Interns can do more than just fetch coffee and file papers

DeGroote (Catherine Connelly) | Hamilton, ON | August 2, 2011

As we head into the homestretch of the summer, there is still time for employers to ensure they get the most out of their summer interns and more than just a neat filing cabinet, sorted photos and mundane tasks no one else wants.

Interns can surprise you. Even if they don't have a lot of paid work experience, they often bring in good skills from past internships or their volunteer work. The trick is for managers to take the time to find out a little more about their summer intern or temporary staff members, so that they can choose the right tasks for these workers to tackle.

Interns should be given tasks that are easy for them to learn quickly and that can be easily supervised. It's also important to take into account how their work will affect everyone when they have left. For example, asking an intern to re-organize the warehouse or the filing system may result in no one being able to find anything. Instead, ask them to help someone else with this task, or give them something else entirely.

Interns can be motivated and versatile workers. Although they can help to fill in for everyone who will be on holiday, especially in the summer months, they can also complete "extra" projects that permanent staff don't have time to take on. Many students have excellent technological skills; they might even be able to set up a company social networking page or blog. You might be able to ask them to train some of your less tech-savvy staff on new software that you have adopted, or on how to use some of the extra features on the technology that you have. Interns can also give you a different perspective; unlike your more experienced employees they will never tell you that something should be done a certain way only because it's always been done that way.

Ideally, interns will finish their placements with a portfolio of projects that they can list on their resumes and talk about on their next interviews. Given today's tough job market, few companies will hire someone based on their potential alone; temporary work experience can help to give applicants the edge that they need. Interesting work experiences can also help interns to narrow down their career options, and might reinforce some of the theories that they have learned in class.

Even if the company isn't able to hire an intern permanently, a worker who has been treated well and who has had a good experience will spread the word about why the company is a good place to work. As they advance in their own careers, you may also gain a contact who understands your business and who you can trust.

Interns and their employers often find each other by necessity, but with some extra planning, the arrangement can become mutually beneficial.

Looking for something for your intern to do? Here are some potential projects perfect for interns:

• Prepare a report on the recent activities of the company's competitors (new products or services, pricing, discounts, advertising)
• Research upcoming legislative or bylaw changes that might affect the company
• Set up a company social networking page or blog
• Provide suggestions on how to make the company more energy efficient or environmentally friendly
• Train staff on the advanced features of the software being used at the company, and make a presentation on what alternatives are now on the market
• Evaluate the usefulness of alternative advertising methods, such as Groupon or WagJag

Catherine Connelly, is an associate professor of organizational behavior at McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business and can be reached at connell@mcmaster.ca.