Why Internships are a Good Idea

We love having interns at Proud HR. In addition to being able to do valuable work, they can bring fresh perspectives and new energy to the team. Here are four tips for creating a successful intern experience for both your company and your intern:

1. Partner with a local university, and let the internship be driven by the school.

2. Internships should be paid unless the student is earning credits toward their curriculum.

3. Assign meaty projects, in addition to menial ones, so they learn.

4. Require some kind of report or presentation at the end of the internship.

We have a great intern this summer, Lauren Hazel, who is deeply involved with client projects, including helping with annual performance evaluation processes, developing employee surveys, analyzing data, and preparing an executive report and presenting it to our client as her “capstone” project for us. She is even running our company payroll, and she organized our community-service volunteer day. We asked Lauren some questions to find out about how an internship looks from the intern’s point of view:

PHR: Why did you want an internship in the first place?

LH: As an intern, I recognized the opportunity to engage in a diverse range of tasks, which played a crucial role in helping me determine my preferences and areas of focus. A key objective of mine was to enhance my confidence in performing as an effective employee, whether it involved my public speaking abilities, presenting ideas, or delivering impactful presentations.

PHR: How did you go about finding an internship?

LH: I initially turned to LinkedIn. I meticulously browsed through various listings that aligned with my area of study and interests. Additionally, I proactively reached out to individuals within my personal and professional network, seeking any potential internship opportunities they

might be aware of. It was through networking that I found my greatest success, as it ultimately led me to secure my internship with PHR.

PHR: What do you want to get out of your internship?

LH: I appreciate that even seemingly small tasks can yield a substantial impact on my overall understanding of how to effectively contribute to a business. By dedicating myself to sharpening these skills, I am essentially investing in my education, equipping myself with abilities applicable to any industry.

If you’re thinking about hiring an intern or setting up an internship program, contact me for help.