How to Hire an Intern Who Can Do More Than Order Coffee

[Holicent]

You can't always hire the best interns. But you can make sure that your intern has the skills to do more than just order coffee.

Here are some questions to ask potential interns:

What are your strengths?

Do they have any weaknesses?

What is their work ethic like?

How do they deal with stress?

How much experience do they have in this field?

How would they handle a difficult situation at work? How would they handle a difficult situation at home or in school? Do their parents know about their job choices or do they have to explain it to them? If so, do they care what your opinion of their career choices might be? Is there any chance your boss will give them a raise when they start working for you after graduation?

Nevertheless, you don't want your interns doing anything that could actually hurt them or their company — but if they aren't able to do basic tasks, then they aren't really ready for more complex work either. For example, if you're hiring an intern for marketing, it would be helpful if he or she could write copy and create social media posts — but not so much if he or she couldn't keep track of their own files and emails.

 

[Jasz]

If you've hired a college intern, it's likely they feel like they're getting more than they are. They're working hard and learning new things, but they're also doing more than make coffee. When you're hiring an intern, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of having a bright and passionate young person working for your company. You want to make sure that you hire someone who will be a good fit with your team and add value to your organization.

But before you bring on an intern, there are some things you should consider.
But don't worry; it's not too late to get your intern back on track.
First, ask yourself if the internship is really necessary. If the answer is yes, then consider the following:

Will this intern learn more than I can teach?

Can this intern do more than I can do?

Is this person truly interested in learning and growing?