Top Ten Reasons to Have Interns

On April 6, 2001---Miller Park hosted its first regular season baseball game. If you live in Milwaukee (or perhaps are just a baseball fan), you know the building of the stadium was a controversial issue. The stadium location and cost were highly debated, with the funding for construction finally being passed in a midnight State Senate session.

Because of the controversy, and the fact that the Wisconsin was opening its first major stadium since the 1950's--tickets were at a premium for the inaugural game. However, at the young age of 20 (the receding hairline makes me seem older :) I had the best seat in the house, front row center, behind home plate, to take in the action.

How did I score this seat? I certainly didn't have the money, I didn't have the connections (still don't), and anyone who attended the game will tell you that security was tight for President Bush's ceremonial first pitch--so it would take more than a smile to trek down to the field.

Fortunately, I was the Milwaukee Brewers Spring Intern, a position I held from December 2000 to May 2001, and the seat was in the tiny camera well behind home plate--working the radar gun for the television broadcast and stadium scoreboard.

The radar gun responsibility was a highlight among a position that, despite working in baseball, was very undramatic. I logged 50-60 hours a week for the Brewers that spring, doing menial tasks for no pay. We printed press notes daily and meticulously aligned columns on MS Word, triple-checked the Brewers media guide for inaccuracies (I have Jeremy Burnitz's stats still memorized), answered the phone and sent a billion pocket schedules to collectors all over the place.

All in all, I logged most of my free time at the ballpark, living off my credit card and finally paying the balance off after I graduated. The work wasn't sexy, but it was wonderful exposure and an incredibly memorable experience.

Why am I sharing this? Because now is a great time to enhance, start, or continue your internship program. While I recall all of the highs/lows of the internship, my overall experience is positive, and I know I provided incredible value to the Brewers, as well. The trade-off is likely very similar for today's interns--they provide great work to the company, all for that one memorable experience or the priceless guidance from a department head or internship coordinator.

Here are the "Top Ten" Reasons to consider a program:

1) Build a Candidate Pipeline--Your current and previous interns can be the first people you call when you have an opening.

2) Hone your Managerial Skills--The internship program is a great way to help develop your young managers (or soon to be managers) with their first direct report.

3) Help a Youngster--Pretty straight forward, the program is a great resume builder and provides valuable experience to an intern.

4) Boost the Company's Reputation--As news of your program spreads through local colleges and high schools, your organization's positive brand continues to grow.

5) Try Before Buy--The internship program allows you to test a potential long-term employee's skills before committing to them full-time.

6) Cheap Labor--Especially when times are tight, the interns can pitch in where needed for little money out the door.

7) Philanthropic Feel--Kind of goes along with #3, but think of the personal benefit on your own career, going home each day knowing you've enhanced the development of a college student.

8) Flexible Hours--Unlike your regular employees, an intern may prefer to work afternoon and evening hours.

9) Try New Projects--Have something that's been a long-term goal but just hasn't been completed due to time? A group of interns could work as a team and present their results
to the coordinator.

10) Offers a Fresh Perspective--Just finishing or just out of school, interns often have a new idea or different approach they can bring to the table.

Thanks for reading! I'm excited to report that we've experienced a boost in our direct-hire business since the beginning of May, so our fingers are crossed for a quick economic rebound. As always, please don't hesitate to contact me to provide passive job-seeker candidates for your latest opening.

In addition, I've accumulated a vast amount of summer intern resumes. (Rough time to be in school :) Please let me know if I can provide any free of charge help to start or enhance your internship program.

Trivia! Last month's answer regarding the celebrity with the most followers on Twitter??? Punk'd creator Ashton Kutcher

This week's question: What Brewer threw the first pitch at Miller Park's opening game?

All correct answers emailed to me by 5:00 Monday will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to lunch time favorite Olive Garden, courtesy of QPS.

FYI: It was a strike, 92 mph :)

Regards

Dave