{"id":15207,"date":"2017-01-04T15:56:16","date_gmt":"2017-01-04T10:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internshala.com\/blog\/?p=15207"},"modified":"2017-01-07T22:45:17","modified_gmt":"2017-01-07T17:15:17","slug":"managing-a-team-of-interns-here-is-what-i-have-learned-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internshala.com\/blog\/managing-a-team-of-interns-here-is-what-i-have-learned-so-far\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing a team of interns – Here’s what I’ve learned so far."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ManagingAbout the Author:<\/strong> Deepti Arora<\/strong>\u00a0turned her entrepreneurial\u00a0experience\u00a0and personal belief in non-conventional therapies into a new venture, Healclinic, which provides healthcare solutions remotely through alternate therapies. She talks about her learnings from this journey.<\/em><\/p>\n

Generally, when we talk about interns we picture young bubbly college students, but at Healclinic when we say interns, they can mean anybody ranging from a young college student to a middle-aged person who wants to learn a new skill or try her hand at working for the first time. We are a small setup and look at optimizing every resource that we have. Depending on the nature of the job, we have hired interns (some short term and some long term).<\/p>\n

Why do we go for interns?<\/strong>
\nWe love working with interns for a variety of reasons like:
\n\u2022 There are roles like content writing, graphic designing, and social media which require a specific skill set and have varying load factors for short periods.
\n\u2022 It is a win-win situation as we get resources within our budget and the students get to earn while studying in addition to developing practical skills.
\n\u2022 The interns are young and dynamic, bringing fresh perspective and energy in the environment.
\n\u2022 It\u2019s a great way to test someone\u2019s potential and skills who can then be converted into a full-time employee down the line.<\/p>\n

We have had a good run with the interns with some good output. However, there are some downsides too which need to be solved in the long run like:
\n\u2022 Commitment issues, wherein a few have quit on a day’s notice.
\n\u2022 Some have to be micromanaged to ensure that output is as required.
\n\u2022 Recurring leaves without any notice.<\/p>\n

Learnings:<\/strong>
\nOur ongoing experience with recruiting and working with interns has taught us quite a few lessons like –
\n\u2022 Attitude matters more than skills. Skills can be picked up but not the attitude.
\n\u2022 Setting expectations right in the beginning about the work expected from them and their responsibilities helps a lot.
\n\u2022 Continuous engagement at regular intervals ensures that things are in line. Don\u2019t hire interns if there is nobody to supervise.
\n\u2022 As founders of a new company, we are like a mother who can\u2019t see any fault with her baby. The interns bring a fresh perspective and challenge the way things have always been done.<\/p>\n

Most importantly there is a lot of responsibility which is needed when you hire interns. \u00a0They should be given projects which add value to the company and can help in sharpening your mentoring skills too. The onus is on us as a company to utilize their full potential and add value to them as individuals. When an intern leaves a company, she should feel that she has contributed and learned something which will help her in the future.
\nAfter all, an intern who has felt valued will always be your brand ambassador.<\/p>\n

If you are looking to hire interns, please post your requirements here<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n