When you run a small business, whether you have an office building or an office out of your home, you may not think much in the lines of taking on interns Sometimes internships get a bad rap, and there are times when taking on an intern could be, essentially, a waste of time, but not always. If you bring in an intern with the idea that you’re simply teaching someone as opposed to grooming a future employee, you can look at it as a way of helping future career-minded individuals.

As a successful business woman in your field you may have a lot that you could teach someone, and taking on an intern for your small business could allow you the chance to mentor someone that may or may not go in your field, but will at least help you with some of your work and you’ll be helping them fulfill their needs in order to get their college degree.

Should You Suggest Job Shadowing Over Internship?

If you run a business out of your home and just want someone you can mentor, taking on an intern for a short period of time may be the perfect fit. If you have an actual office out of the home and you’re hoping to find someone that will make a good future employee, you may want to have them come in and do a job shadow before you decide to intern them. This will give both of you a chance to get a feel for one another and find out if that candidate is the right one to teach.

Even taking on an unpaid intern still takes time away from the tasks you need to get done, so if you bring in someone that isn’t willing to learn and work then you definitely are wasting time and still losing money because you’re not as able to get your own work done.

Understanding The Intern

For most interns, an internship is a requirement in order to graduate from college. If they really want a career in the field they are majoring in they will take their internship seriously. But even then, they may decide they want to branch out on their own with the information they learned on the job with you. If you’re not OK with this then having interns work at your business may not be the best idea.

However, there are some interns that only apply to places they want a future career at. This is where your interview process will help you weed out the ones that want to learn and stay and the ones that want to take your knowledge and use it for themselves. If you ask the right questions and follow up questions you’ll be able to find out who is serious about the position you offer and who has no intention of sticking around once they get their credits.