March 29, 2024

Internships Help Students, Companies & Workforce

Posted for The Patuxent Partnership

A recent Gallup poll finds that successful students had one or more teachers who were mentors, and they had an internship related to what they were learning in school.

Thomas L. Friedman of the New York Times writes about the “research that Gallup did over the past year, exploring the linkages between education and long-term success in the workplace. That is: What are the things that happen at a college or technical school that, more than anything else, produce “engaged” employees on a fulfilling career track? According to Brandon Busteed, the executive director of Gallup’s education division, two things stand out. Successful students had one or more teachers who were mentors and took a real interest in their aspirations, and they had an internship related to what they were learning in school.”

The Patuxent Partnership supports BECA (St. Mary’s Business, Education and Community Alliance, Inc.) which functions as a clearinghouse for interns and employers. TPP describes the internship in this way:

An internship is a monitored and interactive learning process designed to provide students with real-world experience related to their specific educational path / degree. The internship should consist of meaningful work that enhances the student’s classroom instruction and reinforces the accepted methodologies and theories of the profession. Without mentorship and instruction, the position is not an internship, but rather a part-time job.

TPP’s experience over the decades has not only illustrated the accuracy of the Gallop study, but has seen the benefits playing out throughout the regional corporations who bring interns into their organizations. Internships go on to play a critical role in workforce development and can have a significant impact on workforce retention within the company as well.

–          Recruiting & Retention: Internships are a great recruiting tool and provide an ongoing source of future employees. Internships are the most effective way to evaluate potential employees and determine their compatibility with the company and coworkers. Employers are able to avoid many hiring “mistakes” by interacting with the potential employee before they are hired.

–          Cost Savings: Internships help reduce cost normally associated with recruitment and hiring. Companies are able to evaluate potential employees during the internship process and select only the most talented and highly capable, eliminating costs and risk associated with direct hires. You know what you’re getting before you commit.

–          Productivity: Interns provide additional talent and allow employers to take advantage of short-term support for special projects. Interns can also help free up time for permanent employees, thus allowing them to focus on higher level tasks and projects.

–          Creativity: Interns bring a new prospective and fresh ideas, especially to smaller companies or organizations. This is especially true in terms of technology; most interns are versed in the latest technology and can help “spruce up” the branding of a smaller company.

–          Return on Investment: According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) survey, 67.7% of interns were offered fulltime positions following the completion of their internship and 35% of new college hires come from an internship program. More importantly, those college hires resulting from an internship are 40% more likely to stay with the company for five or more years.

–          Support to the Student: Allows students to gain experience, develop skills, make connections, strengthen their resumes, learn about a field, and assess their interest and abilities. Regardless of your decision to hire the student after the internship is complete, the internship is a critical benefit to the student and ultimately to the community.

Well planned and managed internships provide long-term numerous benefits, both in terms of time and money.

Employers interested in sponsoring an intern are encouraged to register with BECA (St. Mary’s Business, Education and Community Alliance, Inc.), which will post the internship opportunity on their website free of charge.  By registering with BECA, employers are able to reach a broader audience (at no additional cost), thus expanding the talent pool from which to select the perfect match for their company.  To register your company for the BECA internship program, please visit the BECA website at: http://smcbeca.org/internships

For more information or questions about the Internship program, please contact Mark Smith at [email protected] or Sarah Cannavo at [email protected]

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