PrintI have a lot of questions about hiring interns for my business.
Are there general guidelines I can follow when hiring and managing interns? Is it reasonable to ask them to sign a contract or commit for a certain period of time? How long do most internships last? Can interns receive school credit for their work? Should they sign a confidentiality agreement?
Perhaps the most important distinction to make regarding interns is whether they're paid or simply volunteering their time. Paid interns will probably present significantly fewer problems with regard to time commitments. It's unrealistic to ask unpaid interns to sign a contract, but one way to help ensure a certain time commitment from them is to require that they receive college credits for their work. (See No. 3 below.) These four general guidelines should also help:
- Like other employees, interns need job descriptions that clearly outline their duties and what is expected of them, as well as the proper training to perform those duties. Their job descriptions should include the required time commitment.
- Provide a policy statement (that requires the intern's signature) regarding the confidentiality requirements, including a clause that the intern understands and agrees to any corporate confidentiality requirements.
- Talk to local schools and colleges about starting an internship program with your business. Students in computer science, business, information technologies, and many other fields often make excellent interns. Tying an internship to educational credit is a good way to ensure sufficient commitment from unpaid interns. Also, where appropriate, connect the internship program to a college or university department that's relevant to your company's business or the position at hand.
- Nonmonetary rewards, such as employee discounts or free meals, are an excellent way to motivate and retain interns, especially if they are unpaid.
