A Guide on how to Hire an Intern who can do More than Order Coffee

Interns can be incredibly valuable for any team. However, you have to know how to pick the right ones.

Gone are the days when interns were merely relegated to fetching coffee and making photocopies. In today’s competitive business landscape, hiring an intern who can contribute meaningfully to your organisation is essential. In this blog, we will explore how to find and select an intern who can do much more than just menial tasks.

Here are some of the strategies you can use to ensure you hire/retain interns who can do more than run coffee errands.

1. Define the Role Accurately and Craft an Engaging Job Description

Consider the projects that you would like the intern to perform and be sure the work is relevant to their field of study and your business model. Choose a manager or supervisor, preferably someone with a great attitude and performance record, for the intern to report to, learn from, as well as develop the intern. Collaborate with the manager or supervisor to make a list of the top duties and tasks necessary for job success.

2. Compensation

Whether or not to compensate interns is still debatable. However, we all know that people prefer paid internships. Compensation instills a sense of responsibility and motivation in the interns. So always try to issue a reasonable stipend to your interns and watch them do more for your company. The average South African intern earns a stipend of R 7 950 per month according to research conducted by Glassdoor with over 100 salaries submitted for review.

3. Partner with Institutions for Recruitment

You can liaise with tertiary institutions to get the interns you need. Pick institutions that teach courses or skills in line with your organization’s business model. Thereafter, interview the top picks. You might want to consider a realistic job preview or job shadowing to evaluate their candidacy.

4. Mentorship and Guidance

Invest time in mentoring and guiding your interns. Regular feedback sessions can help them understand their strengths and areas for improvement. A supportive and nurturing environment will encourage them to take initiative and contribute more effectively to the team.

5. Onboarding

Onboard your interns just as you would a full-time employee. Interns need to know what the company does and how it does it, in HR terms they need to know the culture, processes, brand, vision, and mission. Don’t make interns feel like outsiders, include them in meetings and corporate activities or even take them to a professional development event, this will make them feel like they are truly part of the company.

Companies need to make sure the internship program is fun and gives students an opportunity to learn, contribute their thoughts, ideas, and energy.

Partner with a recruitment agency that you can trust. Our team at Professional Sourcing has a reputable reputation for recruitment expertise within our specialization areas. We build long-term relationships with our loyal clients and blue-chip employers.

Visit prosourcing.co.za for more information.