Hiring Interns: Pros and Cons Explained

Many businesses utilize internship programs to expand their team roster at little to no cost. In some situations, interns offer businesses a diverse array of benefits and perspectives as well. Essentially, internship programs are usually a win-win for both the student and the employer. However, they may not work for every business. If you're on the fence about engaging interns, consider the benefits your organization will receive and the challenges that come with them.

Benefits

1. Energy & Perspective

One of the benefits that an intern can bring to an organization is their passion and enthusiasm. Most interns will want to secure a permanent job at the end of their training. If you opt to engage them on a full-time basis, they will continue with the same zeal and energy. Engaging an energetic intern can be a great way to increase productivity in your business.

2. High Work Ethic & Intellectual Horsepower at a Low Cost

Interns can offer the most cost-effective way to add manpower to your business. Although not always recommended, internship programs can be unpaid, giving companies a cost-effective advantage. However, there are some formalities attached to unpaid internships. For instance, the internship environment should be designed to provide a comprehensive educational experience and training.

For paid internships, businesses usually pay a stipend or an hourly wage plus overtime. Additionally, paid interns are likely to become better candidates and reliable employees. One of the company's biggest benefits is that interns offer low-cost options, bringing incredible talent and reducing employee workload.

3. Opportunity for Project-Based Work

Often,  higher retention and productivity can be realized through internships. Besides offering an extra hand in projects, interns are ready to learn and work, and most of them want to showcase their value to the company. With this energy, interns can develop positive behavior and new ideas to improve the company's working environment.

4. Pool of Candidates for Full-Time Positions

If you invest your time in them, there is a high probability that they will stick around and can hit the ground running with the training they received as an intern. You also have the advantage of seeing their skills and work ethic prior to making a full-time commitment to hiring them.

5. New Ideas

During the initial stages of business development, you may be uncertain of the type of skills needed in your business. This can result in unnecessary hires, potentially impacting your business operations and culture. Engaging an intern to fill new roles helps validate positions necessary for scaling. Interns can offer feedback and ideas that can refine your business and help you avoid fatal missteps.

However, there are pitfalls to hiring interns, too, and it is essential to consider some drawbacks that your company may face.

Potential Drawbacks

1. Can Be Costly

A paid internship program can be costly. On the other hand, unpaid internships can affect your company's time, ultimately costing you money in the long run. Therefore, when engaging an intern, ensure you get the best use of your money but having a solid plan in place for the program. Be sure to evaluate the value added after each program and make changes for the next group of interns.

2. Requires a Lot of Training

Although the business benefits from the work brought by the intern, you also spend a lot of time providing guidance, knowledge, and training. To resolve this issue, it's a good idea to ensure that the intern does not disrupt a specific team member's operations or project timeline.

If you feel that an internship program will be ideal for your business, work closely with your HR department to establish whether every nook and cranny of your company can support the program. Get your organization ahead of others by adopting an internship program. For more information on internship recruitment, please contact us.