Interns do more than make the coffee these days. In fact, interns are becoming a critical part of the effort to move businesses forward. David Cofer, internship consultant for the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, says that interns are “meant to advance a business” and “are a part of the team that can get things done immediately”. And, with over 125,000 college students in the greater Columbus area, there is a significant pool of people ready to bring innovation and “a new perspective into the workplace”.
There are challenges for many businesses when trying to put an internship program in motion. How does a business find intern prospects? What do they do with the intern when they get them in the door? Even the most basic things can be challenging such as where to sit the intern for work. Often standing in the way for small and medium-sized businesses is simply not having the knowledge of how to work with interns and the uncertainty of what resources will be needed to make the program and person successful.
For a community, internships help connect students more deeply to a community “outside of their collegiate experience” says Cofer. This connection to the business community helps students and graduates become a part of the employment pool. And, a deep employment pool is one of the factors companies consider when deciding where to expand and stay. The experience also helps students see the many things an area can offer them after graduation, beyond simply getting a job.
Cofer says that the Chamber understands that internship experiences are only parts of a bigger effort to keep graduates in the region. The Chamber has also created the Live, Work, Play Columbus initiative to help provide a robust connection to the city. And, the Young Professionals initiative championed by the Chamber helps to build connections and relationships for recent graduates in the region.
The Chamber is offering several opportunities for businesses and prospective interns to meet, learn more about internships, and craft successful programs and relationships. Many of these opportunities are free to Chamber members and carry a nominal cost to non-members. Businesses can learn how to “test run talent, advance their business today, and bring in flexible and innovative workers for 10, 12, or 15 weeks” of an internship, notes Cofer. More information can be obtained at the Chamber Web site or by contacting Cofer at .
The Columbus Chamber’s “Getting Started with Interns” seminar introduces the fundamental aspects of an internship program and is designed to give a business a roadmap for bringing interns into the workplace. This seminar is offered periodically throughout the year. Registration is available online at Columbus.org.
Many colleges offer internship programs. Most programs provide program planning and support for companies and students. An example is the Columbus State Community College internship program within the career and technical programmatic area of the institution. Shane Kirby, Internship Program Coordinator, notes that businesses can find many resources within the program he leads to help them “know what the students can do” and match a list of potential projects to the skills each intern offers. Successful internship experiences are helped along by this preparation. Kirby also points out that “flexibility and the ability to adapt” can be helpful when both the student and the company are open to working together in a collaborative way.
For first steps, Kirby recommends that each company and student explore the Columbus State Internship Program Web site and then contact him. With Kirby’s help, a job description can be created and then posted to the intern job blog as well as emailed to prospective interns.
Chris McGovern, president of Columbus-based Emerging Marketing, is a believer in the value of internships to both the intern and the providing company. Interns can become members of the team after their college careers end because they “know our work, environment, people, clients, and will be able to quickly jump in and help”, says McGovern. A new college graduate without specific industry and company knowledge is at a disadvantage compared to the former intern.
Internships help the student by providing a real world experience in their chosen career field and connecting them to the larger community more deeply than the collegiate experience alone can. For companies, internships provide new ideas, new talent, and the chance to extend the reach of the business immediately. And, in central Ohio, there are many resources to help companies create internship programs that really provide value.
Comments