As a staffing services firm, we know that despite the economy, there’s still tough competition to recruit top-notch candidates in South Florida. So what can you do to enhance your sourcing and recruiting efforts and access high quality talent? One way is by creating an internship program at your company. Not only will you be able to uncover top entry level candidates, but you can also assess their potential – all in a real work setting.
While an internship program is a great way to recruit eager candidates, just like any other position within your company, there are also some practical guidelines to consider.
Create a clear job description.
Some employers don’t see internships as “real” positions. But in fact, they are. And in order to attract interns who are a good fit for your company, you must develop a clear job description. In it, be sure to outline the responsibilities and tasks that go along with the position.
Recruit using multiple sources.
Don’t simply depend on South Florida job boards to advertise your internship opening. Recruit interns using multiple sources, including social media, campus job fairs, and by developing relationships with campus career counselors.
Develop a training & orientation program.
An effective training & orientation program is a must if you want your interns to succeed at your firm. Your training program may include pairing interns up with company veterans who can mentor them. Also, offer positive feedback and constructive criticism so the intern knows what they’re doing right and in which areas they can improve.
Provide a meaningful learning experience.
Don’t assign interns all the grunt work that nobody else wants to do. It’s fine to give them some menial work; but also create a work plan ahead of time and assign them clear tasks and responsibilities of value. As a result, you’ll not only help them enhance their skill set, but you’ll also be able to evaluate their true potential.
Decide on compensation.
The fact of the matter is that most internships offered by employers today do pay. In addition, according to a 2010 report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), interns with undergrad bachelor degrees earned on average $17/hour.
If you’d like some additional tips on recruiting, or you need help with your recruiting efforts, please contact Future Force Personnel. We’re a leading South Florida staffing services firm – and we can give you access to qualified and reliable talent for temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire positions.