Running a women-owned business often means juggling multiple responsibilities with limited resources. In such an environment, finding ways to maximize your business's potential without overextending yourself is crucial. One of the smartest investments you can make is bringing on interns. Not only can they provide valuable assistance, but internships can also serve as a mutually beneficial opportunity for growth, both for your business and the interns themselves.
Why Interns Are Worth the Time Commitment
When you're running a lean operation, the idea of bringing on an intern might seem daunting. After all, internships often require time for training, supervision, and mentorship. However, the time you invest in an intern can pay off significantly in the long run. Here’s why:
Fresh Perspectives: Interns bring new ideas and viewpoints that can breathe fresh life into your business. Their enthusiasm and willingness to learn can spark creativity and innovation, leading to new ways to approach old challenges.
Flexible Support: Interns can be assigned to specific projects or tasks, providing extra hands where you need them most. Whether it’s supporting your marketing efforts, conducting market or proposal research, assisting with day-to-day operations, handling long overdue tasks, interns can free up your time to focus on high-level strategies. Internships can be offered in the summer only, or extended and leveraged throughout the year.
Building Future Talent: An internship is a trial run for both the intern and your business. If you find someone who fits well with your company culture, you might be grooming a future full-time employee. This reduces the time and cost associated with recruitment later on. Hiring and working with an intern will also give you insights into areas of opportunity to improve your hiring process and will help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your leadership style. Great practice for bringing on your first fulltime team members!
Best Uses for Interns in Your Small Business
Interns can be incredibly versatile, but to get the most out of the experience, it's essential to match their skills with your small business needs. Here are some of the best ways to utilize interns:
Social Media and Marketing: Many interns, especially those in college, are digital natives who can manage your social media accounts, create content, and engage with your audience. They can also assist with marketing campaigns, email newsletters, and even SEO tasks.
Research and Development: Interns can be tasked with gathering data on competitors, researching market trends, or exploring new product ideas. Their academic background often means they’re skilled at conducting thorough research and analysis.
Event Planning: If your business involves hosting events, interns can help with everything from logistics to promotion. They can also assist with client communications, registrations, and follow-up tasks.
Administrative Support: Day-to-day operations can overwhelm even the most organized entrepreneur. Interns can help with tasks like data entry, scheduling, and managing correspondence, allowing you to focus on growing your business.
Some projects we've used interns for include researching and creating customer personas, developing digital media tracking dashboards and curating products for our gift and subscription boxes, using Airtable to create a vendor database, researching CRM systems and identifying shipping and fulfillment companies.
Choosing the Right Level of Intern
Internships aren’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on your business needs, you might consider different levels of interns:
High School Students: Ideal for basic tasks like filing, organizing, or data entry. High school interns are eager to learn and can be great for businesses that need assistance with straightforward tasks.
College Underclassmen:Typically more skilled and independent, these interns can handle more complex tasks like social media management, research, and customer service. They’re also likely to bring more specialized knowledge, depending on their area of study and year in college.
Graduate Students: If you need high-level support, such as in-depth research, analysis, or specialized projects, graduate students can be an excellent choice. They often have more experience and are looking to apply their knowledge in a practical setting.
Internship Programs to Consider
When you're ready to bring an intern on board, there are several programs that can help you find the right match:
Riipen: This platform connects businesses with students for project-based internships. It’s a great way to get specific tasks done while giving students hands-on experience.
Internup: A remote internship program that focuses on matching businesses with high school and college students. They offer a range of services, including vetting candidates, to ensure you find the right fit.
Summer on the Cuyahoga: A unique internship program that brings college students to Northeast Ohio for internships with local businesses. It’s an excellent way to tap into a pool of motivated and talented individuals.
Intern Funding Opportunities
One of the most compelling reasons to consider interns is that many colleges and universities offer stipend funding for students. This means that, in some cases, you can bring on an intern without having to cover the cost of their stipend. These programs are designed to ensure students gain valuable experience, making it easier for small businesses to access talented interns without a significant financial burden.
Resources to Enhance Your Internship Program
To ensure you create a positive and productive internship experience, consider watching this webinar that I moderated on the topic. The webinar covers everything from setting expectations to mentoring tips, helping you make the most of your internship program.
Additionally, check out this insightful blog post from one of our former interns, where they share their experience and the impact it had on their career journey.
Conclusion
Internships offer a wealth of opportunities for women-owned businesses. By strategically utilizing interns, you can expand your business capabilities, gain fresh insights, and potentially discover future employees—all while contributing to the professional growth of the next generation. With the right approach, securing an intern could be one of the best investments you make this year.
Gloria, Your Chief Rainmaker and Capital Co-pilot, steers GTB Advisors and Get The Bag with 30 years of small business advisory, business funding and investing in financial futures for communities of color. An architect of Ohio's inclusive finance initiatives, she's your navigator through the complexities of capital acquisition and business growth. Gloria’s insights and strategies fuel financial inclusion and innovation, making her a sought-after speaker and advocate. With a passion for community building and a rich history in supporting diverse entrepreneurs, she blends expertise and empathy to guide your financial journey.
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