Intern Success-It’s Not Just About the Intern

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In my company, we educate soon-to-be college grads and recent grads the art of selling. We do our part to teach them how to be successful in a business, but an intern’s success is not always just about the intern. There has to be some level of management to ensure growth of the individual. They should not just be out there making copies and getting coffee.

I believe interns are vital to a company. It gives the company a chance to get extra help without it costing as much, and it gives the intern a chance to see what it is they want to do, see what type of sales they will excel in. Perhaps the experience will end up in full-time employment, perhaps not, but that’s the beauty of the internship. It’s a trial run for the inten AND the company.

For those of you who have used interns, is there ever a point the intern gets to where there is lack of motivation? You could easily say the intern is lazy and doesn’t want to work ( those millinials…)(this is NOT at all what I think. Sure, you may get some lazy ones, but there are lazy people in all generations), or you could say they just aren’t good at what they’re doing. All I am saying, is that it’s easy to pass the buck. However, sometimes you need to take the time and look at what you’re doing. What is it YOU can do to help this intern succeed? Afterall, in most cases, the student has been in school for four or five years and this is the first time they’ve been exposed to professional life. They’re nervous.

I remember the first time I had to sit down with a CEO of a company and he asked me a question. It was nerve-wracking. Not that this person is better, just, I don’t know, it can be scary getting out there. Case and point, it’s not that interns need to be handheld or micromanaged, they just need good direction.

I encourage everyone out there using interns to get to know them and help them succeed. It’s a win/win on both sides.