Friday, April 29th, 2011

Summer is around the corner. That means now is the time to log in to Urban Interns to find some great help.

But first, check out our list of the top five things to know about hiring an intern this summer.

1. You Still Can Find an Intern. Yes, it's true– some interns have had their positions lined up for several months. But there are still tons and tons of students (and recent grads!) that are still looking for work.

2. Intern Doesn't Necessarily Mean Unpaid. It doesn't necessarily mean "paid" either. There are a variety of internship models out there. Paid, unpaid, work for credit. As always, find the arrangement that works best for you and your intern.

3. An Intern Requires Mentorship. Whether you wind up going with a paid or unpaid intern, keep in mind that the spirit of an internship is to teach and mentor. If you don't have the time for that, no problem. Just call your gig a part time job. You'll still find great folks. Calling a position what it really is will just cut down on confusion along the way.

4. An Intern Doesn't Need to Work From Your Office. In fact, an intern doesn't even need to be located near your office! Virtual internships are commonplace these days, so for those of you who are comfortable with a remote workplace, finding a virtual intern might be right for you.

5. Market Your Position in Order to Attract Top Talent. This one may sound counterintuitive, but trust us, it's true. Just like you want to see interns put their best foot forward when presenting themselves to you, the same is true when it comes to looking for works. Interns want to hear about your company, why it's so great, and what they can expect to learn when working for you.