Attracting new talents now a days is a focal point of any business.Tight labour market makes HR planning more variable dependent which are out of management control.Practicality of a managment job veer the companies to think out of box and find some real time solutions of it.Most of the organizations are coming forward with a lateral solution of hiring new talent through internship programs for finding suitable candidates.

Initiating an internship program makes a company to test the compatibility and understanding of new talent with its dynamic business process and functionalities.The days of ubiquitous all size fit-one MBA is not done today.Conventional way of hiring may still work for technical field but for an MBA, where behavioral aspects cover most of the job specifications part conventional ways of recruitment scale the cost factor highest on the risky side.

Deciding for an internship program moves you to the first step of the solution.We at internsindia.com consults companies to plan their internship programs and transpose it into an opportunity for hiring new talents and utilizing their talent during internship program for the profitability of the company.Following are a few suggestions for a successful planning.

Long-Range Planning

For a successful internship program,one must think about all the needs in advance.Analysing the need for the staff support in various departments plays a major role.Other things to consider include workload and the availability of intern projects, office space and financial resources. In most cases, you should post internships at least seven to ten weeks prior to your expected start date. This will allow sufficient time to screen and select appropriate candidates across India.We at internsindia.com always try to zoom in the benefits for an internship program from multi dimensions.While designing an internship program,we always consider various KFS (key focus area);for instance:Marketing Research,promotion,sales boost-up,expanding distribution network where a trainee can participate in the cost reduction or opening new revenue stream for the company.

Why a company needs an internship program?
What are the areas where a company can benefit from an extra Human Resource ?

Questions like these always base our approach while mapping various key focal points.We work with various management and marketing research models to plan an efficient and effective internship program.

Meaningful Assignments

Gone are the days of using interns as simple "go-fers". Students are seeking opportunities that will stimulate them and provide real experience. A good internship program will ensure the assignment of challenging projects and tasks. Effective assignments are coupled with adequate supervision so as to provide an information resource and to ensure interns are keeping pace. Be sure to have some additional projects available in case an intern successfully completes a project ahead of schedule. Whenever possible, try to include the intern in organization events such as staff meetings and allow opportunities for networking and informational interviewing with key personnel.

Compensation/Legal Compliance*

A common question from employers is how to compensate interns.If a student brings new business opportunity to the company then the deciding about compensation is easy but if a student is assigned a task for cost reduction or for another business support activities then it becomes bit complicated.It is a good idea to research common wage ranges within your industry and geographic location.

*Please note: Internsindia.com staff does not make any claim (implicit or explicit) to legal expertise is this area. Always contact your organization’s legal counsel or an employment law professional with questions or for information on how your organization may be specifically influenced by these guidelines.

Effective Hiring*

Equal Employment Opportunity laws apply to the hiring of student interns. You will want to check with your state to see if workers’ compensation laws cover interns. Just as you would a regular employee, it is important to provide interns with information on your safety and harassment policies, as employers may be held liable for intern safety and harassment issues. In general, student interns fall into an "at will" employment status and may be terminated for poor conduct.

*Please note: Internsindia.com staff does not make any claim (implicit or explicit) to legal expertise is this area. Always contact your organization’s general counsel or an employment law firm with questions or for information on how your organization may be specifically influenced by these guidelines.

Appropriate Documentation

Documentation is very important for effective learning to take place. It is strongly advisable that an employer and intern create mutually agreed upon learning objectives. Well documented learning objectives provide clear direction and targeted goals for the intern. This ensures both parties envision the same experience and reduces the possibility of misunderstanding and disappointment. Effective learning objectives are concise and measurable.

Examples of a measurable learning objective:

The intern will produce a marketing plan for XYZ product line.

The intern will design a sales strategy or Market Research plan or new market opportunities.

The intern will receive an understanding of our marketing concepts.

It is a good idea to also document other aspects of your internship program. This may include your internship program mission, internship job descriptions, eligibility and application requirements, compensation structures, supervisory roles, and supervisor/intern evaluations.

Evaluation

An internship can only be a true learning experience if constructive feedback is provided. An effective evaluation will focus on the interns’ learning objectives that were identified at the start of the internship. Supervisors should take time to evaluate both a students positive accomplishments and weaknesses. If an intern was unable to meet their learning objectives, suggestions for improvement should be given.

In conclusion, utilizing interns in your organization can result in many benefits.These benefits vary from low cost Marketing Research to new business acquisition and so on. It is important to do some careful planning before creating your internship program. You can be sure to continue recruiting from your pool of internship candidates and foster positive public relations by implementing an effective, thorough internship program.

TO GET A SAMPLE OF INTERNSHIP PLAN PLEASE WRITE TO US WITH THE DETAIL OF BUSINESS AREA WHERE YOU WISH TO EXECUTE INTERNSHIP PLAN.