It’s a common scenario when interns join your company with much enthusiasm. But you soon see them struggling with time management, between their Universities, exams, and keeping up with training at office. At times their absence becomes frequent due to the lack of time and the pressure owing to an exhausting schedule.
In such cases the hiring efforts and overall productivity of interns is affected and employers face more losses than gains.

What can companies do? We'll help you with that!
Try out Internship Program based on number of hours. Yes, instead of having interns attend the rigorous training and expecting from them to slog later, you might want to consider this model. The interns can work on hourly basis and log in their hourly efforts each week.

For example, depending on the kind of internship they are doing, their domain and the department they are getting trained with, you could range your internship hours from minimum 2 hours to maximum 4 hours a week, which reaches to 20 hours max, per week.

How will this benefit your organisation? Let’s take a look below:

1.    Enthusiastic Batch: Interns who are able to focus on their job are the ones who take it seriously. It's simple that they are able to focus on their job because they are able to manage rest of their day better.
When they feel tired and unresponsive while training, and lack interest in blending in the office culture, it’s a sign that they are not going to prove to be as productive as they can be. When they are aware of the number of hours they are supposed to give in a week, it becomes easier for the employer to design the daily tasks and assignments for them.

2.    Inventory Management: Employees working on hourly basis are bound to use the office inventory, stationery and space, lesser. This helps in managing the office property better. Its less expensive. Your computers, accessories and cubicles can be occupied by the full-time users in normal days. When the interns come over for training, they may share those machines as well.

3.    Increase in Working Hours: If an intern is able to manage his schedule better due to the less working hours you have offered, he may extend his working hours to give better productivity. It all comes down to how you want to take care of them, by keeping in mind their study schedule.
Such thoughtful decisions will always reap benefits in the long term. It may start with 2 hours a day, but it may reach to 6 or 8 hours even, if the interns feel motivated by the overall work environment.

4.    Larger bunch of applications: Interns are anxious to work at their first job, and are often in a fix as to how they will manage their studies. When they come across such an opportunity that allows them to work and study efficiently, they want to grab it.
Such an opening benefits employers when they receive more than expected applications and therefore are at an advantage to choose the best candidates.

Now, not all organisations may find this a feasible way to go for internships because they may be fast-paced and require quick results. But most of them are opting for ways that keep their interns engaged, motivated, involved and well-trained.Add to it the benefit of completing their education with flying colours.
Interns would love to work for you full time when they see how you value your employee’s personal as well as professional development.

Need more inputs on the subject? Feel free to reach out to us at employability@internwise.com.