Internships: Employers Perspective
- Allows the employer to
utilize a cost-effect way to fill short-term needs, especially during
low staffing periods. Interns can help when the need arises for a special
project or when the organization needs temporary assistance due to staffing
shortages, especially during summer vacation months.
- Employers have the opportunity
to pre-screen prospective employees before committing to them for permanent
positions. They will also have an advantage over other companies in
hiring the most qualified student if that student has already worked
as an intern in the organization and feels comfortable there.
- Employers have the satisfaction
in knowing that they helped contribute to a student's future job growth
by giving them an opportunity that will be invaluable as they pursue
their career path and allow them to bring "real world" experience to
the classroom.
- Hosting an intern gives
current employees the opportunity to supervise others. This will help
an employer determine if that individual has the necessary supervisory
skills when promotional decisions need to be made.
- Working with the faculty
and students at the UM-St. Louis College of Busines can help develop
relationships with the University community for future projects and
networking opportunities.
- Compensation is obviously
preferred, especially for business students. However, because they receive
college credit and valuable experience, most students will accept a
lower pay scale than they might normally require and many would be willing
to forgo pay altogether if the experience and benefit lead them to their
career path. As a rule, the better interns will obviously choose the
intern program that provides the highest compensation, all else being
equal.
Suggestions for Employers to Develop a Successful Internship Program
- Determine your need.
- Assign meaningful duties.
- Develop project-related
assignments that the intern can work on from start to finish.
- Encourage frequent interaction
between the intern and the Site supervisor.
- Make time for the intern
to learn about the entire company and to meet employees from outside
her/her functional area.
- If possible, provide the
opportunity for the intern to present the outcomes of his/her project
to others within the organization through oral presentations or written
reports.
- Provide feedback to the intern concerning possible future opportunities with the company.
Any prospective employer interested in sponsoring UM-St. Louis College of Business students should contact:
Peggy Gilbertson
Internship Coordinator
Room 469 SSB
University of Missouri St. Louis College of Business
One University Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri 63121
(314) 516-6117
pgilb@umsl.edu