Providing meaningful projects to your Interns and Co-ops is important. Students can learn a lot about their professional development, your company, and their career development based on the workplace challenges your provide them.
Have you ever taken the time to consider the things you can learn from your interns?
Interns are an excellent source of information about themselves and their peers. Once the orientation is over and they are starting to settle into the routine of your office – take some time out of your busy schedule to ask them some questions:
- What kinds of recruiting activities have you seen other companies do that have impressed you?
- What is the most off-putting thing you have seen a recruiter do?
- How much did you know about our industry before you started working here?
- Do you have any friends that you could recommend that I meet?
- What did you think of your orientation? Did it prepare you for the challenges of working here?
- Is there too much hands-on? Too much desk work?
- Do you have a good understanding of our office culture?
By acknowledging this student as an expert about their life experiences, you will gain business intelligence for yourself, but also gain the confidence, trust, and respect of a young student by simply listening.