Summer Interns Add Value to Nonprofits

From - The County Journal May 18th Issue


 

May is a busy time where students armed with resumes are hitting the pavement for any type of employment.  Contending with a tough job market, the field is narrow as students are now competing with seasoned, skilled people who are under employed or early retired.

One solution that has worked well to help transition a job to a career is college internships where both Olivet College and Lansing Community College have been the primary resource for local nonprofit organizations.

Diane, a mother of two children living in Charlotte, is a full-time student majoring in Human Services at Lansing Community College.  Her major requires 125 hours a semester to fulfill her graduation requirements.  She took a summer internship at a nonprofit agency where she serves as a community outreach coordinator. 

Diane described her work as an opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of the work environment and a way to test her existing and acquired skills from her major.  Most important, the internship gives her a meaningful experience where she can interface with clients and develop work products for her portfolio when she takes the career track.  It will also get her foot in the door.

The profiles of student interns in Eaton County that we engage have been adults between the ages of 26 to 45 with young families and have previous work track record.  By engaging this group, the biggest benefit for employers is that they are established tax-paying residents with children vested in local schools.

Internships are a Win-Win situation for employers and nonprofits, in particular, because the benefits include leveraging costs and developing strong teamwork skills, individual responsibility and the opportunity to get a free look at the work environment.  Internships should not be a way to delegate the most menial, repetitive tasks, unless they understand the value and importance of their contribution. 

Internships also increase the likelihood of networking professional contacts.   In fact, many employers consider internship experience in the hiring process, and often look to their own interns as the best potential candidates for full-time positions.

If you are an employer, consider having a student intern. It may be the best investment not only for your organization but for the good of our County’s brain power.