review as you go along
We said it before and we’ll say it again, nobody is perfect. This means that no business is perfect either! You may find that many parts of the process are trial and error. Make sure you take note of your intern’s progress so it’s easy to track how much work they accomplished and if their presence was actually beneficial. Who knows, you may find your life completely changed with them around.
We hope that these tips will help clarify any questions or concerns you may have about hiring an intern. We know how tough the process can be, but for us… it has paid off!
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