Internships enable bosses to shape future

I WAS fortunate to be invited to address the entrepreneurship and business management students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology this week.

I saw it as an opportunity to invest in our future business leaders. I presented a talk on how students can build their brands and raise their profiles – right now.

They are extremely fortunate, not only in the calibre of their lecturers, but in the fact that the technikon facilitates an internship in their third year.

This practical time in business exposes them to the reality at the coalface. It provides them with the chance to develop their business instinct and make valuable contacts.

If they are able to create a lasting first impression, they may well be offered permanent employment. They are able to boost their CVs with practical experience and hopefully some glowing testimonials.

In most years of running my PR business and later my brand and performance business, I took on interns. I see internships quite differently from the way many business owners do.

It is not about securing free or cheap labour, having someone to do the donkey work.

I view it as my opportunity to make a contribution to growing the next wave of our workforce. Initially students came in and, yes, did some menial work.

I tried to invest a lot of my personal time in discovering what they were good at, and giving them that work so that in addition to building skills, they built self-confidence too.

After a few months I expected a return on my investment – they needed to start making their own contribution to the business, offering personal insights, going the extra mile and opening my eyes to how the youth think.

I saw them as my conduit to the ever-evolving work outside my workplace.

I believe in a blend of youth and experience in a team, and they brought energy and interest during their tenure.

In week one they made the tea before our Monday staff meeting, a week later I had them taking minutes, and as soon as they were ready, I offered the responsibility of chairing a meeting.

That invaluable experience for them also proves that it is not necessarily the most senior of a team who should take responsibility. Many of them have blossomed in business.

I no longer host interns, instead I write for them!

I urge more employers to institute internship programmes to help build the future. You too will reap the dividends.

Jenny Handley is a brand and performance specialist and author. www.jennyhandley.co.za