What do you think of student placements?

Hi,
I was wondering what you think of student placements.
Simply because I work at an organisation where we place international students at a company and we'd like to optimalize our services.

So my question is, if you ever had an intern or want to get an intern, what did you think of it or what is holding you back from getting one?

Thanks.

I did a placement as part of my degree. It was the best decision I made during the whole course as when I finished my degree it made be much more employable.

From the organizations perspective I think it's a great way to get some cheap labour! I think you need to be realistic about what to expect from them over a short period of time. So it's good to have some menial tasks you can give them so you actually gain from employing them.

It can also be a great way to get some fresh inspirartion. I studied product design and they took one of my designs and took it to market - it's now in Argos and they sell a decen amount of them. So it was worth them taking a punt on me, and it looks great on my CV so is fantastic for me.

It can also be great to get new recruits. As an employer you get to test out an eployee for a reasonable amount of time at a cheap rate.

I fully agree with you.
Getting interns is a great opportunity for the student to improve his/her experience and it's also a great opportunity for the company to further their (abroad) contacts and help their company progress.

I hire interns. And before I begin my rant, let me say that I generally like them, their youth, their idealism etc etc etc.

Interns gain a lot. Much more than the company.

The vast majority of interns KNOW NOTHING - even though they may have a great degree. We turn them from KNOW NOTHINGS to people who KNOW SOMETHING, who are then able to go out and integrate in the adult, working world.

What holds us back from getting them is that they KNOW NOTHING. So it involves training and time etc on our part. In return, we can offload some menial, labour intensive tasks and free up time.

I've read recent articles in the Guardian etc stating that interns are taken advantage of because they're not paid (or are paid expenses only). In my experience, it's uneconomical to pay them because they KNOW NOTHING. You just CANNOT put them in front of the client or ask them to write an insightful report or manage a team etc. So you have to offload admin tasks etc, which makes some feel lowered, especially if they have a degree from Harvard et al.

I HOPE I wasn't as dumb when I was 21 as some of the interns I come across, though I was probably DUMBER. We all start somewhere.

Also, they're often not with the firm long enough to be given responsibility (most intern for the summer etc) - so all that training usually benefits someone else.

I think the key is in there somewhere - the length of time; it takes three/six/twelve months or so before they start becoming economically useful.

I fully appreciate what you are saying and these are comments I come upon quite often from potential clients. All I can say is that there are interns and there are interns. The people we woek with are of a very high standard. I think this is backed up by the fact that almost all of our clients use us time and time again - many of them have been doing so for years now - and the only time I have ever lost custom is when a company we have been working with actually takes on the student we have sourced for them permanantly - thus removing the need for a replacement. In recent years we have grown considerably and, as a not for profit organisation with no marketing budget, this is a result of word of mouth referral from satisfied customers.

I take on board also that someone else may benefit in the long run from the training you give these people, but I prefer to think of it as an exchange. Yes you give the students experience and skills that they take away and further themselves with, but they do offer something in return. For example, several of our clients have utilised one of our students in a bid to see if a foreign market has potential for them and many of them are now trading succesfully overseas as a result. Some of them go on to employ the students to act on their behalf in the student's native land - we have at least two example where an overseas office has been set and operated up by departing students. We get som many requests to extend contracts for a further few months that someone MUST be getting the benefit here!

Some people are concerned that because the students do not receive salary payment that they may lack motivation. Actually the students are motivated by the fact that once a placement has been passed by thier university it becomes a part of thier study and they will fail their cause if they do not bring it to a satisfactory conclusion. The EU funding also makes sure that the students are financially comfortable whilst on placement. It is the cost effecitveness of the scheme that makes it so popular - people can see if an overseas market is for them, or if they can expand on one, without too much cost.

As for your concerns that the students know NOTHING. This just so often is not the case. These people, despite being multi lingual, have often been involved in other internships for periods of 6 months at least, have studied outside their home country and are often perfectly placed to advise on international trade related maters - as testified by the amount of our clients who use these students to do exaclty that which you suggest might not be possible - speak to clients. Many of these people are involved, successfully, in direct sales activity and such things as exhibiting. Once again I will say the languages these students speak place them in a very good position to go, at a very cost effective rate, direct to your clients and potential clients overseas in thier native language - something that is very much appreciated by your clients generally. The skills are already there, these are people just looking for a chance to demonstrate them.

Oh, and just worth a mention - these students are on placement for at least 6 months.

@ISPO

You're promoting your product and I understand that.

What strikes me is that you use language very similar to universities / business schools etc.

When people come out of school, they're GREEN. Their knowledge is derivative. And anyone who hires them can see that.

As for statements such as "are often perfectly placed to advise on international trade related maters" .....well, this is just is nonsense. Anyone who bases their strategy on what "interns advise" will quickly lose alot of money.

Hi,
I've employed numerous students over the years for SMEs that I've run. If you run a big business, then these can be brilliant for student and employer. A son's friend recently managed to receive a year's work at Shell in the marketing department. As a future marketeer on graduation - it won't guarantee him a job but it will look pretty amazing on his CV.

For SMEs, I used to offer really bad wages and mundane jobs to students for a couple of weeks - including painting a wall. This sorted out the wheat from the chaff and I ended up with a good little part-time team and paid them enough so that everyone was very happy. One young chap worked on IT for me and is now running the IT dept for a major Utility company, thanks to his hard work and my glowing reference.

Kind regards,
Stephen

Hello,

Everyone has suggest his own point of view and i do appreciate everyone to share their precious ideas and experience with us. I think an intern is just like a student. Like student goes to schools to learn and intern goes to any company to learn from them so the learning is common between both of them. I would highly appreciate any of you if you learn painting art. In this world we are short of artists. and most of those who had the ability to shine and show their courage. Please have a look on some Drywall Fairfax VA work here!