Internships can be answer to finding new employees

By Bud Gayhart

Did you ever wish that you could find a better, more effective way to train new employees?

Or find potential staff members who are open and willing to invest in your business and corporate culture?
Being connected to higher education for several years has exposed me to a beneficial opportunity that is seldom utilized by many businesses -- internships.

Internships encouraged

At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, students are frequently encouraged to apply for internships.

There are many students in the accounting program that connect with accounting firms, both large and small, to apply their knowledge and simultaneously receive mentoring from someone at the firm. The rewards can be huge.

For students, being connected to a real accounting firm brings classroom curriculum to life. It also allows them to function as a team member, solving challenges for their client company.

The business also benefits from the internship. Employers are able to assess the skill sets of students in a true working environment. As a result, many students will receive an offer of employment following the internship.

Wealth of talent

But what if your business doesn't need an accountant? There are students in management, marketing, communications, information technology and other disciplines that can bring great value to area businesses.

UW-Madison has an internship program that can bring a wealth of talent to employers. Internships are not limited to the UW System nor are they limited to just universities. The technical college system in Wisconsin has active and successful internship programs as well.

In addition to the internship programs, UW-Madison and our campus in Whitewater offer to connect with businesses through consulting classes where students become the consultant to the business for a semester.

In this model, students use their training to develop a solution to a challenge the business is facing. Again, both sides benefit from this approach.

You, as the employer, can receive a fresh viewpoint and a potential solution to your problem. The student acquires practical experience as well as confidence in putting his education to work in a real-life situation.

Where to get information

Interested? Want to give the internship idea a try? At UW-Whitewater, you can contact our Internship Coordinator, Laura Morrow at 262-472-1606 or by e-mail at morrowl@uww.edu. You can also learn more about our program by visiting the Career Services Web site at www.uww.edu/career/internships.html.

If your business is located closer to the UW-Madison campus, information can found by visiting their Career Services Web page at www.lssaa.wisc.edu/careers/about/work.html or by contacting Leslie Kohlberg, Director, at 608-265-5285 or kohlberg@wisc.edu. Internships are a creative way for companies, large and small, to connect with the innovative, talented pool of the next generation while assisting these promising students to use their talents and education and become productive members of tomorrow's business community.

Bud Gayhart is interim director of the Center for Innovation and Business Development at UW-Whitewater.

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