How to develop a workforce using interns

It's no secret that a primary objective of colleges and universities is to prepare undergraduate students for entering the workforce. Of course that means providing an education, but it also means developing career-prep skills (such as how to apply for a job and dress for any interview) and cultivating job opportunities for students through internships.

If you're running a business, what does that mean for you? It means that you have a fantastic opportunity to tap into a blossoming workforce. Think of an internship as a chance to “try before you buy.” If the student turns out not being a good fit for your company, you can just let him or her go at the end of the agreed time frame. But if he or she is a good fit, you can hire the student as an employee. In essence, an internship lets you mold a potential future employee.

For students, internships offer practical job experience, paid employment, exposure to new work environments and networking opportunities. Internships also expose students to jobs they may not have realized were available.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers offers 15 best practices to consider when developing an internship program for college students, including providing real-work assignments, holding an orientation to ensure all parties are on the same page and encouraging team involvement. Creating an internship position should be done with great planning and care to ensure a successful experience for everyone.

Make sure you hire an intern for the right reasons. An article published by Forbes.com points out three reasons you should NOT hire an intern: You want free labor, you're too busy or you don't have any clear goals in mind. Remember, the student should get as much from the experience as you do.

In Maine, there are some amazing internship opportunities for students and businesses alike.

The “Innovate for Maine” program, managed by the University of Maine, connects Maine college students (either students attending a Maine college or a Maine resident attending college out-of-state) with growing companies and business leaders in Maine. Emphasizing innovation and entrepreneurship, the program prepares students with a mandatory one-week boot camp.

The “Intern-to-Work” program is a new pilot program offered by the Target Technology Center in Orono. This unique program lets Maine businesses advertise internship positions through the University of Maine Career Center. Hired students will work at the Target Technology Center in office spaces leased by the businesses. Target's proximity to the University of Maine is attractive to companies that want to tap into the university's emerging workforce. For more information, email jesse.moriarity@maine.edu.

The Maine Arts Commission hosts an online resource for artists and art students seeking relevant internship opportunities in Maine called Maine Arts Internships. The agency focuses on placing college interns with the assumption that they will be seeking credit.

Most local colleges or universities have internships for students. Call the career center and ask.

“I feel very lucky that my first job is at a start-up like Tide Creative,” says Dana Hopkins, a current Innovate for Maine intern. “It's letting me get experience in multiple areas, including social media, customer support, blogging, event coordination and even a little project management. This opportunity never would have happened without the Innovate for Maine program, and I will always be grateful.”

Internships are a win-win for both businesses and students: they help companies access lower-cost talent and build a pipeline of future employees while giving students a chance to gain new work experiences and broaden their personal networks.

Jennifer Hooper is the mentoring and business coordinator at the Foster Center for Student Innovation and the Target Technology Incubator at the University of Maine. She can be reached at jennifer.lynn.hooper@maine.edu.