Throughout the summer, students and school leavers often seek opportunities to build their CV and earn some extra money.
An internship gives them the chance to get their foot in the door and check out a potential future career, whilst gaining real life experience within workplace.
Competition for internships can be stiff, and businesses that employ summer interns often see the benefits long beyond the summer months.
Kate Palmer, HR Advice and Consultancy Director at Peninsula, shares her top five reasons why businesses should hire a summer intern.
Take stress off your staff
As the summer workload can be extensive, hiring an intern can be a great way to offload some work, providing them with real hands-on industry experience and relieving the pressure on your business.
Employers usually run with a smaller team during the summer as employees jet off on holiday. Offering internships can make the summer a lot less stressful for management knowing a contingency plan is in place.
Another pair of hands in your team reduces the risk of employees becoming burnt out, leaving the team will be more refreshed and happier.
They could be a future employee
An intern who spends the whole summer working within your team could potentially grow into a ready-made applicant if a position becomes available.
An internship is a great way for an employer to identify future talent, as well as for the intern to get to know your company. When the summer comes to an end, you may want to offer them a longer-term role if their availability allows.
However, if they’re not quite ready for a permanent position, for example if they are continuing their studies, then you always have the option to offer part-time or contract work, or perhaps an apprenticeship if they require further training.
There is no commitment
A summer internship means no long-term commitment for employers, but it does give you options.
When the summer ends, if the intern has impressed then you may want to offer them a role. However, if they are not the right fit you are not under any obligation to keep them on.
See as internship as a try before you buy, trial period. If it doesn’t work out you have still provided valuable work experience to the intern, and they’ve helped you out as well.
They bring a new perspective
When people have worked in a business for some time it can be hard to generate new and fresh ideas, and days can often feel very similar.
An intern can bring a unique and fresh perspective to your business.
They will want to make a positive impression and most bring lots of ideas on fresh ways of doing things. It’s always useful to be open minded and listen to all new ideas, whether from long-term employees or new starters.
Recently educated interns may also be more tech-savvy as the world becomes increasingly digital. Their skills and insight could be a huge benefit to your company.
Boost brand awareness
You may think this is a strange one, but hiring an intern can help raise brand awareness as they speak excitedly about your company, either by word of mouth or on social media.
Internships are often used as a form of marketing by many companies. You will be deemed as a company who create equal opportunities and want to help young people progress professionally – this is a positive brand image.
An intern is likely to share information about your company on social media attracting a new base of customers. You may also see the number of applicants applying for positions within the company increase if they have a positive experience during their internship.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.