Internship programs offer numerous benefits to graduating students and recent graduates. Aside from providing opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills in their chosen field and boosting employability, on-the-job training (OJT) can help them get ahead, build a professional network, and start meaningful careers. No wonder many students, fresh graduates, and even mid-career professionals looking to switch industries search “OJT Singapore” online to find the best opportunities that can help with their career goals.
Clearly, there are plenty of reasons for people hoping to jump-start their careers to get into an internship program, but what’s in it for companies? Perhaps you have this question as you ponder introducing an internship program in your company. If so, read on. From finding future talents to building your brand, here are 5 reasons why you should seriously consider starting an internship program in your business today:
1. To find and recruit talented employees
It’s not uncommon for companies to have instances of hiring the wrong person for the job. To avoid this, companies need to improve their system for determining an applicant’s suitability for a position to avoid issues once they’ve been hired. Every bad hire translates to lost time, money, and productivity, as well as reduced employee morale.
That said, what better way to assess someone’s potential than to hire interns and see how they perform on the job? When you have an internship program, you’re essentially developing a pool of talents that can become full-time employees. Instead of merely evaluating academic credentials and answers to interview questions, you get to observe the person in action and ascertain whether they’re truly the “best fit” for a particular position. Implementing such a program can significantly reduce bad hires and the corresponding loss of valuable company resources.
2. To develop the management skills of senior employees
Creating an internship program is also an effective way to prepare your senior employees for leadership roles, especially those you’re considering for promotion. Remember, while training courses can help develop how they oversee and guide people, having interns to mentor is probably the best way to practise and hone their managerial skills.
Through a mentor-mentee relationship, your future managers can learn how to communicate effectively, provide constructive criticism, and motivate people to give their best despite the challenges. Besides, managing interns before advancing to leadership positions and supervising more seasoned employees can help managers-to-be develop confidence and a positive attitude for the role.
3. To acquire fresh ideas
Interns may be young and inexperienced, but they can share new ideas that can help your business. After all, college students and recent graduates are often aware of cutting-edge technologies, techniques, and strategies in your industry. Moreover, they’re more motivated and passionate.
If you have interns participate in your brainstorming sessions, perhaps they can share a different perspective on how to address certain issues. Sometimes, all it takes is a novel thought from an outsider to spark ideas and motivate your team to think outside the box. While it’s true that interns will gain considerable knowledge and skills from spending time with your company, you’ll probably be surprised at how much you can learn from having them as well.
4. To manage costs while ensuring adequate staffing
Perhaps you’re short-staffed to the point that most of your employees are stretched thin. Or maybe you want to reduce your staff’s overall workload to ensure a good productivity rate and avoid employee burnout, especially during busier times. Either way, an internship program is a remarkable opportunity to get temporary help and support without worrying about high staffing costs.
You can let your interns handle the lighter tasks and projects at the onset. That way, you can ease your staff’s workload and give them enough time to focus on more essential assignments. However, don’t stop at assigning administrative work. Make sure to provide your interns with opportunities for growth as well. With proper guidance and direction from mentors, your interns can learn the ropes and provide more valuable support.
5. To boost your brand’s equity
Creating and implementing an internship program that genuinely provides interns with the best experiences can improve your company’s brand and help promote your business. Even without prodding, there’s a great chance that your interns will tell their family, friends, professors, and peers about how great it is to work for your company. Maybe they’ll even share their positive internship experience on their social media accounts, thus sending the message that your company is reputable and trustworthy.
Such exposure can help widen your reach and make you stand out from the competition, which is particularly helpful if you’re running a small or medium-sized business. You can also attract quality job applicants and valuable opportunities when you have interns acting as your brand ambassadors. Imagine enjoying all these advertising benefits at practically zero cost.
The items above are just some of the top reasons why you should seriously consider starting an internship program at your company. Keep them in mind as you ponder the idea of making the most beneficial decision for your organization. And when you’re ready to introduce this company-enhancing investment, make sure to create a sustainable program that’ll grow your business and benefit your soon-to-be interns at the same time. After all, a win-win approach will boost the likelihood of success and offer the best rewards.