In the AV industry this is something that can and should be put into practice more. Internships tend to be under-utilized in the AV industry. They are a win-win scenario giving students and new graduates an opportunity to start their careers with on-the-job-training, while simultaneously allowing AV companies to have an ongoing source of possible employees who develop an understanding of the company and the job descriptions.
‘Internships give employers an opportunity to train up potential employees in keeping with their best practices while they rack up good CV-building experience’, notes Tonia-Jade Sayers head of Operations for TechRig Technical Solutions Agency. TechRig has recently developed an internship program that allows students to do their practical studies by tying up with recognized institutions ‘its great for beginners in the industry to have experience with a reputable company that has a wide variety of activations. Internship programs allow you to effectively manage your workflow to accomplish immediate objectives and find new team members which can ultimately grow your business’ notes TechRig CEO Michael Collyer
Generally, an internship consists of an exchange of services for experience between the student and an organisation. Students can also use an internship to determine if they have an interest in a particular career, create a network of contacts or gain academic credit. Some interns find permanent, paid employment with the organizations for which they worked. This can be a significant benefit to the employer, as experienced interns often need little or no training when they begin regular employment. Unlike a trainee program, employment at the completion of an internship is not guaranteed. An internship may be paid, unpaid or partially paid in the form of a stipend.
Benefits for the student and future industry players
An internship is a unique learning opportunity it allows one to gain work experience and transferable skills. What stands out to employers is those students who also have work experiences by the time they graduate. This automatically makes them more marketable as they may require less training and are assumed to be able to handle more responsibilities. Everyone can benefit from seeing the things that they have been learning in class, put to action. As a student intern, you are surrounded by professionals in the industry that you are seeking access to. It’s more than just about getting a grade, earning credit, or making money. This is an opportunity to learn from everyone around you, ask questions, and impress them with your eagerness. These people can be your future colleagues or can be the connection to your first job. If you’ve learned about a specific technique in the classroom, you’re able to test it out in the world of work. Then, you’ll be much more equipped with the technique. Internships provide students numerous perks: They gain experience, develop skills, make connections, strengthen their resumes, learn about a field, and assess their interest and abilities.
Offering a paid internship is particularly beneficial, because it enables economically disadvantaged youth to participate. Students who have to help fund their own schooling will need a job, regardless. Providing an internship allows that job to facilitate a positive future.
Benefits for AV companies
Internships provide a solution-based opportunity for employers to fill primary needs. An internship program is a year-round recruiting tool. Implementing an internship program means you have an ongoing pipeline of future fulltime employees.
For many, the process of recruiting and hiring is a drain on company resources. One solution: Appeal to tomorrow’s staff members when they’re looking for internships, and all you have to do is choose the best of the bunch when it comes time to hire.
Moreover, college campuses are viral societies. This means if your organization impresses one class of interns, word will quickly spread. Soon you’ll find the most sought-after student talent is interested in working with you.
Test-drive the talent. It’s a human resources reality: A new employee makes a solid impression in the interview, but then just doesn’t gel with your current team or your company’s way of doing things. Because of this, hiring someone as an intern is the most effective way to evaluate their potential as a fulltime employee. When you “try out” candidates via an internship, you make fewer mistakes when it comes to fulltime staffing; you avoid the pitfall of training a new hire, only to find out they’re not a fit for your organization…or that the entry-level employee doesn’t like the field. Starting an internship program lets you benefit from added manpower, while more accurately assessing candidates.
Increased productivity. Speaking of additional manpower, setting up an internship program allows you to take advantage of short-term support. The extra sets of hands help your employees be more productive, prevent them from becoming overburdened by side projects, as well as free them up to accomplish more creative tasks or those where higher-level, strategic thinking or expertise is required.
Take advantage of low-cost labor. Interns are an inexpensive resource. Their salaries are significantly lower than staff employees, if they are paid at all and you aren’t obligated to pay unemployment or other benefits should you not hire them on fulltime. Moreover, while their wage requirements are modest, they’re among the most highly motivated members of the workforce.
Give back to the community. Creating an internship program is an excellent way to give back. Hiring interns not only helps students in your community get started; it enhances the local workforce as a whole.
Employer takeaway: In terms of both today’s workload and tomorrow’s workforce, starting an internship program is an excellent way to facilitate success in your business.
