As we here at Five Point Capital have said before, interns are a great way to secure extra help for your small business while saving money. However, many have raised the question “what would an intern do?” Figuring out where an intern’s skills are best used in a small business is often challenging; they lack professional experience, but you want to make the most of their time. Here are a few simple guidelines to follow:
1. Treat interns as you would any new employee. There are basic facts and information about your company that a new employee needs to know, and your intern is no different. Make sure he or she knows the office rules, the names of top executives and clients, and the day-to-day operations within your business. This will not only help your intern feel comfortable, but will also help them on-board quickly.
2. Follow the 60-40 rule. 60% of your intern’s time should be spent working. Whether this means answering phones and getting coffee or something more in-depth, your intern is here to work. This will provide you with the additional help you need while giving your intern the chance to experience the working world. 40% of the time, your intern should shadow an employee. This will provide your interns with direct learning experience, as they observe how a full-time employee does his or her job.
3. Talk to your interns about why they took this internship and what they hope to learn. Then you can assign the interns tasks according to their skills and desires. The intern will be more productive if he or she is engaged in the work.
4. Before your intern joins your team, take a few moments to ask employees what they would like help with. This should serve as your guidelines to the type of work you assign your intern. Remember, the intern is here to learn, but also to help.
These guidelines should help you to make the most of your internship, while providing a good teaching basis for your intern. Always keep in mind that an intern is meant to help and to learn, and you should have no problem bringing an intern onto your team.
Tags: 5 point capital, five point capital, intern, internship, new employee, office help, on-boarding, small business, student, ways to save
