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EURES (EURopean Employment Services)
News article20 May 2022European Labour Authority, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion2 min read

Hiring interns: The benefits for companies

A lot of employers think that internships are for large corporations. But even small and medium-sized enterprises can take advantage of these mutually beneficial opportunities. Read on to learn how interns can help your business thrive.

Hiring interns: The benefits for companies

Gain new perspectives

Over time, some companies (especially smaller businesses) can become set in their ways. Sometimes, employers are so focused on running their business that they forget how important it is to freshen their perspectives and stay up to date with the latest trends in the industry. Interns are a great way to introduce new ideas and points of view to your company. They usually have freshly gained knowledge on the industry and, combined with their can-do attitude, they can be a source of creative ideas and innovative solutions. So, once you have them on board, don’t forget to encourage them to share their opinions. Let them know their perspective is wanted.

Reduce your employees’ workload

Hiring interns can be a great way to support your business and employees, especially during busier periods. Interns usually take on light administrative duties, alleviating your employees’ workload so they can focus on other tasks. But interns are not just administrative assistants − with the right mentoring and supervision, they can take on other more serious tasks as well.

Train potential full-time employees

An internship could be a great way for you to train someone, get them acquainted with your business, and test their abilities before you hire them full time. Think of the internship as a trial period that allows both you and the intern to decide whether your company is the right match for them. Another good thing about making interns full-time employees is that they already know their team members. They are familiar with the work environment, so there will not be a period of adaptation.

Promote your business among potential jobseekers

If you do your job well as an employer, and your intern finishes their internship happy and content, it is very likely that they will tell other people about it. Word of mouth can be a powerful tool to spread the message that you are a reliable and trustworthy employer. This can result in receiving more applications for job openings and other internships.

Boost your employees’ leadership skills

Interns should always be paired with mentors or supervisors to make sure that they are learning new skills and doing their job well. This is a great opportunity to give some of your full-time staff the chance to showcase and develop their leadership skills. This will also allow you to see who has management potential if you are thinking of promoting someone.

Find interns on EURES

Use the EURES portal to find potential candidates from all over Europe. Do not be afraid to contact a EURES Adviser if you have any questions.

 

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Disclaimer

Articles are intended to provide users of the EURES portal with information on current topics and trends and to stimulate discussion and debate. Their content does not necessarily reflect the view of the European Labour Authority (ELA) or the European Commission. Furthermore, EURES and ELA do not endorse third party websites mentioned above.