This might be a familiar ice-breaker to many of you, but if not...the idea is to make three statements about oneself (all with conviction!) and then everyone guesses which is a complete fabrication. Sometimes it's really hard to pick out the lie - hmmmm, it's not completely unbelievable that Miranda once bowled a perfect game, but surely she's traveled out of the state and who doesn't have a tattoo?!? But sometimes it's easy, like when you are considering an internship program for your workplace. So which of these statements do you think is false?
1. Students* are only interested in applying for internships within their career field, at big companies where they can get hired on after graduation.
2. Interns are a great resource for helping a team meet new opportunities or overcome challenges.
3. Both the student and the organization need to put in some quality 'prep' time to ensure a successful internship experience.
If you guessed statement #1, you're a winner (feel free to bask in your glory, then read on!)
Yes, undoubtedly there are students who have carefully GPS'd the path for their college years....landing the perfect internship at the hottest company which leads directly to their dream job. But seriously, does this sound like every student you've ever met? In my experience, so many students don't have this mapped out (but are hopefully utilizing their college's career services centers). They need opportunities to use what they are learning in the classroom, to identify potential career paths, and discover the types of workplaces or organizations where they can thrive. And since a significant number of students don't have meaningful work experiences before college - they do understand that internships play a vital role in showing future employers their abilities.
So yes, your workplace could be just the right fit for students! Our next blog posts will expand on the true statements above - why you should recruit those great students, and quick tips on how to create a successful experience.
*please note that in this blog post, I'm referring to so-called 'traditional' students (those who enroll directly after high school). I'll discuss 'non-traditional' students in future posts!