Apprenticeships have been around for centuries as a way of bringing new talent into a profession. In the year 1080, apprentices were indentured to learn a trade for seven years. Apprentices couldn’t earn wages. They were dependent and had to live with their masters. They couldn’t marry. They usually had to pay their bosses to teach them.

Apprenticeships and Internships

The apprenticeship is a semi-official training discipline where the apprentices know the kind of work they are training for. When they complete the long and arduous apprenticeship discipline, they will be allowed to enter the guild as full members of a trade.

The internshiporiginated in the medical profession. Before World War I, the term “intern” referred to a junior doctor, who completed his or her MD degree, but lacked a license. After the war, medical internship was formalized as the last step of medical training before full licensure.

In the late 1960s, the notion of internship became more general and popular as students enrolled in co-op programs to test out different careers and to make money to cover increasing tuition costs. Today, internships have replaced many entry-level jobs. Recent graduates or aggressive students embark on internships to get “experience”for building a resume.

Internships and the Employment Economy

Internships have become a key part of today’s economy. Not only are internships important for those entering the workforce, but employers are also relying on interns to shore up areas where full-time hiring has been cut. Interns do the light work, but they sometimes get the opportunity to make a real contribution. Statistics from the National Association of Colleges and Employers show that:

• 68 percent of interns are offered full-time positions,
• 84 percent of these offers are accepted.
• 40 percent of employers who establish internship systems report a higher five-year employee retention rate.
• 35 percent of full-time entry-level positions are filled by interns.

Setting up an internship program can aid two important management goals:

• Managing workflow to efficiently accomplish immediate objectives.
• Finding new team members to help grow the business and accomplish objectives.

Internship Programs for Recruiting

An internship program is a year-round recruiting tool. You can set up internship program as summer programs or quarterly programs, or any other form you wish. Implementing these program on a regular basis means you have a continuously flowing pipeline of potential full-time employees. Internships are not a community service, although internship programs do improve public perception of a company and improve community goodwill.

For many companies, regular recruiting for entry-level positions is a drain on company resources. Interviewing or testing can help a selection process, but an internship gives the company an extended look at actual performance in the real workplace. Many companies build a pool of interns and hire from that group. Not only are the companies getting employees with relevant experience, but it is experience gained within their own organizations. Companies get a good look at potential talent without having to make any hiring commitment and without the risk and cost of termination if an individual doesn’t work out.

For small businesses, internship programs may attract better candidates than you can find through conventional recruiting. Internship programs attract candidates because of the learning and experiential opportunities they offer, not salaries or prestige. Smaller businesses can often offer better hands-on training and experience than larger companies. In smaller companies, interns may more often find themselves in a position where they can get more direct mentoring, take a more active role, gain direct experience. This kind of potential exposure can be very attractive to ambitious students who are quick to acquire skills and have strong desire to learn.

Internships are opportunities for both the intern and the company which employs them. The internship program can become a significant part of a company’s ongoing recruiting efforts as a powerful selection tool at low cost.

This article was originally posted on our website at www.the-network.com/spotlight.