Kazi Awal is an Insider.
The internship has been used for many purposes. The programs give organizations a chance to tap young minds for new ideas and build their talent pool. College credit and extra income can be earned through internship, which is a way to gain technical competence and get ready for the job market.
In order to provide the next generation of employees with independent skills and leadership experience, companies are focusing on hybrid and remote offices. The goal is for students to get a sense of how to drive innovation, cultivate creativity, and promote inclusiveness when colleagues aren’t all in the same room.
It’s difficult at a time when many interns have a negative view of remote work. In the past, internships were a great way to immerse students in the company culture and make them want to return to work after graduation. In the era of the Pandemic, many of the in-person events have been stopped.
According to Kyle Emich, an organizational psychologist at the University of Delaware, there’s an opportunity to be innovative. He said that the challenge for companies is to differentiate themselves as employers even when interns are not exposed to the culture of the company.
Three companies that are rethinking their internships are experimenting with new formats, programming, and credentials to prepare students for careers in the digital workplace.
There are new approaches.
A new internship format is being tested by the Boston-based marketing software company. The company is subsidizing 200 micro-internships at companies around the world through a partnership with a job board. The projects take between five and 40 hours to complete.
The Boston-based marketing software company is experimenting with a new format for interns.
This is a collection of images from the Sony Pictures Archive.
In-house mentors and coaches help students complete the short-term projects. Julia Gueron, education partner program manager at HubSpot, said that the format gives students experience communicating in a distributed workplace, exposes them to different corporate structures, and helps them learn how to collaborate.
She said that they are working with people from Spain, Columbia and other countries.
The format allows host companies to expand their hiring pools down the road. She said that you don’t need to live in a major metropolitan area to gain relevant career experience.
Alex Murray, director of the company’s Futureforce program, said that they needed to approach their internship program with flexibility in mind.
The company has three support systems for students. Each intern is assigned a hiring manager or boss, a “trail guide” who helps orient the company and its culture, and an on-site office delegate who handles administrative concerns.
A new community service component is being introduced this year. In their own countries and time zones, all interns will participate in paid volunteer time off with Seal Rescue Ireland. Virtual and in-person services will be offered. Murray wants interns to come away from the program with a deeper understanding of the values of the company. Gen Zers care about political and social issues and want to work for companies that share their beliefs, according to research.
Murray said that giving back is core to the culture of the company. It’s important for our interns to give back to the community. They can have fun, form deeper relationships, and attach more meaning to the work they do.
Critical skills for the modern workplace.
Over 5,000 interns are expected to be hired by the global consulting and accounting firm. Like employees, interns have the option of working virtually, in-person, or a combination of the two. “We want interns to get a real introduction to our culture and to experience and feel what it’s like to work in a hybrid team, that’s why we’re giving them flexibility,” said Rod Adams.
Over 5,000 interns are expected to be hired by the global consulting and accounting firm.
There is a company called the “PwC.”
For the past couple of years, interns have had the chance to earn badges for their knowledge and skills. Adams said they can be helpful credentials if interns decide to pursue jobs outside of the company.
In the past badges were given for achieving technical competence, but this year they are giving badges for having an “inclusive mindset.” The internship has gained expertise in collaborating with a diverse team by earning the Badge, which involves self-paced learning modules combined with live coaching, simulations, and practice conversations with colleagues to better understand each others’ lived experiences.
Adams said that internships have always been about learning. We’re trying to teach core human skills, too, but we’re still focused on our core traditional training.
He said the aim is to help students become better leaders. In the 21st century workplace, knowing how to lead virtual and hybrid teams are critical skills.
