Helpful Things to Keep in Mind when Hiring Unpaid Interns

Hiring interns from local colleges or schools is a wonderful way to get some extra help at your business. At the same time, by sharing your knowledge and expertise with others who might be interested in working in a similar field, you are doing your part in helping someone else with their career. Internships can be fulfilling for all parties involved. In addition, there are government rules that should be adhered to. Here is some helpful information to guide you along the way:

• Before hiring interns, make sure your business has the time to supervise and help them. 
• Both parties should agree in advance that the internship will not include any money.
• Interns should be closely supervised and mentored. Make sure you take time to teach them the tricks of the trade. Give them useful information that they can one day put to good use.
• Remember interns cannot be used to replace paid employees.
• Intern training must be general and for his or her benefit. It should not be done to advance the business.
• Keep in mind as long as they are closely supervised, interns are allowed to do real work. They should be learning along the way and should not necessarily be making a final product.
• Both the company and the intern should agree ahead of time that no job will be promised when the internship is over.
• Also keep in mind you can reach out to local colleges, and even high schools and technical schools to set up an unpaid internship in which the student can receive course credit. In this case, paperwork will be required by both the student and intern supervisor.