Why do large companies hire interns?

Question

Why not just hire someone already with the degree?

Answer 1

I work for a large company and as a program manager, I hire interns for summer positions. We pay our interns quite well, about 80% of what they will one day hire in at as a new employee. We also pay for their relocation to our area for the summer (both out and back to their original school area). You want to know 'why' though. I see internship as trying out someone before committing to hiring them one day full time after they get their degree. During an internship, I get to see how they work, how they solve problems, how they interact with other employees in the office and after work. When I hire someone, it represents a significant investment of dollars in that person, because I am hiring someone into a lifetime 'career' not just a 'job.' I want to be sure that they will do great work and fit in to the fast-paced, dynamic environment that we have at our company.

Certainly interns contribute important work and ideas to our company, so they are worth every dollar, but I see that they get quite a lot out of the experience too. I get to see them in their first real work experience, see them mature into young women and men that will become significant contributors to their fields. Historically I have also seen that people who have done internships have risen higher in the company over their peers because of the additional experience they have gotten.

Because of the technical nature of the work we do, I only hire people with college degrees, but I bring in at least one per summer. It is my hope that after a few internships with my company that they will decide they really like it at my company and send me their resumes so I can officially hire them after they graduate. It works out great for the company, the interns and even the degreed employees.

Answer 2

I think large companies hire interns for a couple of reasons. Part of it is public relations - they want to be supportive of local universities. The university is more likely to recommend the employer to their future graduates if the company has been a "good partner" in hiring interns. It's important for the company to get qualified candidates - especially in fields where the demand is high, and the candidate pool is small.
Also, interns are typically paid about $10.00/hour, so the company gets an extra pair of hands with little investment (low wage and no benefits). If the intern is good, the company may offer him/her a full-time position when they graduate - they already know what they're getting - they know the work habits of the intern and they know how they fit in with the other employees. So, it really can be a win-win situation for everyone.

Answer 3

When I was still in college, we had a career office and anyone could go and speak to the director who in turn would give them a list of all of the full time/part time, paid/unpaid internships. Does your school have a career center or any types of advisors that you can speak to about this? If so, take advantage of it and they will see that you get in somewhere else. If that isn't working out, try the nearest employment/recruiting agency. Usually you don't have to pay those people (the companies hiring do) and it is their job to find you a job. I've been to 3 and they work very hard for you. By doing either of these, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain! And hang in there!! It's rough being at a job you hate but in time, better things will come your way. Good luck!!

Answer 4

Simple, bc they know that an intern can do the same job bc they are pretty darn close to having a degree, yet they can pay them little of nothing, or even nothing by working with the college to give them college credit. I have also heard companies say they are giving back to the community by helping give young ppl experience. There is nothing wrong with internships, they benefit both parties, but companies should pay a little more I feel for practically the same work as someone with a degree.

As for those who said they were paid $16 or 80% or the regular salary, you are very lucky. One internship would only give me college credit...which i had to pay for as though it was a class (a whole 3 hours!) and the other paid 7.50 and hour, both treated interns quite poorly. If i could od it all over again, though, I would. Bc without those internships, I would have had NOTHING for my resume.

Answer 5

Interns do get paid. I worked as an intern for a large company for 2 summers, and I was paid pretty well. Companies hire them for several reasons. One is to check them out for future employment (after graduation). Another is they get very good people at a reasonable price.

Answer 6

It gives the college students much needed experience. It gives the employers (usually) a reasonable rate on some help. it gives the employers also fresh insight from someone who has likely not yet become jaded. If the intern does a great job, it also gets their foot in the door if an opening is there.

These are just a few of the reasons.

Answer 7

Hire = pay a person
Intern = free help

Answer 8

I think people don't realize not all interns are working for free.
I worked at a place that paid interns 16 bucks an hour and the temps only made 10.

Answer 9

It's a large company's way of checking out potential applicants, as well as getting some reasonably low cost work out of them while they intern.

Some folks join their intern firms after graduating, and others don't. It's all part of the game.

Answer 10

It's a way for them to evaluate potential candidates, like anything else it's never a sure thing.

We hired two engineers that were reporting to me. One was highly rated and was supposedly considered for a manager of one of the design groups. The other was a shy, quiet woman prone to giggling when she got nervous.

The potential manager was lazy and arrogant, he made no effort to learn. When I asked him to put together a spreadsheet tabulating wafer sort yields. He told me he didnt' know how to use MS Excel.

The woman on the other hand showed initiative, was eager to learn and quickly proved she was more capable of managing projects than our so called golden boy.

She even tried to help him solve a software question I posed to him. Instead of thanking her for her help, he started yelling at her, telling her to shut up.

At this point I had enough of this jerk, I filed a formal letter of reprimand for his behaviour and soon after we got rid of him.