It is not the best time to start a career for recent college graduates. In the United Kingdom, nearly 2.4 million are graduating from undergraduate and graduate schools.
They are entering a contracting workforce that is plagued by a global pandemic. Another headwind for recent college graduates is the growing influence of artificial intelligence.
While this is bad news for new employees, this environment presents an opportunity for employers. They can hire interns without making a long-term commitment.
Read on to learn how to hire an intern. Explore our step-by-step guide to setting up an internship program for your business.
How to Set Up an Internship Program
Before interviewing candidates, you have to set up a program. The internship program lays out the details and requirements.
For example, who oversees the program? What are the eligibility requirements? Also, decision-makers need to decide the scope of an intern position. What are the intern’s roles and responsibilities within the organization?
There are other administrative matters to consider. Decision-makers decide how much to pay interns and where they work.
A query of the organization’s departments is typically necessary. Here, senior executives ask department managers if they need interns and how many.
Additionally, there are always questions about funding for interns. Many companies simply do not have the financial resources to hire an intern.
To address this, some clients boost their financial position by claiming capital allowances. These companies use tax savings from capital allowances to fund their intern programs. Before deciding on this approach, make sure to review common questions about capital allowances.
How to Hire an Intern
Now that the program is established, it is time to hire. There are a few different sources for recruiting interns.
Many large companies form partnerships with local colleges and universities. Recruiters and supervisors attend career fairs at the school. This is a great way to attract qualified interns with the requisite education experience.
The coronavirus pandemic has made in-person career fairs more difficult. For this reason, many employers have turned to digital recruitment efforts.
They accept resumes and applications on their webpage. Employers are also conducting virtual career fairs on video platforms like Zoom. Advertising open intern positions on social media is another effective strategy.
Choosing the Right Intern Candidate
With applications in hand, you are ready to make a selection. Typically, this process starts by narrowing down the candidate pool.
Since the job market is so tight, your job announcement may receive hundreds of applications. It is unfeasible to interview each person that applies.
The solution is to form a selection panel. The panel is tasked with selecting a handful of the best applications. These applicants make it to the next round and receive an interview.
A Recap of Hiring Interns
Interns are a useful resource for your organization. They are relatively cheap and do not require a long-term commitment.
At the same time, they bring ambition and high energy. Their goal is to secure a long-term position with the company, starting with a simple internship. This benefits the employer as it serves as a tryout for qualified candidates.
If you enjoyed this article about how to hire an intern, check out our blog for more great content. We publish a variety of articles on internships and recruiting new employees to help your company get the very best new talent in the workforce!
