Nathan Parcells is the co-founder and CMO of InternMatch, an online platform connecting the best intern candidates and employers. Connect with Nathan and InternMatch on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
This summer, thousands of students and young professionals will flock to land coveted internship positions. While the goal of many internship programs is to find talent, they can also be the gateway to skills development and powerful contacts.
Despite this, the benefits of an internship have recently been shadowed by disasters, controversies, and even lawsuits.
If stereotypes about interns were true, grabbing coffee or picking up dry cleaning would be the extent of their role. But with 97 percent of employers planning to hire interns and co-ops in 2014, you can’t afford to let these eager young professionals go to waste.
Instead, think of interns like sponges, absorbing the lessons you give them. This summer, I encourage you to put down your coffee order and replace it with some lessons your intern really needs to learn. Here are a few to note:
The value in diversity
In 2014, 81 percent of companies plan to focus on recruiting diverse candidates. This is particularly important since 83 percent of startups have all-white teams, a mere 5 percent of the tech workforce is black, and 4 percent is Hispanic.
Diversity, both in terms of background and educational experience, can give young professionals access to stronger ideas and varying perspectives, as well as the chance to learn from a multitude of skill sets.
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