BENEFITS OF AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUR COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION:

 
Internship programs not only help boost your company’s productivity today, but can help contribute to future successes.  Outlined below are short and long-term benefits of internships, and at the bottom of the page are links to our step-by-step guides to planning and implementing your program.

 
SHORT TERM BENEFITS

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  Increase productivity. Student interns approach new projects with enthusiasm and are ready to put their knowledge to work. They also enjoy being presented with tasks or projects that they can contribute to and watch develop. Interns can work on many types of projects such as marketing campaigns, product development, or research.
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  Manage training costs. Student interns generally work full-time during summers, and part-time throughout the academic year. They are paid hourly or compensated with academic credit. Costs related to the hiring of interns are generally much less than hiring additional full and part-time staff.
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  Establish relationships with member schools. Obtain access to talented student populations through college career centers and faculty members.
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  Add personnel during peak periods. Adding interns to your staff can assist you and your staff in managing work loads during periods of frequent activity, and can provide additional support to your existing staff.
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  Bring in fresh perspectives. College interns will approach projects with vigor and energy, and can refresh a workforce. They will often provide insight into projects, products or processes that can be valuable to your company and its vision.
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  Enhance supervisory skills of your staff. Mentoring interns can help your staff to develop stronger leadership and management skills that can enhance teamwork and efficiency on other projects. 

LONG TERM BENEFITS
 

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  View potential employees in action. Many companies and organizations hire interns as full-time employees after graduation. Internship programs provide you with the rare opportunity to observe potential candidates’ performance before hiring.
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  Develop skill sets. Internship programs provide you with the opportunity to assist students in developing the skills wanted most by your company and other employers.
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  Retain talent. Students who are hired full-time after completing internships are more likely to stay with the company or organization for longer periods of time.
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  Cut down on recruitment costs. Hiring employees who have established a history with your company will reduce the amount of money you spend on training and recruitment for new hires.
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  Keep college-educated talent in our region. Students participating in area internship programs develop connections to the northeast Ohio region. As a result, many are more likely to stay within the region post-graduation.

PLAN and IMPLEMENT YOUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Internship Guide

Internship Guide for Small Employers