5 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Interns for Your Company

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Interns for Your Company Photo Credit â€" Flickr.comSummer is nearly upon us, which means that we’ll soon be in the throes of intern season. Internships are usually associated with major corporations and even federal agencies, but these days, more and more small businesses are seeing the value in hiring interns. And more and more young professionalsare seeking out internships at small businesses.?However, if you’ve never before worked with an intern, the prospect of hiring one may be a bit daunting.?Here are 5 “Don’ts” to keep in mind when you’re looking for interns. ?These common mistakes can undermine even the most well-intentioned internship programs:1. Don’t expect an unpaid intern to do a paid intern’s jobeval?A paid internship and an unpaid internship should entail a very different set of responsibilities.?For example, unpaid internships are essentially on-the-job training and education opportunities. The intern does not displace regular employees but instead works under their watchful eye so that they can receive guidance ?Internships are supposed to be learning opportunities; the experience and training that an intern receives while working with your company should prepare them for a permanent job in that industry ?Before you set out to hire interns, it’s important to have an idea of how you’ll teach them and how you’ll gauge their progress. You should also know how much feedback you’ll want to give and receive.?Proper communication is absolutely critical. If your “pitch” for an internship at your company seems disorganized or vague, then you probably won’t attract the right kind of talent, and serious, career-minded individuals may feel inclined look elsewhere.4. Don’t hold interns to a lower set of standards.?If a prospective employee showed up to an interview five minutes late and dressed too casually for the office, then chances are, you wouldn’t hire them, even if they had a great résumé. So don’t allow unprofessional behavior from you r interns, either.?While it’strue that internships are usually temporary positions and interns are often high school or college-aged, they must be informed from the get-go that they are to behave like professionals.eval? This can mean dressing appropriately, being on time, keeping themselves busy, and remaining free from distractions ?With proper organization and preparation, you won’t just have an extra set of hands helping out this summerâ€"you’ll also be molding and shaping the future of your industry!